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Looking to get a new reel to put on an 8 1/2' 5wt st. croix rod. Most of my fishing is for trout on small Long Island, NY streams/rivers. Am considering either the Temple Fork Outfitters Midge Cassette reel or the Orvis Rocky Mountain. Appreciate any feedback on these.
Thanks
How about an Okuma SLV
http://www.troutlet.com/scripts/prodVie ... roduct=697
Just saw on the Orvis website "sale room" that the Rocky Mt. is on sale for $49 and extra cassettes are $12. A darn good buy if you like the reel.
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choi ... pf_id=29AE
Dean
There is a review of the TFO cassette reel here
www.flyanglersonline.com/prorevw/tfocassette.html
The Rocky Mountain is decent too, especially at the current sale prices. It is a larger diameter reels also, which may factor into your decision, depending on you preferences.
I just bought one of these from Cabelas after talking with WarrenP, a dear friend whose opinion I value a LOT!
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... d=cat20471
Nice reel. You just can't beat the price, quality, & customer service. I got one for my new 5wt.
Mike
I like my Ross Evolution reel.
It's light, beautifully made, and works flawlessly.
http://www.rossreels.com/products/ev.../evolution.cfm
From an ex-LI-er the Rocky Mt. cassette reel was poorly designed. The line would get caught between the the cage & the face of the reel. This would at the very least, cause frustration, at the worst, cause loss of fish or ripped line.
Personally, I use a Ross G-1 or a Lamson V1.5 for 5 weight rods.
Ross has the best customer service... Lamson some of the worst.
Later,
Peter
(have a slice of pizza for me)
I recently ordered the Orvis Battenkill Barstock
II in titanium for my 4 weight banty. I am very
impressed with the reel for $99 and intend to
order the Battenkill III for my 5 and 6 weights as
funds permit. Classic design, very pretty reel, smooth as warm butter! I'm loving it! Warm regards,
Jim
Terry(akalooker has a GLOOMIS SYNCHROTEC 3-4-5 for sale in the sale room right here.You wont find a better deal than what he is offering.
Try the Teton/Tioga's. Very affordable and bomb-proof.
Lamson Velocity and Litespeed reels are available at various places on closeout for good prices. If you are interested in a fine quality reel for a good price you should check those out at championoutfitters.com.
I have a Battenkill Barstock 2 on my 6 weight FLI and a Lamson Litespeed on my TXL and think they are both really well built reels.My BBS was made in England but the new chinese reels are supposed to be the exact same reels.
Remember the reason the Rocky Mountain is on sale, because it is being discontinued. I have one its a nice reel. It's a little heavier than my Battenkill LA
My favorite rod is an 8 1/2 foot 5 wt rod custom built on a St. Croix blank. I have a Teton Tioga 5 LA on it. It has been a great reel so far and balances the rod out really well.
Greg
Hey Mikey
You don't trust my opnion? I told you that they were nice reels a long time ago :lol:
Brad
14 responses...
more opinions than responses.
How can this possibly help?
Find a near by fly shop.
Test some reels (if you can't cast 'em you can at least feel the smoothness, check the drag, whatever)
& try to make up your own mind.
You know, it's not a lifetime commitment. sell or give it away if you don't like it. Find something else.
Or vascilate.
Later,
Peter 8)
Ok, don't listen to all these other guy's... Just kidding. Sounds like you want a decent reel at a decent price. I have owned many and I know some here prefer Lamson, Ross and so forth. I love the Orvis Barstock for quality, price and looks. I also have a few Battenkill LA reels I just love. If you want a god reel and don't have to have a completely machined Barstock Aluminum reel and want to spend no more than like $50 bucks, take a look at ROSS. They have a couple of reels that they designed here in US but are manufactured in like China but they are nice reels. They currently have them at Bass Pro and I believe cabelas for like 40% off. My brother purchased on for like $36 bucks! Makes a great extra, emergency or smaller trout reel or panfish reel.
Look, a reel is a reel and unless your catching BIG fish and I mean trout over 18 inches on a regular basis you rarely will need the super drag systems on these expensive $300 + reels... Just make sure you watch out for a reel that the line gets caught in the space between the cartridge or spool and the actual reel. That can be a pain. Spend the money on good line and a good rod! Peace
Brad,
Oops! You're RIGHT! You DID tell me the Cabela's were a great reel value, & YES, I DO value your opinion, but tell anybody....it'll ruin my bad reputation! :wink:
Mikey
I have a Rocky Mountain LA for 5/6 wts.
It's a very good reel for the price.
Never had any problems with it.
A little heavy compared to what's also available.
The Drag could "stop a horse".
I took advantage of the Orvis sale on its Rocky Mountain Large Arbor. It's a bit heavier than the reel it replaced, but it looks well made and durable. However, like others, I was a little disappointed with the drag. It's very smooth, only that the top-end setting is nowhere near my Okuma reels. Is this the way the Rocky Mountains are, or should I get it replaced/looked at? I'm struck by The_Sib's posting that this reel can stop a horse, because mine can't.
I was looking for a new reel for my 5-weight too, and today ended up with a new Ross Flywater 2. It was on sale for $75 at the local fly shop, the owner marked it down from $99 because it's the 'old' model and she couldn't get extra spools for it. It's solid and tight, and the Gunnison drag is sweet! Plus the price was right, it's a local US manufacturer, and from a local fly shop. Will be (hopefully) testing that drag out on some big browns at the high North Park CO lakes next week!
DANBOB