Looking to buy a skipping reel. What brand?

I am starting to bass fish more and wanting to by a good reel for skipping under docks. I was looking at the Lews Team Pro SP. Is there a better option out there for about the same money? ($200)

I've used the Lew's the last year and love it. Will be getting a couple more this winter.

Retired grass grower

I like the Lews skipping reel as well but it ain’t foolproof- just a tad more forgiving.

I know Texas just loves Lews, but I just can't understand why when spending a couple hundred dollars one wouldn't buy Daiwa or Shimano, instead of buying import Doyo or Dawon reels which are sourced by so many different companies with minor cosmetic/labeling differences, that for the most part just don't last more than a couple years. Might as well just get BPS, KastKing, 13 etc and save money instead of paying to have Lews name on a reel. They also make some Abu, Daiwa's C (C stands for Cheap or [censored], apparently), Kistler and Dobyns maybe as well? Anyway, spending $200+ I would want more out of a reel. I'm sure some will post saying I've been using my Lews reel for xx years, and I don't doubt it, but for the most part Doyo's are known to be cheap reels that work well enough for a year or two but generally go to [censored] soon after, especially when used on a regular basis.

Anyway, since I am a Daiwa homer, I'll suggest the Tatula Pitch and Flip, or if you want something a bit nicer, any of the Steez SV TW or Zillion SV TW series also works great for skipping. But, with some practice, you really don't need anything fancy to skip with, the "skipping features" just make it a bit easier .

Replace the spool on your reel with a shallow spool. Works great!

I agree

You can’t get aftermarket spools for cheap reels. So, in that case, you should just buy a good reel with a shallow spool. Like an “SV” reel from Diawa.

Just save yourself the frustration...Daiwa SV technology is perfect for this.

If you really want a specific dialed in reel, the Daiwa Elite Pitch / Flip reel is the end all reel for skipping.

I have several reels in my arsenal, I can skip with most, but I prefer the SV spools best.

These guys gave you some solid advise. Most of my workhorse reels are Shimano and I have some Diawa SV's that I skip and pitch with. The SV reels are good.to go for skippin and pitchin. We have some Lew's reels that we got through some winning some Lew'a gift cards along the way and the more expensive ones ( I don't remember the model #) seem to be holding up and continue to cast well for now but their longevity is yet to be determined. In my experience Shimano and Diawa in that order are the way to go as long as you buy the ones that are regularly prced around the $200 mark or more. I have a buch of older green Shimanos that I have fished with for close to, if not over a decade and with a yearly cleaning cast like new. If I had to buy a pitching and flippin reel today any of the Diawa SV spooled reels is what I would choose.

Thank you for the info guys! I will look into the Diawa flip/pitch. I was hoping to get it at Bass pro as I get a nice gift card for Christmas there each year but BP does not carry it. Guess It will have to be for the rod!!!

Daiwa Tatula SV makes skipping much easier imo. I have multiple tatula sv's, and pitch/flip reels along with one zillion SV. The tatula sv's are dang near fool proof for skipping.

Daiwa SV TW is the best reel for skipping when you set it up correctly.

Yep, both of my dedicated dock skipping setups have Steez SV TW's on them... 2 Dobyns 610-4C's one with fluoro and one with braid.

For 200 bucks it’s going to be hard, i have owned every type and brand of reel and there isn’t anything better than shimano metanium dc. u can find them online sometimes for 250-300 each. I also own daiwa steez but still not my favorite for skipping. I used to own lews pro ti, hypermag, and custom pro but sold all my lews. I don’t know what changed but lews quality is lacking lately. Lews are decent the first year but they never feel as smooth for as long like the shimano and daiwa. Never had one that was amazing skipping reel. At least with the dc metanium if u skip under a dock and hit a pole that you can’t see, the digital control kicks in and minimal overrun if any.

I can skip with just about every reel I own.
It's the indian, not the arrow ....

This Indian needs every advantage I can get.

The Daiwa SV TW is better then the Metanium DC and way easier to set up.

correct

Abumatic, cheap, works and no back lash!

Absolutely in my case. For me, the Lews shallow spool is a great tool to lessen the pain of massive miss fires so I startrted skipping more and more . Once I gained more confidence I started taking the risk more and more often with other reels in my hand so it opened up a lot more opportunities.

Ditto.

Not every Indian is the same. Some need the SV TW to help them out.
How many Indians do you think killed a deer without an arrow compared to the ones that used an arrow?

11

Daiwa makes a great product, but don't be afraid of the Lews reels if you are on a budget. Despite the comments above, I have some Lews reels of all price ranges that are 5+ years old and I have never had a single issue with any of them. Use some of them almost every weekend. My son has the lews pro sp skipping reel. He likes it. Personally it's not my cup of tea. It doesn't hold much line and therefor doesn't cast very far. It does skip well though if that is all you are looking for. For me a dock fishing reel has to be able to cast, skip, and flip. Some of the biggest bass I have ever caught off of docks have been on the longest cast you can make to a corner post or a ladder. Most all the skipping reels are a one trick pony. Big spool and hold very little line.

Can't go wrong with a Daiwa Elite pitching/flipping or SV models

You and the guy that throws his reels away when he gets a backlash should hookup and be fishing buddies

Will they catch Hybrids too🤪🤪

FYI, I just found the Diawa Tatula SV TW 103XS for $141.79 online Walmart. Website says there are 6 left.