Reccomended Fly Reels?

[Diggedy]

Can anyone make a reccomendation for a good flyreel? I'm looking at the Lamson Velocity, Teton Tioga and Orvis Battenkill LA. It would need to do double-duty in the salt and handle the abusive runs of NY trib Chinooks.

Thanks,

DS

[Quicksilver]

IMHO warranty and drag of the Lamson and Teton is superior to Orvis.

[AlderBrookFarm]

One of the fly magazines I get reviewed a bunch of reels this past winter. I remember Lamson being high on the list. I'll have to look to see if I still have it kicking around.

[Catch22]

http://www.outdoorreview.com/jump^page^flycrx.aspx
is a good place to start. This site has reviews by every day people like you and me.
You'll have to excuse me if I don't put much faith in the reviews of a magazine. I have a hard time believing that a major advertiser is going to get a negative review by the editorial staff even if their product is deficient.
As far as personal experience, I have a Tioga that I use for salt & salmon. It hasn't let me down yet, and I don't expect it will anytime soon.

[fraserj1]

I have a Tioga #8 which has caught a dozen or so False Albacore, not to mention blues and stripers too numerous to count. I've owned and used Lamsons, Redingtons, Orvis Battenkill and Tiogas and for the money, the Tioga has been the best value.

FWIW, the Orvis was the worst value of the reels I mentioned above. It performed well and the very large arbor was great, but for the money ($250ish) the finish didn't seem all that great (painted as opposed to anodized on the others?).

Teton also has a line of reels called the Specialist line, which is a true large arbor reel like the Redington AL series and Orvis Battenkill Large Arbor. These are in the same price range as all mentioned above (except Tioga) and are designed specifically for the salt with some sort of extra hard anodization. Might be worth a look.

(But, again, for the most bang for the buck, you can't go wrong with the Tioga).

:D

[PhilDKreal]

I highly reccommend the Velocity. I have the 3.5 (9W), and just purchsed the 3 (7W) which I will be trying out tomorrow.

Used the 3.5 for bones in April and it was outstanding. The drag is very smooth, and the reel is light and well made.

Paid $215.00 for it.

Steve

[Chris Chick]

Although it's a bit pricey, for a fly reel that will floor you, check out the Valentine, with planetary gear system. It's available in an 8/9 weight and a larger 10/11 weight. It's a true anti-reverse, rather than direct drive. It's made in Norton, MA by a family business that loves to fish, and they made it for that reason. Like I said it's a bit expensive, aboout $430 but definitely worth every penny.

[BillMichelinie]

Of the three you mentioned, the Lamson is the best. The Tioga is the best reel for the money. Forget the Orvis fot the salt.

Don't miss the other fine Lamson/Waterworks reels. The good 'ol LP series is an excellent traditional fly reel that will do well in the salt with the normal bath afterwards. The Litespeed is a fantastic reel in my opinion, also large arbor. Has the same sealed cone-in-cone drag as the Velocity.

[maxg]

have a look at Old Florida, they have a wide range and you can get one frame and three spool types. Like get a model 7 frame and a LA and Super Arbor spool. They also have a 4.5 inch LA model 8. new and rods. Might be worth a look, in the right porice range. Max

[Capt.Dale]

Go with the valentine if it is in your price range.More bass, blues, bonito and albies than you can count.Picks up line fast, has a good drag and easy on your knuckles.................Mine is 5 years old and still kicking.


Capt. Dale

[kayaker]

My Lamson has served me well for years, but so has a low-priced Pfleuger Medalist. For stripers and blues, the economical Medalist is a winner.

[David Churbuck]

I second the Valentine. I've fished the planetary "knuckle-saver" and have owned a regular Valentine since I started fishing the salt with the fly in '91.

I fished the Valentine two night ago on bluefish and it is still a champ. Drag system is a bit of a ...drag. The old knobs were too small and the set up isn't half as slick as say a Tibor cork.

I have lots of friends who fish the Orvis. I don't especially like the reels, but my feeling on reels, at least for blues and small stripers, is they are little more than line holders and rarely, if ever, have I had to truly depend on the drag like I do with bonito and albs.

That's my vote. Valentine is cheap, built like a truck, but not carried by as many dealers as the other brands you're considering.

[Chris Chick]

Nice to see Capt. Dale & Mr. Churbuck have the same good taste and sense that I do. Short of the total wallet busting of an Abel or even worse a Henschel (the best in the world, bar none) the Valentine PL-9 is far superior to anything else mentioned, even the Pfleuger Medalist.

Chris

[AlderBrookFarm]

If you're thinking Pflueger then take a look a the Pfleuger Supreme 1890. My kid bought me one for Mother's Day from Hamilton Marine. It was $59.99 for the 10 wt reel.

[pafish]

I just got back from Alaska and hooked and fought close to 70 sockeye for the week (landed ~50) with a cortland magnum. The reel cost $100 and performed surprisingly well, however the drag finally crapped the bed on a foul hooked chum which ran into heavy current. We decided to chase it w/ the boat instead of breaking it off so it was really poor judgement which caused the demise of the reel (IMO). I borrowed the guides teton and the drag slipped on the first sockeye I hooked. The younger guide said he wasn't very impressed w/ Tioga (he received it as a tip) and for his money perferred Ross. The older guides all used Mitchell's (762's, I think). I believe the Mitchell's are discontinued but I fished w/ one and it could stop a truck, but they (guides) told me the Mitchell's are very particular to getting dunked and probably require too much care for the average angler. BTW Cortland said they will fix my reel for shipping and handling costs ($10). I would feel more comfortable w/ a better reel than the magnum on any hard running fish. Anybody use a Ross?

[Quicksilver]

I own a Cortland Magnum 140D. It was the first fly reel I purchased for saltwater. The reel is OK for small fish. I find that the drag is pretty much a joke though. IMHO any reel that employs a stack of small washers for a drag is not a serios tool for landing decent fish.