The most dangerous part of fishing is getting equipment out of the package.
Some reels, lures and other pieces of terminal tackle come in theft-resistant packaging. I’m sure it’s effective, but the manufacturers don’t consider the fact that the packaging is also consumer resistant. Every time I try to open these items, I wonder if that’s the day I lose a finger.
I’m not alone. Last Saturday, Jake Peavy, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, cut his finger so badly while trying to get a rod-and-reel combo out of its package that he couldn’t pitch Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Peavy’s knife slipped while he cut through the hard plastic ties that secure the reel to the rod on these combos.
Those ties are too hard, too thick and too slick for a knife. If you are lucky enough to cut a notch in the plastic, you’ll probably nick the rod when the blade comes out the other end. That’ll weaken your rod and start a chain of events that will eventually result in a broken rod, and always at the most inopportune time.
I only use wire cutters on plastic binders and zip ties. It’s the stuff that comes in blister packs that irritates me to distraction. Case in point are the two Lews Speed Spool bait casting reels I got from a big box retailer a couple of weeks ago. The reels themselves are fantastic, and left-handed retrieve. Each came with a nice Pinnacle rod, too. I got a medium-heavy 7-footer and a 6-6 medium.
For starters, blister packs scream “cheap” to me. That’s the bargain basement stuff that hangs on a hook next to the catfish stinkbait. In my mind, high-quality reels come in individual cardboard boxes.
That’s obviously not the case with the Lew’s Speed Spool Carbon Fire MCS. It’s far superior to the more expensive Shimano Citica. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say it’s as good or better than the Shimano Curado for half the price. The magnetic brake is just one of its features I really like, but more on that later.
Where were we? Oh, yeah, blister packs. I hate them.
Blister packs consist of two halves heat compressed together with a hard rolled crimp. The only way to free the product from the package is to cut it out, but blister pack plastic is hard and unyielding.
Like wood, plastic seems to have a grain. If you can get a blade moving with the grain, you can slice through plastic with relative ease. Getting crosswise with the grain is almost like trying to cut through steel. It takes a lot of pressure to advance the blade. That is when the blade is most likely to jump and nab a thumb or worse, if you’re foolish enough to attempt the maneuver while holding the pack on your knee or lap.
And if your knife doesn’t get you, the razor-sharp edges of the cut plastic will. I am always relieved when I finally extract my prize from one of these vaults without injuring myself. I guess that’s why we have lawyers.
Now, about the Lew’s Speed Spool Carbon Fire MCS. It’s a low-prof ile, graphite baitcaster that weighs 7.2 ounces. Most of that weight is in the aluminum handle and gearbox.
With eight double-shielded, stainless steel bearings and precision cut brass gears, its action is as smooth as walnut divinity. Most bait casters have an adjustable brake consisting of six friction bushings. The Lew’s has an externally adjustable magnetic brake, as well as a traditional adjustable friction brake next to the handle. It also has a high-quality Rulondrag system with an audible click that provides up to 10 pounds of drag power. Rulon is a non-slip material used in premium fly-fishing reels. Fly fishing reels are basically line storage spools except when you’re fighting a fish. A smooth, dependable drag is essential.
My reels have a 7.1:1 line retrieve ratio. They wind up 31 inches of line per turn. I love fast retrieve bait casters for everything, from swimming jigs to burning buzzbaits to getting crankbaits down deep fast. If you’re working jigs or soft-plastics on the bottom or in cover, you can activate the lure by simply tapping the handle.
I’ll continue to use my Shimano 51 bait casters for stream fishing. These Lew’s reels are for heavy-duty largemouth duty.
Sports, Pages 32 on 03/09/2014