reels

[jeffg]

OK,
I haven't bought a fly reel in about 4 years now. Needless to say, there is a hell of a lot more choice out there now and I have not had the pleasure of sampling the majority of them. So, who has a reel that was under $300 that they LOVE and why?
Looking at a reel that will hold 9-11 wt line for the salt, capable of taking a minor beating as the back up rod on my boat--New England species only.

I'm keeping an open mind, the one requirement is that it is machined. I've been using Orvis Batttenkills forever, which are molded, and they warp if you stare at them the wrong way--fortunately I've gotten free relpacements approximately every other year...but who wants to deal with that.

Fire away...

Jeff G.

[Rocky]

Jeff....I like my Ryalls. I have an #8 and #10 and both performed well all year including a thorough drag testing down in NC on size large Albies. The reels have only been used one year so I can't speak to their longevity, but mine still look like new. (I am pretty anal regarding cleaning and maintaining my stuff)The Ryalls look very similar to the Tiogas and Tetons, but I like the finish on the Ryalls a bit better.
All that being said my next reel will probably be something else just for a change. Have you looked at the new Battenkill?? I'm not a big fan of Orvis but they lok nice in the pictures!;-))E-mail Adam, he has enough equipment to open his own fly shop and he loves to read and talk about gear (because he does not have much of a life and has little else to do).
R-

[Adam-Albino]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>funny :-)</FONT></P>
<P>my shop opens next spring.....</P>
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[DaveBoucher]

Been Pleased with My Tioga...

[BobD]

All the reels mentioned, Ryall, Teton, Tioga throw in the Old Florida. They are all built like a brick sh&%house and all under $300 with great warranties.

Bob D<BR><img src="http://www.watersedge-charters.com/nebaylogo.gif">

[josko]

Would someone please tell me why the Sci Anglers II is not the greatest ever? Just spent a week bonefish, cuda and shark fishing. Ya, the SA II 89 might not be as smooth as some reels, but I'd be durned if I can figure out if there's anything wrong with them for bonefishing. Landed a 54" 'cuda on a SA 1011, and the drag had no trouble. I use my 89 a LOT each summer, and it's still running strong. Other than earheading, do we really need more reel for anything (12+ wt excepted)?

[MarkD]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Ross reels!

They are machined aluminum, have a sealed drag system, a lifetime guarantee, guaranteed two day turn around time if they ever need servicing, and they are light and durable.

An Abel Super 8 weighs 8.1 oz., and holds #8 + 200yds of 20 lbs. backing. An Abel Super 10 weighs 8.7 oz., and holds #10 + 200yds of 30 lbs. backing. For half of the Abel price you can get a Ross G-5 (6.1 oz., #9 + 250yds of 20 lbs. backing) or the larger Ross Saltwater #3 (7.2 oz., #10 + 275yds of 20 lbs. backing). Abel must charge by weight!?!

Is aluminum that expensive?

Ross reels are king in my book.

My .02.

[bdowning]

Now that we've completely befuddled jeffg... ;-);

I also vote for the old warhorse, the SA II. Rugged and reasonably priced. Only criticism is that it is slightly heavy for all day casting, but that's really a minor point and I don't cast all day anyway.

-bd


<img src="http://world.std.com/~bdowning/fishing_lg_wte.gif">

[kirkb]

Jeff- I cast my vote for the Tioga's, but like what I see of the new Reddingtons. Machined and Lifetime Warranty. Drag seems quite smooth and can really tighten down.
Kirk

[jeffg]

Thanks fellas,
nothing like quick, timely, impassioned responses (especially Joskos). NOw I get to go out and play with all these toys for the next few weeks. I do think SA's are a little heavy, but only because I have been know to cast for 10 straight hours.

Going to look at the new Battenkills for the hell o fit at lunch today, although I don't think they are at the top of my list right now.

No die-hard Lamson folks on this board anymore???

