Fly reels

[Guest flyfishBDS]

One point, reels are getting lighter, just not as fast as rods.

The leap to disc drags in the last decade did add weight, and large arbors but all the manufacturers are trying to cut it out (literally and figuratively). Trouble is less metal/less weight means less strength unless you have some fancy materials, smart design/engirneering and machining. That all costs.

At the top end $250 plus reels are incredibly light _ almost too much so. Im running a Sage 2560 on my XP 5wt 9' because to me it has better balance, rather than the 5wt reel.

But the disc drag large arbor phenom was really driven by the market, traditional style reels just weren'tbeing purchased. Look at the demise of the Gunnison and Cimarron, both tough as teak and last a lifetime.

Cheers

Steve

[3wt]

Sorry if this brings back too dead of a topic, but:

I agree with almost everything said with a few exceptions:

1.) Ross doesn't make any junk as far as I can see

2.) What demise of the Cimarron? Still made is both normal and large arbors.

I own a Cimarron and it's been nothing but fantastic.

I like the idea of large arbor just to avoid tight loops when possible. Also, I love disc drag technology, quiet, smooth, probably unecessary for trout and it's just cool. Does it really add that much weight?

I went up to to the cabelas here in St. Louis, and had a chance to check out the Cabelas SLA. That's a pretty nifty reel. Talk about finding ways to loose mass, and it seems pretty strong. Anybody else have thoughts? I hear it's "reel of the year" in one of the magazines

[Brian Wise]

Accourdingly, I cant really see a reason not to use a modern disc drag fly reel.

I couldn't agree more...

When you hook the fish of a lifetime why not have a "tiny" edge on your competition.

Brian

[Guest flyfishBDS]

Ok the demise of the Cimarron was premature LOl but its way overshadowed in the lineup by the Cimmaron CLA. I don't know I could give one away _ fine reel thought it is _

Now if you own a Ross you don't own a Large Arbor _ (prehaps Larger Arbor than traditional or Mid Arbor might be more accurate. Ross themselves delibaretely chose this design for their trout reels, post Cimarron/Gunnison, for the following factors

the arbors are too small to make a difference

they add weight/unnecessary expense reducing it.

In many ways the Mid arbor might be the perfect adaption for trout _ but Large its nots. If you want to look at a Large Arbor look as Sage etc and look where the arbor is, way out from the centre point of the reel.

3wt you asked about Weight doesn't really matter to me as much as balance _ see above. But the market has been demanding lighter and lighter for years in rods and reels, and bulletin boards can often go into a lather over the lightness of a new rod which is measured in tenths of an ounce.

My view if you arm gets tired swinging that "heavy reel" take your watch off LOl

CC and my points in terms of weight wasn't how much but that inherently a disc is heavier than the equivalent click drag despite the fly fisher's fetish for lighter and lighter lol

Cheers

[Ham]

I own a CFO123 for a 7 1/2 3 WT flyrod that was made for me by a friend. Special rod so I bought a special reel to go on it.

I own Okuma Sierras for my everyday rods. Inexpensive by IMHO all the reel I need for smallies, trout, and panfish. Not too heavy. Decent balance when I have to let a fish run. No problems. I don't use my fly fishing gear nearly as much as most of you guys. If fly fishing were the only way I fished, I'd probabl own "better".

One thing to keep in mind, a heavier reel behind your hand doesn't wear on me as much as a rod that is heavy out to the tip. That lesser weight on a long lever gets to me.

A light well balanced combo is the cats pjs.

[Gavin]

I'm not a fan of Ross. I have a Cimmaron and a Gunnison. The Gunnison is OK, but the Cimmaron has a design flaw that has caused it to free spool on me on many occasions.

The problem is that it only has one little spring loaded pin to attach the spool to the drag system on the reel frame and sometimes that little pin gets stuck in its hole and wont engage with the drag. It usually happens if you get your reel wet in freazing weather and it also happens if you get a little grit in your reel. The Gunnison has the same problem but it has two pins to engage the drag, so the free spool problem happens rarely..

I do a lot of cold weather canoeing & fishing and my reels get wet and dirty in the bottom of my canoe...It might be just fine if your only going to fish when its nice out and keep your reels clean and dry but its not a good reel for me. I want a reel that performs like an AK-47..works all the time, dirt, cold, etc. not an M-16.

I can say the same about Shimano Spinning reels. They work fine for the first couple months, then they start to bind when they get wet. I wont buy another Shimano spinning reel either. This year I switched to Daiwa spinning reels, hope they perform a lot better than the Shimano's. Cheers.

[motroutbum]

I use Lamson Velocity and Lite speed II's. I go large arbor on any reel if I could. But its all personal preference. Just like everything else. As for prices, i would rather spend up to 300 for a reel one time, rather than buy crappy $50 reels 4 or five times. Again like anything else you get what you pay for. I personally wouldnt buy a reel from any other company that is known for a good something else. Companies that are known for rods for the most part dont make reels that are up to par. Take sage for example, I am not a fan of their reels, but their rods are pretty good. THat is just a rule that I personally go by.

[Thom]

I just purchased a cabelas 3/4 prestige. I love it. For the money it can't be beat. It is on sale from 49 to 39 dollars in the new store opening in bridgeton. I have two orvis Batenkills and they are fine but I like the prestige better. 49 vs 129 not a real hard choice for me. I may be just dumb and happy, but the latter is the most important attribute.

Just as with flyrods. I own some very expensive ones but I have often stood near an expert who could throw 40feet out and just throw to where the fish were near me (25 feet) and caught as many or more fish. I have also been on the other end of that equasion.

[Terry Beeson]

...I may be just dumb and happy, but the latter is the most important attribute...

Sage advice there, Thom. I like that...

[armyflyfisher]

I was passing by the FT Worth TX Cabela's a couple of weeks ago on my way back from Killeen TX (relocating there in a week). They have a "Bargain Cave" that is definately worth a visit.

I picked up a 7'6" 6WT ST Croix Premier rod for 50% off ($50), and a new Prestige Plus II reel for $14.95 (reg $49.00), along with some lines at huge discounts and some tying materials.

Like Thom I like the Cabela's reel. Nicely finished, solid with very little play between the spool and frame. Feels a lot more solid than similiarly priced reels from BPS.

BTW, my latest quest is an Amercian made Medalist. Solid, dependable, American made click pawl reel, and can be had for <$20 usually on e-bay.

Check out this article on "balance." http://www.flyfishohio.com/a_question_of_balance.htm

David