Getting back into fishing and want to spend some good money on a reel.

I used to use Abu but I've heard a lot about Lew's.

Are these brands even comparable?

Lew's all the way

Yeah, they are comparable, and I have several each, but give the edge to Lews.

I don't really remember Lew's from when I used to fish a lot. But they seem pretty good. Whatever happened to the old green Shimanos? they still make them?

Shimano Curado, Chronarch, Metanium or if you prefer round reels Shimano Calcutta, Conquest.....I have a couple Lews that are smooth and cast great, just haven't had as much luck with them staying that way as I have had with Shimanos....

Lews reels abu rods

Lews and TFO rods hard to beat

Just about the same on the inside. Choose which one feels better in your hand!!

LEWS!!!!!

don't think you can go wrong with Lews or Abu, I have both. Having said that I have Shimano Curado
that's great

I would take the Lew's over the Abu, but would take a Shimano over both.

I have been a pretty diehard Shimano fan for the past 15 years. No complaints with them but I have upgraded a lot of combos of late and opted for some of the Gen 3 Abu reels. I have several premiers, winches, SX's and a rocket. While Shimano may or may not hold up better, right out of the box I actually now prefer the Abu reels. I like how they adjust (I didn't at first coming from Shimano) and I really like the price/quality. I no have as many Abu reels as I do Shimano and I'm probably not buying another Shimano unless I get a steal. I have fished a few Lews and they seem fine too, just don't have a lot of experience with them.

I've had them all and Lew's beats them in many areas. Shimano is nice but a little heavier and not as low profile being more comfortable to palm. A lot of folks fish with 3-4 reels and rarely clean and lube them, then wonder why they're having problems. This NOT to say that a reel(any brand) here and there won't require a repair. If you throw a crankbait 75% of the time, your crankbait reel won't last as long as others. Having many combos and regularly servicing them allows your reels to last a lifetime. For this and other reasons I keep 15+- reels in my boat and a few more in the rack at home, ALL but 2 are Lews. None have given me a bit trouble at all and I fish a lot!

I have shimano Calcuttas, lews, and some abu's. The Calcuttas were the smoothest reels made at the time I got them. They are heavier and bulkier. Still loved them. When I went to Venezuela to fish for peacock bass, they told us not to bring them. Their words " they won't stand up and will strip out the gears. Bring abu's." Abu's are round and solid. Smooth enough and workhorses. Just bought some lews recently. Low profile, very smooth, and seem to hold up well. Just as smooth or more so as my Calcuttas. Lighter and easier to hold all day.

if you opened a lews and a abu you would see very similar internals...they are almost identical