After "getting by" with a very average unmachined reel for so long (which I am still using), I think anything is gonna be a step up. I'll let you know what brand wins....

Thanks again.

Jeff G.

[Adam-Albino]

&nbsp;<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 8pt">Mark - You are correct.&nbsp;I have a Ross SW-3 and its one good reel. It is very strong and lighter then a lot of the super high end stuff. I don't put it in my "favorite" category lots of times because I absolutely HATE the "clicker" noise the drag catches make. Also some of the cheesy plastic parts have got&nbsp;to go.</SPAN>
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[Adam-Albino]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>OK Josko I'll tell you :-)... If I have a choice between two very good reels - at the same&nbsp;or nearly so price, and one is machined T-6061 (or similar) and one is cast aluminum - guess which one I'd buy.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Lets not forget, Pflueger Medilasts caught fish like giant Tarpon and Sailfish in the 50's and 60's - but I wouldnt want to fish one today. Its the difference between "old tech" materials, and new.</FONT></P>
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[josko]

Well, the way i see it, the thing could be made out of clay and magic dust; if it holds up as well as my Nobska regular SA II 89, and the drag is not sticky, does it really make a difference.

BTW, I bring out my US-made Medalist every once in a while, and am actually casting round the auctions for another one. I bought that reel in 1976, carried it from Alaska to Seychelles ande everything in between, and it's still in great shape. I really wonder if the Abels and other current top-of-the-line will have that kind of staying power. Marco will get the medalist when he's old enough to appreciate it, and that's as it should be.

[Adam-Albino]

<FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>A&nbsp;VW will drive you between point A and B just as well as a BMW. I'd rather have the BMW. (BTW I have a VW, and you have a BMW.....Hmmmm....wanna trade? :-)</FONT>
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[gregk]

I just purchased two used (6+years old) Billy Pates, look virtually unused. Sending them to the factory for conversion to left hand wind.
These are my first top notch reels.
But what I fish with the other 99.5% of the time is Medalists and Tiogas......(I don't catch tunoids :-(
My 2 cents
greg

[RayG]

Just thought I would chime in, although I have been amongst the missing!!!

Jeff, I have a Lamson Bonefish which is my go-to, but they are no longer made. I also have a Fly-Logic (the higher end) which served me well last year. However, the Tioga has become my workhorse reel (just bought a 6 to add to the collection.) Feature for feature, they are truly a great reel. My .02

Ray G

[Slamdance]

Perhaps Josko drives a BMW, and you're still in a lowly, plebian V-Dub, because Josko didn't throw his away on uneeded fly reels!

Just a thought...:-)

Kinda reminds me of that silly WSJ ad with the "don't waste your $ on fishing magazines" theme.

[DFix]

This has nothing to do with the reels thread -

Twice tonight, while going through the thread, at the point I've read Adam's posting, with the caster flailing madly at the bottom, my machine has frozen, and had to bemanually shut down and re-started...
Anybody else experienced that at any point?

[DFix]

Amend my last...count now THREE times on the casting posts.

Sparky, what the $%#@?

[ssully]

Goose,

Are you blaming all the woes on Adam's little casting dude?

;-)))

[JHorton]

<P><FONT color=black face=Verdana,Geneva size=2>Uhh, I'm with Josko on this one, I don't think you can beat the SA System II for the money.</FONT></P><FONT face=Verdana size=2>
<P>But if you absolutely MUST spend $ 300., Look at the new SciAnglers System II Mastery series reels. For a tad over three-hundred, you can get a beautifully machined reel, and a SPARE SPOOL! CNC machining, and aviation-grade carbon-fiber heat-dissipating drag system.</P>
<P><A href="http://products.mmm.com/us/home_leisure/products/sci_angler.jhtml;$sessionid$L314MSYAAABE5QA2AFKCFE Y?W9QJFSN3beV2YX5LDWbeT1T4S9TCgvQ4P3JCWMgl">http://products.mmm.com/us/home_leisure/products/sci_angler.jhtml;$sessionid$L314MSYAAABE5QA2AFKCFE Y?W9QJFSN3beV2YX5LDWbeT1T4S9TCgvQ4P3JCWMgl</A></P>
<P>And BTW this is not really me, as I have sworn off of this BBS-:)</P></FONT>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>
<P><FONT size=3>J.Horton</FONT></P>
<P><A href="http://people.ne.mediaone.net/aromafusion/masssalt.htm"><FONT size=3>Mass Salt</FONT></A></P>

