Steelfin?

[peteD]

I have a Steelfin reel that I want to send back to the company. I don't have a address or telephone and their web site and email is gone. Does anyone know if the company still exists?

[loophitech]

I could not find it either. Maybe they were bought out by someone??? Good luck.

[peteD]

I found out they went out of business in January. So much for my 25 year warrenty. Luckily I found someone in Oregon who fixes reels. If you are thinking of buying one don't.

[sage fly guy]

I'll be dipped. Sorry to hear that.

I should be able to get a good deal on an ABYSS now.

pete,

You need one of these anyways.

chris

[peteD]

Thanks Chris but last week I struck out on the BFTs. The Vario 12 did look a little small on the 15/17 tuna stick though. I definitely like the Haydens, and hope he stays around. What does an Abyss with no warrenty go for? I talked to Bill Archuleta of Archuleta reel works and he can fix it the Vario.

[formula1]

It's one of the reasons why I stay away from reels like Steelfin and Hayden, etc. I considered them for a while and they looked great but I'm a lot more comfortable that companies like Abel and Tibor are likely to be in business 10 or 20 years from now - of course doesn't mean they will be but they've been around for a while and seem to have more stability than some of the other names. Doesn't matter how great a reel is (unless it's indestructible), if it breaks and there's no warranty service for it you end up having to pay someone to fix it.

[sage fly guy]

That's the chance as a consumer you have to take.

I looked at every big game fly reel on the market before choosing.

My first choice was a Pate Marlin. I quickly realized that although the standard for years this was not what I was looking for.

I checked out Tibor and Abel. But at half the drag and not even anti-reverse how could I justify the expense.

I guess it's almost like fly reel Russin Roulette.

chris

[formula1]

Of course *any* company can go out of business - but some are more likely than others. The odds are greater that a Hayden or Steelfin will go out of business and less for an Abel or Tibor.

As far as drag and anti-reverse, that depends. Abel has an AR but personally I prefer DD not AR. Half the drag depends as well - most of us fish leaders that follow IGFA guidelines so in that case 42 lb. of drag is irrelevant when you're talking about 10kg class tippet. For some, a rarefied few, that would matter but for 99% of the guys out there it doesn't, especially when you consider most fly lines have a breaking strength around 30-35 lb. A 12+ lb. drag is more than enough. Considering that Abel and Tibor lead the field in world records that is good enough for me.

[sage fly guy]

Sometimes you need 42# of drag, expecially when your fly liine breaks at 150#'s. ;)

IGFA no fun.

chris

[formula1]

Well then you are definitely the customer Hayden and Steelfin have in mind - what exactly to you fish for where you need 42 lb. of drag? And what tippet do you use? Can't see much of anything beyond BFT and Marlin over 300 lb. that would need that kind of drag - 10 kg tippet is good for anything up to 250 lb and then some if you got the skill. Most of my big fish are tarpon and I'd definitely find it overkill to use tippet over 16 lb. for most fish up to 145 lb., let alone 10 kg.

[jkrogers]

All I can say is, I just bought one of Terry's new reels: Hayden Striker 2.

I believe the reel is bullet proof and was less expensive than a Tibor or Abel.

Terry makes them all by himself, no production line, no assistants running around his shop getting in the way. His Name His reel, I think will be around for many years.

I have called both Tibor and Abel factories, both have phone receptionists etc...

When you call Hayden, Terry answers the phone himself. He is the last and only word at his facility.

[sage fly guy]

Terry makes them all by himself, no production line, no assistants running around his shop getting in the way. His Name His reel, I think will be around for many years.

From your lips to Gods ear's;)

[Too Fly]

Huh? I've had to call Tibor only a couple times. One call was for a warranty issue. Their service dept. is top-notch. Abel on the otherhand... I didn't get the greatest service there.

[formula1]

Having Hayden himself answer the phone is a double edged sword - on the one hand you talk to the man himself...but...if it's a one man show what happens if he gets run over by the beer truck one day? With a phone receptionist it tells me that Tibor and Abel are larger organizations and that alone tells me that they are less likely to go under than a one man show. Look what happened to Steelfin - the guy decided to give up the biz and go fishing...and everyone is stuck with worthless 25 year warranties...

[sage fly guy]

True, it's a double edged sword. But one I like to walk.

When I call the manufacturer who made my $600.00 fly reel, I don't want to get a receptionist. I want the one on one personal touch you can't get with a larger company.

When I need to get 50#'s of drag instead of #44 there's only one person I want to talk to. The man who make's them.

When I need to ask a question about a specific Sage blank, I don't want the receptionist, I want to speak with Jerry Siem himself. If I can't speak to the maker directly, I need to be able to get timely involved emails quickly and promptly.

That's why I like companies like Hayden and Cape Fear. They make a super product and are still small enough to have the personal touch.

As far as 25 year warranties being voided by the death of the owner, again double edged sword. Then again I wouldn't buy a reel for almost $1000.00 if I was worried about a 25 year warranty.

When I want a product to fill a specific need cost and warranty are the last things I look for. If a reel for $300 did what a Hayden did, I'd have 10 of them.

But to each his own.

chris

Anyone have a Abyss they don't want because of warranty issue's?? ;)

[formula1]

Chris, true, to each their own...btw, again I'm very curious, just what is it that you fish for that requires 50 lb. of drag on a fly rod?

[rhodyflyguy]

only giants would really need 50 lbs of drag, but do you need a car that can go over 65 mph? I'd get one in a second, i just need some caaaasssshhhh. A Broad Bill and a Custom 14 wt Sage Xi2, oohh wee, that would be nice! Now if I could go fishing with Riptide some more :) Riptide, don't worry about the fact we only saw 1 pod of tuna last sunday. Check your e mails, we want another trip --125-3

[sage fly guy]

Chris, true, to each their own...btw, again I'm very curious, just what is it that you fish for that requires 50 lb. of drag on a fly rod?


