Lew’s Team Hypermag Reel

Every serious reel range eventually needs a reel that exists purely to answer the question “how light can you actually make this without it falling apart?” – and in Lew’s line-up, that’s the HyperMag. At 5.2oz, it’s noticeably lighter than most of the rest of the range we’ve covered – the Speed Spool RX comes in at 6.8oz, the Super Duty LFS at a full 8oz – and that difference is the kind you genuinely feel by hour six of a tournament day, in your wrist and forearm rather than anywhere the spec sheet can show you.

That weight saving comes from a genuinely different build than the rest of the range: a one-piece magnesium frame paired with C40 carbon sideplates, rather than the aluminium or Tanso Tech composite used elsewhere. It’s not weight-saving at the expense of speed or refinement, either – an 8.3:1 gear ratio recovers 33 inches per turn, among the fastest in the whole Lew’s line-up, and the P2 Super Pinion keeps that quick retrieve running true rather than sloppy. JDM-style Winn knobs on a 95mm bowed carbon handle, a recessed 6-pin QuietCast brake dial, and an aircraft-grade Duralumin spool round out a reel built to handle everything from topwaters to jerkbaits to soft plastics without ever feeling like the lightest thing in your hand is also the flimsiest.

Detailed Specifications

• Retrieve: Left Hand
• Gear ratio: 8.3:1
• Line recovery: 33in per turn
• Weight: 5.2oz
• Frame: One-piece magnesium, C40 carbon sideplates
• Gears: Hard-anodised aluminium alloy Speed Gears with P2 Super Pinion
• Braking: QuietCast 6-pin externally adjustable centrifugal brake (ACB), recessed dial
• Bearings: 11-bearing system
• Spool: Aircraft-grade Duralumin, double anodised, drilled and chamfered, 32mm
• Drag: Carbon fibre with carbon drag star, up to 20lb max
• Line capacity: 110yd/12lb fluorocarbon, 50lb braid
• Handle: 95mm bowed carbon, JDM-style Winn knobs
• Extras: Speed Keeper, Speed Dial, Speed Knot, titanium-coated zirconia line guide, external lube port, one-year limited warranty

Where to Use It

• Tournament days where cumulative fatigue over many hours is a real factor
• All-round bass techniques – topwaters, jerkbaits, crankbaits, soft plastics
• Anglers who like the Custom Lite’s weight-saving focus but want more speed
• Anyone prioritising a genuinely light, fast, tournament-grade reel over budget

Gerry’s Pro Tip

Magnesium is more corrosion-sensitive than the aluminium used elsewhere in Lew’s range if it’s left wet, so make rinsing and thoroughly drying this reel after every session a non-negotiable habit – not just after a rare saltwater trip. It’s a small routine that protects the exact material choice giving you the weight saving in the first place.

FAQs

Q: How much lighter is this than other Lew’s reels?
A: At 5.2oz it’s noticeably lighter than reels like the Speed Spool RX (6.8oz) or Super Duty LFS (8oz) – a difference you’ll feel most over a long day’s casting rather than on any single throw.

Q: Is this the fastest gear ratio Lew’s offers?
A: At 8.3:1 it’s among the fastest in the range, shared with a couple of other specialist reels, rather than uniquely fastest – but it’s certainly on the quick end.

Q: Is a magnesium frame more fragile than aluminium?
A: Not in normal use, but magnesium alloys benefit from more diligent drying after fishing than aluminium does, since they’re more prone to corrosion if left wet – a habit worth building in given what this reel is built from.

Q: How does this compare to the Custom Lite?
A: The Custom Lite uses a Tanso Tech aluminium-composite frame at a 7.5:1 ratio, focused on all-day comfort. The HyperMag steps up to a magnesium frame and a faster 8.3:1 ratio – Lew’s lightest and quickest flagship pairing.