Lew’s is an industry leader in the freshwater fishing space, particularly with bass and crappie gear. Offering products for every budget, the brand has some really great premium equipment, but it’s their budget-friendly rods and reels that set them apart. One of Lew's newest budget rods to hit the market—and the winner of the best budget category in our baitcasting rod test—is the TP2 Gen 3 Casting Rod.
During our test, we considered any casting rods under $100 for the best budget award. Then, we evaluated the rods using several criteria. These included durability, sensitivity, versatility, quality of components, aesthetics, and feel in hand. Not only did the TP2 Gen 3 take the budget category decisively, but this rod held its own against other models far above its price point. It is a great rod for both experienced and novice anglers, offering excellent performance for various techniques. Here's a closer look at the Lew's TP2 Gen 3.
Lew's TP2 Gen 3 Overview
Specs
Rod Type: Casting
Pieces: 1
Rod Length: 7-foot
Rod Power: Medium-heavy
Rod Action: Fast
Line Rating: 12-25 pounds
Price: $99.99
Other Notable Features
Light and strong HM45 graphite blank
10 casting options
SoftTouch graphite skeletal reel seat
Stainless steel guides/aluminum oxide inserts
Winn Dri-Tac split grip/EVA butt
Bait keeper
The TP2 Gen 3 showed up at my house just a few days before it was officially released at ICAST 2024. After Lew's announced the new rod at the tradeshow, it went on sale to the public in the fall. The previous TP2 Gen 2 was a best seller, but I never had the opportunity to fish with it. So I was excited to get my hands on the latest version. When I slipped the rod out of the packaging, the first thing I noticed was the tacky grip on the handle. And I don’t mean tacky-cheap, I mean tacky-sticky.
Even still, sticky isn’t the right word for the way the Winn Dri-Tac Split Grip feels in hand. Tacky is the right word, hence the “Tac” of "Dri-Tac Grip." It has a nice cushiony feel that creates a sure grip in conjunction with the tacky feel of the material. An EVA butt compliments the handle nicely. I also immediately noticed how light the rod was. This was surprising considering the lower price tag. When you hold a premium rod ($300-plus), you almost always notice the light feel due to high-end materials. Typically, a sub-$100 rod is heavier. But not the TP2 Gen 3. This rod is as light as the premium rods and lighter than most budget rods. The blank features other quality components like stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts and a graphite reel seat. The TP2 Gen 3 looks—and feels—like it should be priced much higher.
On the Water Performance
I spent much of last summer fishing the new TP2 Gen 3. One of my favorite baits to throw with this rod is the Berkley Choppo prop bait. I fished this bait on many test days, casting it down the sides of docks and rolling it under bushes. I found the bait to be very manageable with the 7-foot medium-heavy TP2. The rod had a good tip for it, as well as an ideal length to be able to fish from the seated position in a kayak. A few quick catches proved the rod's ability to pull bass in. It is strong and has good backbone to horse fish out of cover.
On one particular instance, I launched the Whopper Plopper near a small grass patch on a bluff wall. Sure enough, a big bass came out of the grass and slurped it down about the time I turned the handle. The fight put this rod through the wringer, and I was able to control the fish while keeping the hooks away from the inflatable kayak I was fishing from. That fish (see catch here) proved this rod could handle big bass.
For $100, you can’t go wrong with the TP2 Gen 3. I’d put it up there with most $200 and some $300 models when comparing weight, comfort, sensitivity, and overall performance. And with 10 options ranging from a 6-foot, 8-inch medium/fast to a 7-foot, 6-inch heavy/extra fast, you could realistically reload your whole arsenal with these for the price of two or three high-end rods.
