The Lew’s TP2 Gen 3 casting rod is a fantastic piece of bass fishing gear for a great price. At $100, the TP2 is every bit as good as many rods that cost twice as much, providing the budget conscious angler with yet another quality option for a reasonable price.
Budget friendly bass fishing gear has been a running theme in my reviews as of late — and it will be something I return to in the near future. We recently reviewed the Fenwick Eagle casting rod (also $100) and we’ll talk through the new Lew’s Speed Spool Gen 3 casting reel (another great bargain) in coming weeks. I’ve been very impressed by the quality of this more affordable gear lately, and I’m excited to share my thoughts on the TP2 today.
IN THE HAND
I was fortunate to get my hands on the TP2 Gen 3 back in July, long before it would be available to the public. A 7’ medium heavy/fast model in this rod came just ahead of its official release at ICAST 2024, along with a shipment of several new reels that Lew’s released simultaneously as well. I paired the TP2 with one of these reels (the Lew’s Custom Pro Gen 3), spooled the combo up with 40-pound braid and hit the water.
Right away I was really impressed by the feel of this rod. Its Winn Dri-Tac main grip paired with an EVA foam butt is a split-grip design that I’ve really come to like over the last couple years. This rod is balanced well, light and pretty rugged, with more traditionally-sized stainless steel guides finished off with aluminum oxide inserts. The “Lew’s exclusive SoftTouch graphite skeletal reel seat” also provides ample space for my hand to make contact with the rod blank, which translates to increased sensitivity.
KEY FEATURES
- HM45 graphite blank
- Winn Dri-Tac/EVA butt split grips
- Lew’s SoftTouch graphite skeletal reel seat
- Stainless steel guides/aluminum oxide inserts
HOW IT STACKS UP
When reviewing a rod or reel in this price range (about $100), I often get hung up on just how impressive it is given the price. The weight, balance and overall feel of this rod in hand is comparable to many rods that cost twice as much. While this is an apples-to-oranges comparison, it’s still worth noting since the less expensive one is as good as the more expensive one.
In an apples-to-apples comparison between the Lew’s TP2 and other rods around $100, this is still a contender for the best I’ve personally fished with. Only one sub-$100 rod comes to mind that I’d say I’ve been even more impressed by—the Ark Catalyzer casting rod. I reviewed this rod a little while back and its quality for the price ($60) makes it the best budget-friendly casting rod on the market in my opinion.
The one negative with the Catalyzer casting rod is that it’s only available in three models. There are 10 options to choose from in the Lew’s TP2, which goes a long way in justifying its price point landing a tier higher than the Catalyzer.
SPECS
- Length: 7’
- Power: Medium-Heavy
- Action: Fast
- Line Rating: 12-25 pound
- Lure Weight: ¼-⅞ ounce
ON THE WATER
I started fishing with the TP2 as soon as I got my hands on it back in mid-July. On my first trip out, I tested the rod while fishing from a BOTE Lono Aero inflated kayak. The 7’ medium heavy/fast action rod has been a great selection for kayak fishing.
It had enough length to it to make bomb casts while still being short enough to make roll casts and fish in close quarters. The rod’s action was ideal for the Berkley Choppo 105 that I had rigged up on it and the power proved plenty sufficient for hauling in several fish, including the prized catch of the day—a 4-plus largemouth that crushed my topwater.
It’s important to keep in mind that I had the TP2 paired with the new Lew’s Custom Pro Gen 3 Casting Reel — which is about as sweet of a reel as I’ve used in a long time. We’ll have more to come on the Custom Pro at some point, but the combination of that reel and the TP2 was fantastic. I believe the reel was to credit for a lot of that, but the rod definitely did its part.
To me, this reinforces the theory I’ve had for a while that the reel is what you’ll want to splurge on when creating a quality combo. If you have the choice, a solid rod like the TP2 that’s a little more affordable is a great complement to a more capable reel that costs a little more. On the other hand, for the same overall price for the combo, a subpar reel on a high-end rod makes a less effective setup.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
For the money, the TP2 is hard to beat. Similar to my stance on the Fenwick Eagle, if you’re in the market for your first casting rod or you’re looking to pad your arsenal with a few technique specific combos, the Lew’s TP2 is a fantastic option. Thanks to the bang for your buck, the Lew’s TP2 Gen 3 casting rod is one of my favorite pieces of fishing gear to come out of ICAST this year.
