So, had a (mostly) bad experience this past weekend. Was kayaking fishing with two rods and the one with my Lews Speed Spool LFS sank into the lake, where it still currently resides. 

 

I repurchased the Lews Speed Spool LFS  (SS1SA - Made in China), in a 5:6:1 gear ratio, as this is/was my cranking set up.

 

My original Lews Speed Spool LFS had the code SSG1S and was Made in Korea, while the new one is SS1SA. I take it the latter is the new version?

 

Also, my new one has no holes in the spool, yet all of the pictures I see have it with spool holes. Does this sound strange? Bought it off of Amazon, but wondering if it's fake. Even if it's a real reel, why would there be a version that does not have holes?

 

On the bright side I caught 8 bronzebacks, for about a total of 35lbs.

 

 

Some 5:1 ratio lews reels have deeper spools for increased line capacity for cranking applications.  Most 6:1 lews have shallower spools with holes. I’m not familiar with lews numbering system any more but were both reels the same ratio? 

They were.

 

And okay -- that makes some sense. They are the only 5 gear ratio reels I've ever owned, but you would imagine the 6 and 7 gear ratio ones would have holes?

• One-piece aluminum frame with easily removable graphite palming sideplate
• Drilled, machined and anodized aluminum 34mm spool. SS1SA features high capacity dimpled spool
• High strength solid brass Speed Gears™, cut on precision Hamai CNC machines
• New P2 Super Pinion bearing supported pinion gear provides precise alignment and solid stability, resulting in a smoother operation and extended gear life
• Premium 10-bearing system with stainless steel double shielded bearings and Zero Reverse® one-way clutch
• Externally adjustable Magnetic Control System (MCS)
• Anodized aluminum spool tension adjustment knob
• Durable Rulon drag system, provides up to 15lbs. of drag power
• Bowed 95mm aluminum cranking handle with Lew’s® custom
• SoftTouch contoured paddle handle knobs
• New oversized bowed audible click drag star
• Zirconia line guide
• External lube port

 

 

 

So yours has a dimpled spool.It holds 140 yards instead of 120 yards of 12 lb test.

Most of the Lews with 5.XX gears have the deeper spool with no holes. For some reason Lews thinks that if you have the low gear ratio, you are going to be bombing lures out there. I have swapped them out with the shallower spools before.