Lew's CTS46-2 Fishing Rod Review
Our verdict
The Lew's CTS46-2 is a short, light rod built specifically for crappie, running 4 feet 6 inches in two pieces for $29.99. Its 4.4-star rating across 159 reviews and 50+ bought last month make it a specialist pick next to the general-purpose rods it is being compared against here.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Crappie anglers who want a dedicated short, light rod for fishing docks, brush piles, or tight cover where a long blank gets in the way. The 2-8 pound line rating matches the light line typical for crappie jigs and minnows.
Skip if
Skip it if you target bass, trout, walleye, or other species needing a longer rod or heavier line, since 4 feet 6 inches and 2-8 pound line are built narrowly around crappie. It is not suited for surf or big-water casting.
- Material Graphite
- Length 4 Feet
- Line Weight 2-8 lb
- Target Species Crappie
- Technique Spinning
- Size 4-foot 6-inch
- Priced 40% below the category median ($49.99 across 56 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.4/5
4.4 average across 159 owner ratings
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Popularity2.5/5
159 owner reviews, fewer than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Picture working a brush pile from a boat, dropping a light jig straight down instead of casting across open water. The Lew's CTS46-2 is built for that kind of close-quarters fishing, a short 4-foot 6-inch rod in two pieces, rated for 2 to 8 pound line and listed as a light-feature rod aimed squarely at crappie. The Crappie Thunder Green color and graphite construction underline how specifically this rod is marketed, it is not trying to be a general-purpose spinning rod.
The three comparison rods all run longer and heavier. The Okuma CP-LT-762M ($43.69) is a 7.5-foot, 2-piece trolling rod for walleye, trout, bass and pike rated 10 to 20 pounds. The Ahi RSB-800 ($89.99) is an 8-foot, 3-piece bait rod rated 2 to 10 pounds. The Zebco ZCASTC56TEL ($19.99) is a 5.5-foot, 1-piece casting rod for trout. None of them share the CTS46-2's short length or narrow crappie focus, which makes this rod the clear specialist choice among the group rather than a direct swap-in alternative.
At $29.99, the CTS46-2 sits between the Zebco and Okuma on price. Its 4.4-star rating across 159 reviews matches the Okuma's rating exactly, on a review count that is larger than the Okuma's 111 but smaller than the Ahi's 433 or Zebco's 299. Combined with 50+ bought last month, the pattern points to a well-regarded rod within its specific crappie niche.
Pros
- Purpose-built 4-foot 6-inch length suits close-quarters crappie fishing around docks and brush
- 2-8 pound line rating matches typical light line used for crappie jigs
- 2-piece build makes the already-short rod easy to transport
- 4.4-star rating across 159 reviews matches the Okuma's rating on a larger review count
- $29.99 price is well under the $43.69 Okuma and $89.99 Ahi
Cons
- 4-foot 6-inch length is too short for casting distance needed by other species or techniques
- 2-8 pound line rating cannot handle bigger fish like bass, walleye, or pike
- 50+ bought last month is lower than the 100+ to 200+ seen on the Okuma and Zebco
- Narrow crappie focus means less versatility than the general-purpose rods in this comparison
Specifications
| Material | Graphite |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 Feet |
| Line Weight | 2-8 lb |
| Target Species | Crappie |
| Technique | Spinning |
| Size | 4-foot 6-inch |
| Color | Crappie Thunder Green |
| Pieces | 2 |
| Feature | Light |
Performance notes
A 4-foot 6-inch rod rated for 2 to 8 pound line is built around close, precise presentations rather than long casts, which fits how crappie fishing is often done around brush piles, docks, and other structure at close range. The light feature and light line rating together suggest a soft-actioned tip that can detect subtle bites from a species known for light bites, while the graphite construction in two pieces keeps the already-short rod easy to store and travel with. This is a narrow, purpose-built spec sheet compared to the longer, heavier-rated rods in this set, and that narrowness is the point, a rod tuned this specifically for one species and one style of fishing is not trying to also handle bass or walleye.
What buyers say
A 4.4-star average across 159 reviews puts the Lew's CTS46-2 on par with the Okuma CP-LT-762M's rating, and its review count is larger than the Okuma's 111, giving the rating a reasonably solid base to stand on. The 50+ bought last month figure trails the Okuma's and Zebco's higher current sales figures, but crappie-specific rods are a smaller market than general bass or trout rods, so a lower current volume against a matching star rating and a meaningful review count reads as steady demand within a focused niche rather than a rod losing favor.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Lew's CTS46-2 only good for crappie?
The specs, a 2-8 pound line rating, light action, and 4-foot 6-inch length, are all built around crappie fishing specifically, so it is not the right choice for bass, walleye, or other species needing more length or line capacity.
How does the price compare to similar rods?
At $29.99, it costs less than the $43.69 Okuma CP-LT-762M and far less than the $89.99 Ahi RSB-800, while matching the Okuma's 4.4-star rating. Only the $19.99 Zebco is cheaper in this comparison.
Does the 2-piece design affect performance?
A 2-piece build mainly affects portability rather than casting or hook-setting performance, making an already-short 4-foot 6-inch rod even easier to transport, similar to how the Okuma's 2-piece design works at a longer length.