Lew's, the American baitcasting reel pioneer since 1973

1973: Launch of the first Speed Spool
Missouri, USA: Brand headquarters in Springfield
ParaMag: Magnetic braking developed by Lew's

The story of the brand

Lew Childre, the man who brought the baitcaster down low

The Lew's story starts in the 1940s, on the Gulf coast of Alabama. Lew Childre first sells shrimp as bait to local anglers. He then opens a small tackle shop.

In 1973, he launches the Speed Spool BB1. This teardrop shaped baitcaster brings together a low profile, a narrow spool, a levelwind that fully disengages on the cast and a side cover with no knob. Shimano builds the first units. Lew Childre also creates the Speed Stick rods and carves a pistol grip in wood, later produced by Fuji.

Lew Childre dies in 1977 while flying his own plane. The brand changes hands several times. In 2009, Lynn Reeves buys it from the family and relaunches it from Springfield, Missouri. Today Lew's designs baitcasting and spinning reels, rods and combos, with professional anglers such as Kevin VanDam.

Key dates

1973 Lew Childre launches the Speed Spool, a low profile baitcaster
2009 Lynn Reeves buys the brand and relaunches it in Springfield
2020 Kevin VanDam joins Lew's and launches his KVD series

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Casting · 6 min How to choose your Lew's baitcasting reel

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything about the brand

Who founded the Lew's brand?

Lew's is named after its founder, Lew Childre, who grew up on the Gulf coast of Alabama. He first sells bait, then opens a tackle shop. In 1973, he launches the Speed Spool reel. He also creates the Speed Stick rods. Lew Childre dies in 1977 in a plane crash.

What did the Lew's Speed Spool bring to the baitcasting reel?

Released in 1973, the Speed Spool BB1 broke with the round baitcasters of the time. It had a low teardrop shape, a narrow spool and a levelwind that disengages on the cast. Its side cover with no knob lets you palm the reel. Lew's is credited as the brand that introduced this low profile shape.

What is Lew's ParaMag braking?

ParaMag is the family of magnetic brakes developed by Lew's for its baitcasting reels. The system brakes the spool with magnets, with no battery or electronic part. Its ITB version needs no brake shoes and acts evenly across the whole braking surface. Other models, such as the KVD Elite, pair ParaMag with centrifugal shoes.

Lew's, the American baitcasting reel

Lew's is an American brand of reels and rods. It is based in Springfield, Missouri. It mainly designs baitcasting reels. Its name is still tied to the Speed Spool, a reel released in 1973. Its low and compact shape changed the look of the baitcaster in the United States.

The brand designs its gear for lure fishing. Tournament bass fishing is where it comes from. Its current models run from the all-round baitcaster to the big bait reel. Kevin VanDam, four times winner of the Bassmaster Classic, develops a signature series with Lew's.

Know-how built around the cast

Lew's works first on spool control. A poorly braked baitcaster quickly ends in a backlash. So the brand has built several braking systems. They are magnetic, centrifugal or a mix of both. Each range gets the system that fits the weight of its target lures.

ParaMag: the Lew's family of magnetic brakes, adjustable from the outside.
QuietCast: a quiet centrifugal brake, fitted to the models built for distance.
Zero Reverse: a one way clutch bearing that removes handle backplay.
Speed Spool: the historic name of the brand's baitcasters, still used on current ranges.

The brand also keeps the ideas of its first baitcaster. You find the low profile, the narrow spool and the smooth side plate, made to sit in the palm. Several current models get an aluminium frame and a carbon drag. The aim is stiffness and a smooth drag on long runs.

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Lew's: low profile baitcasting reels for lure fishing

Lew Childre, the man who brought the baitcaster down low

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Everything about the brand

Who founded the Lew's brand?

What did the Lew's Speed Spool bring to the baitcasting reel?

What is Lew's ParaMag braking?