[Adam-Albino]

Last I looked the SA2 and the Teton Tioga are nearly the same price.... Nope, it must be something else then saving on reels why he has a BMW :-);
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[nhursh]

is there a model of Ross reels that you like for striper fishing?

[nhursh]

I have a lamson 2, 3, and 3.5. I use the 3 & 3.5 for striper and albie fishing and have loved them. Have had a few clutch problems on the 3, but the drag is smooth and effective for all fish. Looks like they have increased the price on therm recently, though, especially the extra spool.
Norm

[FishHawk]

With all the various reels out there you know that in a few years some of the companies will go out of business and you could be stuck when it comes to repairs. I would bet on the larger companies. But who knows Lampson was sold by Sage. I would go with Tioga it is rugged and has a large customer base.
Tigh lines,
FishHawk

[MarkD]

Try either the Gunnison #5 or the Saltwater #3 for stripers. You can go to their site for all the specs.

www.ross-reels.com

Good luck.

[ssully]

Jeff,

I took a good look at a Reddington 9/10 not the LA model today. It will cost me the same as a Teton 9/11 extra spool.
I guess two reels are better than one.

[BrianB]

I have a couple of System IIs. My only complaint is that the finish is not very durable.

[jimg10]

Jeff,

Also liked what I saw regarding the new Reddington LA reels. Just bought a 9/10 to use on my St. Croix 9' Legend Ultra. Will get back to you when I have some real-life info to give you Re: performance under fire...
Lifetime Unconditional Waranty...$185.00...good quality and craftsmanship...we'll see...

[TomDunlap]

my vote is for the lamson 3.5 sweet,light, smooth drag, low startup inertia.... and $215.00, not cheap but a great reel at a reasonable price. lifetime unconditional warrenty. the guys at stoddards sent one back that a guy had run his car over. Tom

[desmobob]

How come nobody has mentioned the Orvis DXR? I've had one for a while, the 9/10, and it's tough as nails. The drag is smooth and strong as you want it to be, with nice click indents on the drag setting knob.

I hated forking over the cash when I bought it, but I don't regret it at all, now. Orvis' customer service and product guarantees are fantastic, too.

[gregg01]

The Gunnison series drag system is an exposed polymer (delrin- very low temp material by the way) disc, captured between the frame and the spool spindle. It is entirely exposed to the elements. Also, the material used in the G5 drag (delrin) is known to over-heat and actually melt on long runs of medium fresh water species, let alone large salt fish. This is in part due to the small contact area between the spindle and the disc on the spindle side.

The salt series, while comprising some stainless components, is also not sealed. It is mated fairly well to the housing, but you will note that all Ross saltwater reels come with an instruction sheet directing you to rinse reels used in saltwater in fresh water after use. This is because salt water can indeed get into the drag environment, which of course, left unrinsed and unchecked, will evaporate leaving brine in the system- thus causing the drag and/or spindle to seize.

I guess I should qualify my remarks. Sealed in the true sense to me (an engineer), usually indicates a water-proof seal, generally facilitated via o-rings, adhesives, etc. Neither the Gunnison series, nor the Salt series (nor any known series of Ross reel) is water-tight in regards to the mechanisms. I am confident of this as I was a manufacturing engineer and shop manager for their production facility.

What I am seeking from any and all; what is your list of requirements for a true top-quality, affordable saltwater reel?