A lighter spool starts easier and is a requirement in a finesse reel for light baits. A heavier spool will cast further due to inertia assuming you have the weight and Rod to get it started.

Six of one, half-dozen of the other. The knobs on the new Team Lite are sweet, though. If Lews would sell me those handles, I'd put them on my Daiwas immediately.

d**n it man, you're on the same waiting list as me.  Last I called, about two weeks ago, Clint, probably the most layed back and helpful tech you can ever speak to on the phone, told me that me that about six others called that same day for them.

I would agree that a lighter spool should handle light lures better than a heavy spool.  I would also agree that a lighter spool should handle a greater lure weight range than a heavy spool.  I won't agree that a lighter spool will cast further than a heavy spool.  I've got spools ranging from the Presso and 105H (and a ZPI spool for the 105H) to the Zillion and Trion.  If you were to cast a true 3/16 oz. lure on both reels, then the lighter spool should achieve a greater casting distance.  Put a 3/8 oz. lure on both, and you probably couldn't tell the difference in casting range on the water.  You probably would see as great a difference in casting range from 2 different reels of the same model.  At least with me doing the casting.

In theory maybe a heavier spool will cast farther than a lighter spool with normal weights, but nobody told my Metanium that lol.  I can tell it casts a little farther than my curado I. 12 gram spool vs 16 gram spool.

In theory maybe a heavier spool will cast farther than a lighter spool with normal weights, but nobody told my Metanium that lol. I can tell it casts a little farther than my curado I. 12 gram spool vs 16 gram spool.

That isn't theory. You're comparing two very, very different items. A heavier spool, all other attributes being equal, will cast further than a lighter spool.

And in response to the OP, the Lite is a very nice reel. I tend not to like the Lews much for a variety of reasons, the least of which is they use a bit lower quality bearing. The greater reason I am not fond of them is the fit.

That said, either of the reels you're looking at are very good reels.

That isn't theory. You're comparing two very, very different items. A heavier spool, all other attributes being equal, will cast further than a lighter spool.

Think about it, while a full lighter spool may spin for 10 seconds, and the full heavier spool 20 seconds, the lure is only going to be in the air for 3-5 seconds tops, so all that extra inertia isn't going to help the heavier spool any. That's the way I see it.

My friend who repairs rods and reels tells me that the two best reels on the market today are Shimano and Lews.

 

So you really can't go wrong with either one.

Think about it, while a full lighter spool may spin for 10 seconds, and the full heavier spool 20 seconds, the lure is only going to be in the air for 3-5 seconds tops, so all that extra inertia isn't going to help the heavier spool any. That's the way I see it.

 

Physics. Now we are discussing physics.

 

Physics in bass fishing?

 

Really?

 

Now this is a great topic that needs its own thread. Physics in bass fishing.

 

And the only physics that I thought mattered was in baseball.

Best Value : Daiwa Tatula ; Lews a solid choice.

About the time the Tatula came out Shimano's quality had definately slipped .

A number of people now say Shimano had their "wake up call" after the competition brought their A game against Shimano - now word is the 2014 and 2015 Shimano offerings are a better built product .

Best Value : Daiwa Tatula ; Lews a solid choice.

About the time the Tatula came out Shimano's quality had definately slipped .

A number of people now say Shimano had their "wake up call" after the competition brought their A game against Shimano - now word is the 2014 and 2015 Shimano offerings are a better built product .

I think you are confusing "quality" for "features". Shimano was simply doing their normal revamp of their line up starting in 2011 with the Calcutta D and 2012 with the new Antares and so on. Some of the new features just trickled down to their mid and lower offerings.

Thank you for the replies.

I went to the store and put a few different reels in my hand and played around.

 

I couldn't tell much of a difference in the operation of each reel. I played with Quantum, Abu, Shimano, Diawa and Lews. The Diawa might have been a little smoother than the rest but hard to tell and if so not by much.

 

In the end the big difference I found was the ergonomics of the Shimano was superior compared to the others. The Curado fit my hand perfect.

Couple that with a lower price and my faith in Shimano's quality I think I found my first baitcaster

I have both, get the lews if you will be throwing moving baits that you want to make a long cast with. Go with the shimano for flipping/pitching. Either are great reels!