Nobody Mentioning KVD's Switch To..........

[Bill Babler]

16 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Tackle Warehouse included a free sticker with my order.  I'm going to stick it to my tee shirt so everyone knows I'M SPONSORED

You must not have ordered much or you would have gotten a free shirt to go with that.  When that happens you are truly a Professional.

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

You must not have ordered much or you would have gotten a free shirt to go with that.  When that happens you are truly a Professional.

Correct.  Dropped 50 to get free shipping.  Can I buy the shirt and claim the sponsorship? 

[abkeenan]

50 minutes ago, Bill Babler said:

Sponsorships vary in huge degrees.  I also get a kick here at the lodge, as most of our guests either know someone or have a relative that is sponsored by this fishing company or that.  Sometimes its a free shirt, free hat or perhaps some line or a lure and they are sponsored.  They also get a sticker for their boats and truck.😂

Most true sponsorships are much more than that.  They include free merchandise to an extent and merchandise at factory cost if the fisherman needs large amounts of products.  40%-50%-60% and at times up to 70% are true sponsorships and fantastic savings and discounts.

Lew's Bait Casting reels have been my staple along with Daiwa now for  probably the last 10 yrs.  On the spinning end I strictly use Shimano or Daiwa, as the drag systems and the ergonomics are so far ahead of any competition that its silly not to use them.

Lew's has worked for years trying to perfect their rod business and they continue to modify and change it along with their spinning reels to the extent that these products are there and gone.  If you like one it may not be available the next time you want to purchase as it has been discontinued.  I'm sure they will get it right as they are working as hard or harder than anyone to be one of the best companies in the fishing industry.

They for sure have the casting reel down as their quality is in the same range of the upper end Shimano and Daiwa gear.  As we have talked about many times here the number of bearings in a reel is probably the least important factor in the purchase.  They quality of those bearing is the most important and one of the most expensive things in a reel that dictates the price to a huge extent.  4 quality bearings will beat 10 non-uniform bearing to pieces.  10 non-uniform bearing are cheaper to purchase than one quality bearing.  Lew's uses top quality materials and their standards are rigid in their casting reels.

Don't be fooled by the number of bearings in a reel.

I will tell you Lew's have some  new casting reels coming out in October that might very well change the industry.  I got a preview last week and was totally impressed.  They will have a higher price point in the $395.00 range but from what I have seen, worth every penny.  These SP "special purpose" reels should fit most every fishing application.  I can't wait to get my hands on some of them.

Good Luck

 

Agree with all of this. Only reels I own consist of Lews, Shimano and Daiwa.

Wonder if Lew's will make their flagship rods and reels with KVD's signature or stamp of a approval on it? In the past I think Jason Christie was kinda their golden boy for the high end Lew's reels.  

The amount of information available to the consumer I think has really changed how people purchase nowadays. Back in the Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Hank Parker, etc hay day in the 60s thru 90s guys/gals just took their word or endorsement of a product as gospel. Good enough for them, good enough for me. But with the internet and age of information consumers can search reviews, opinions and tech specs on any product with a few key strokes on their laptop/tablet/smart phone. People/buyers are not as dumb anymore and more cognizant of marketing gimmicks, shoddy materials/components or flat out BS.  The old model of sponsorship is no longer as effective as it once was. That said, I think KVD is one of the few outliers. Anything he puts his name on carries weight in the industry. If it weren't for him Quantum would have probably been out of business before the 2nd Bush administration took office.

In the end it's good to see a local company/brand grow like Lew's has. The fact that they were able to land a whopper like KVD is a good deal in my book. Competition to drive innovation and better products is never a bad thing in any market.

[Bill Babler]

That was a completely literate post.  Huge Thumbs Up.

[moguy1973]

I have two Lew's casting reels, a lower end LFS Speed Spool and a middle of the line Tournament Pro Speed Spool and I love both of them.  I also have a TP-1 Speed Stick spinning rod that I really like too.  I'm probably going to make Lew's my go to brand from now on.  They make some quality stuff.  Maybe KVD will bring over some Quantum features that he liked with their equipment to Lew's to incorporate.

[abkeenan]

2 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

I have two Lew's casting reels, a lower end LFS Speed Spool and a middle of the line Tournament Pro Speed Spool and I love both of them.  I also have a TP-1 Speed Stick spinning rod that I really like too.  I'm probably going to make Lew's my go to brand from now on.  They make some quality stuff.  Maybe KVD will bring over some Quantum features that he liked with their equipment to Lew's to incorporate.

I think Quantum had some okay color schemes. 🤣

[snagged in outlet 3]

I have a Speed spool and love it.  Have it on a Cara ST Micro Cranker I got from @Bill Babler

[Smalliebigs]

he can have them.....their high end reels are decent but, I quit buying them after most of mine whine like a baby after massive use

[Flysmallie]

Obviously he didn't change because the equipment was better than what he was using. I can't believe that companies still market this way. 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

I think their customer service is probably the best I have come across. I have had rods break, reels needing tuned up, etc. and every time they have replaced or fixed the issue I was having--and quickly. Honestly I fish a lot of Lew's stuff solely based on how well they have treated me. Plus, their products are great.