What's the deal on fly reels?

[josephcsylvia 0]

Good for you Roland, let us know what you get or better yet dont tell anyone until you decide you like it that way someone doesnt put a thought in your head about your choice. Try it then tell us!

[Dave G. 0]

Some people love ceramic guides on their flyrods, claiming an extra 5-10 ft of casting ability etc. Most affordable rods don't include them except for the stripping guides. But that's ok , what ever you are looking at and decide on, I wish you luck with it !!LOL

[Roland58 0]

@josephcsylvia

Great idea, Joe! I'll be sure to land something before I report back.

[FlickNdip 0]

I fish for many different species of fish from salt water to cold freshwater streams. From my experience when it comes to I am fishing small streams the reel really does not matter when it comes to fighting the fish. Where a difference comes in is in the weight. I'd rather throw dries with a nice rod and. Jesper feel when it comes to these waters.

 

Next, River fishing I am about the same as a small stream. I like light rods and am a stickler for performance. If I am fishing for stocked fish or in an area where fish average less than 16-18 and I do not need to fishe really fine Tippett I will use any reel. Where I really like a more expensive reel is when I have to fish fine Tippett and I know the fish could pull the slack out and get the, on the reel. To me, the more expensive reels have more slight drag adjustments that help me when I am fighting larger fish. I have property on a private River where your chances at a fish between 24-32 inches is very possible. In those waters I use strong rods and expensive reels.

[Roland58 0]

I have to admit I have never hooked up with a salmon or steelhead, however, I do know what a good fight feels like. A 5 foot sting ray (tip to tip) on a light saltwater spinning rig.......had to chase that one for a while, but, did get it to the boat. A 6 lb. black bass will give you a good tussle on an 8 wt. fly rig and he hit a #12 popper! And, pound for pound, I think a good carp could hold its' own for a while against any of those salty versions......don't think it would last as long, but, it would be fun at the start! Almost forgot, we have stripers and hybrids, too.

 

My 8 wt. isn't quite a 'broom stick', it has a pretty slow taper. It is so old, it was made before brand names were put on them!! Right now is not a good time to get my new rig, unless I pull a "fast one"......Joe knows about it. Which reminds me, Joe has a good deal on a 4 wt. rod/reel/line combo if anyone is interested.

[josephcsylvia 0]

Thank you Roland, and remember its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission lol!

[Roland58 0]

I took advantage of Joe's deal. It was so good I just couldn't pass it up!!

[Dave G. 0]

I have to admit I have never hooked up with a salmon or steelhead, however, I do know what a good fight feels like. A 5 foot sting ray (tip to tip) on a light saltwater spinning rig.......had to chase that one for a while, but, did get it to the boat. A 6 lb. black bass will give you a good tussle on an 8 wt. fly rig and he hit a #12 popper! And, pound for pound, I think a good carp could hold its' own for a while against any of those salty versions......don't think it would last as long, but, it would be fun at the start! Almost forgot, we have stripers and hybrids, too.

 

My 8 wt. isn't quite a 'broom stick', it has a pretty slow taper. It is so old, it was made before brand names were put on them!! Right now is not a good time to get my new rig, unless I pull a "fast one"......Joe knows about it. Which reminds me, Joe has a good deal on a 4 wt. rod/reel/line combo if anyone is interested.

Some of those old rods are nice actually. I like the old brown glass rods, usually had lacquer coat or varnish on them cause I guess they still thought they were dealing with bamboo or something. I had a spinning rod like that actually, could have been a flyrod blank . It was rather noodle like but nice with a fish on. I'd keep that old eight weight and just update the reel a little bit along the way.

 

Best of luck with Joe's rig, hope you enjoy it !! Sounds like now you have a trout and panfish rod.

[Roland58 0]

Hey Dave,

Yeah, my old 8 wt. is brown and appears to be lacquered. It is good rod for being so old. I have already thought about a different reel for it....someday. Thanks for all your help. I am pretty sure i am going to enjoy this new one!

R

[Adam Saarinen 0]

Is this thread still going? Buy a Hardy Marquis No.1 for that old 8wt!

[Roland58 0]

It was never my intent to create such a "shirt" storm from what I thought was a simple question. I have made a good deal on a combo and after I hit the lotto, maybe I'll purchase one those Marquise!

[Dave G. 0]

It was never my intent to create such a "shirt" storm from what I thought was a simple question. I have made a good deal on a combo and after I hit the lotto, maybe I'll purchase one those Marquise!

You don't need anything that fancy or with such a prestigious name either. Hit ebay, you just want a reel that functions better than an auto. I had one on my very first (South Bend with level line no less) fly rod. That was a long time ago ! But you know what, that South Bend and I caught brook trout ( that was one of the white circa maybe early 60's glass blanks, more springy than the brown ones).

 

You could do way worse than going to Amazon and picking up an Okuma SLV 78 for $54. Or even a Sierra for $40.

[Rocco 0]

The duration of this thread is a direct reflection of the cabin fever levels among the great majority of us. Any other time of year the topic is good for 4-5 exchanges. I actually flunked retirement the first winter into it and went back to work! That's how much down time can make you crazy.

 

Rocco

[Dave G. 0]

The duration of this thread is a direct reflection of the cabin fever levels among the great majority of us. Any other time of year the topic is good for 4-5 exchanges. I actually flunked retirement the first winter into it and went back to work! That's how much down time can make you crazy.

 

Rocco

Guess what Rocco ? You just added to the duration of the thread !! LOL

 

We had a thread go almost this long on choosing a vise, not sure the guy even bought one in the end ! but that was in the heart of fall fishing season.

[Roland58 0]

I think the vise thread may have been mine, as well. You may be on to something with the cabin fever thing. Leave it to a newbie to ask the questions for which there are only personal preference answers......I am learning, thanks to a bunch of great people on this forum. To Dave; you can bet that I will be going for something like you suggested. I just can't afford the really high dollar reels, well, I probably could, but, wouldn't. Like one of my college profs used to preach....."the simplest machine that will do the job adequately is the best."