Hopefully one of these ;)

[formula1]

You know Chris, I'm not trying to be disrespectful but you seem to be avoiding the question of what you fish for that requires 50# of drag. At first it was simply out of curiousity that I asked as no fish I've fought/landed up to 150+# has ever required more drag than I could produce with an Abel or Tibor. But now I'd like to know if you actually have - I've seen way too many people, for example, give casting advice but couldn't double haul their way past 50 ft. Again no disrespect intended - I'd just like to know.

[formula1]

only giants would really need 50 lbs of drag, but do you need a car that can go over 65 mph? I'd get one in a second, i just need some caaaasssshhhh.

Actually not a good analogy. Cars that could only go to 65 mph would be so limited in power that they would be dangerous - it would literally take a car close to a minute to get to that speed if it was made just powerful enough to get to 65 mph. The amount power that enables a car to reach 65 mph quickly so it can safely merge into traffic also endows a car with top end capability over 100 mph. Also, there are places where you can use that power - I have an 800 hp sports car that I take to the track and instruct with sometimes so it *is* used. However, a fly reel that makes enough drag for a 20 lb. tippet (about as high as 99% of us will ever go) is not going to fail if it doesn't have the capability to produce 50# of drag. 20 lb. tippet can catch fish that are more than most of us can handle, such as 200 lb. tarpon...a reel that can only produce 12+ lb. of drag does not handicap anyone with 20 lb. tippet the same way a car that can only do 65 mph would handicap a driver and make it extremely dangerous for them to merge onto a highway or pass a truck going up an ugrade on a 2 lane highway.

[sage fly guy]

Maybe this picture will clarify it better than the last one.

chris

[ikan besar]

Some of the most popular reels that are only capable of producing 6-12#s of drag end up frequently being fished at the top of their drag curve (maxed out if you were). However, when you take a reel that can put out well over 20-30#s of drag and fish it at the same 10#s of drag that you would have with your Tibor/Abel/etc, the reel isn't even struggling, heats up less, and so forth.

If someone wants to stay within the arbitrary IGFA guidelines, then this all means nothing. Just a thought.

[formula1]

ikan, you are right, if you are fishing within IGFA it means nothing. My point was that *most* people don't need a reel that can produce 20, 30, 40 or 50# of drag - in fact I'd bet 99.99% of all flyfisherman don't need it. I looked at Hayden/Steelfin etc but their weight (heavier than an Abel or Tibor) sealed it for me - I sight cast to tarpon mostly with these reels and the lighter weight appealed to me - of course I don't have 40# drag capability either but I don't need it. My other point was that a Tibor and Abel is adequate for what most fisherman will use them for and both reels have landed some good size fish as well - over 300# (the largest IGFA fly caught fish) which is more than enough fish for most people.

But, one day I plan to go after bigger fish than tarpon and at that point I'll may need a Hayden, Steelfin, etc and at that time I'll consider it.

[jim1205]

just get a phleuger loaded with gelspun and and palm it. When the fish runs I like to wrap the gelspun around my finger to slow the fish down(although i'm going to have to switch to my toes soon, running out of fingers)

[jkrogers]

Guys,

Check out Terry's new Striker DD, drag 5# in 3 sizes and less expensive than Tibor or Abel: Built like a tank. :)

http://www.flyreels.com.au/

[ikan besar]

There are people out there that are not concerned with the sanctioned tippet sizes as put forth by IGFA. I know several people that want to put a very large YFT in the boat and couldn't care less about what tippet size they use to do it - they just want the quivering fish in the cockpit. For people like that, who use custom fly rods built on heavy Calstar conventional blanks, the drag that is possible on Tibor and Abel reels falls well short of the mark.

Most of my fishing is done while knee deep on the flats. Therefore, I really have no need for drags in excess of 3-4#s. However, I can understand those that do, and I own a few Charlton 8600's for any endeavors that may call for that sort of thing.

[sage fly guy]

There are people out there that are not concerned with the sanctioned tippet sizes as put forth by IGFA. I know several people that want to put a very large YFT in the boat and couldn't care less about what tippet size they use to do it - they just want the quivering fish in the cockpit. For people like that, who use custom fly rods built on heavy Calstar conventional blanks, the drag that is possible on Tibor and Abel reels falls well short of the mark.

Most of my fishing is done while knee deep on the flats. Therefore, I really have no need for drags in excess of 3-4#s. However, I can understand those that do, and I own a few Charlton 8600's for any endeavors that may call for that sort of thing.

Mr. Besar

I think I could fish with you. A few Hayden 6's, some Cape Fear 19's. A few of my custom made 130# lines with 1500gr 30' heads.

Then bring on the 400# Mako's and 250# Bluefin. --127-3- ;) --127-3-

chris

[rhodyflyguy]

Actually not a good analogy. Cars that could only go to 65 mph would be so limited in power that they would be dangerous - it would literally take a car close to a minute to get to that speed if it was made just powerful enough to get to 65 mph. The amount power that enables a car to reach 65 mph quickly so it can safely merge into traffic also endows a car with top end capability over 100 mph. Also, there are places where you can use that power - I have an 800 hp sports car that I take to the track and instruct with sometimes so it *is* used.
Please forgive me, i am by no means a car expert, but by electronically limiting a car's RPM, would you decrease the acceleration? I should really be asking my younger bro bout this, he's making a 64 skylark, straight pipes, aluminum block, a bunch of stuff i can't remember...

[ikan besar]

Sage Fly Guy,

We just might have to meet up some day. I'm off on an extended trip tomorrow, so I will have to check in on this thread sometime in the future.

Good luck on the mako's :)