To go along with my question about putting your reel in the water, what do you think the benifits of an expensive reel are. I rarely play a fish with a reel and I think I would just be more reluctant to beat it up. My 35 dollar reels suit me just fine. I do have one nice Phlueger, but I rarely use it for fear of beating it up and it’s not much smoother anyway.
BH,
IMHO, for trout (not salt), after a certain $$ or quality, there is NO real difference in the fonctionality of a reel.
Some will be lighter for more $$, but not always.
Some will have a better garantee, but not always.
Some will have a fancy paint job, … there are some works of art out there, (but I prefer black or silver.)
Even my reels for salmon are relatively “low end” things. They are quite servicable for my needs.
I use Sage reels for trout, 'cause I WANTED them. Not because they help me catch more fish.
If I didn’t use a piece 'cause I wanted to keep it new, I wouldn’t buy it. Same as when I lend stuff, if I was affraid it could get broken, I wouldn’t lend it.
My 0.02 $ anyway.
ps, the Phlueger will take an absolute BEATING and keep on running smoothly.
Christopher Chin
Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/:fc953]http://www3.sympatico.ca/chris_chin/[/url:fc953]
[This message has been edited by fcch (edited 21 April 2005).]
whatever floats your boat, personally, not over a hundred bucks!
first and foremost it feeds my ego.
seriously…silky smooth operation, high quality machining, very light in weight. may as well mention the smooth and easily adjustable no maintainance drag.
oh yeah…some of them look pretty cool too.
mgj
A better reel will do a MUCH better job of protecting light tippets.
That’s like asking “what’s the benefit of a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren over a Hyundai Accent”. I mean they’ve both got an engine and 4 wheels right?
Until you’ve had a drag freeze up on you and you lose a large fish, or a reel literally blow-up in your hands as a 5 lb rainbow takes you down stream in fast water you’ll never understand why some people choose quality over price.
Dan S
The poster formerly known as Outrider
I keep seeing this thing about silky drag making a reel worth the money, but in my opinion a drag is an extra you can do without for trout. I have landed trout to over 13lbs and always play the fish by hand instead of off the reel.
Work is a means for people to afford their fishing.
You have the quiet satisfaction of knowing your reel is better than mine.
Fishing the Ozarks
The point of flyfishing is to enjoy yourself. If you like the idea of a $300 reel, then you should have a $300 reel. I know for a fact that the Ross I usually use is overkill for 99.9% ofthe fish I catch, but hey, I like it. I like the feel, I like the look, all that stuff. Would a $30 rell serve me just as well? Yup. Will I catch more fish with my Ross? Nope. But I like and I’ll have it for years, and when I’m done with it, my son will probably be able to use it. Get want you want (and can afford) and don’t worry about the next guy downstream! Oh yeah, if it can’t get wet. don’t buy it!!
The big problem with expensive reels is no one wants to use one when they own one; as a result, the reel always looks new and never acquires the “character” and dignified “wear” a fine reel should receive. Several years ago, a couple of friends and myself formed “Patina Incorporated.”
Send your expensive reel to us and we will fish with it for a year and give it the “finish” it so richly deserves and return it to you. You can then proudly fish it with grace and panache, in a grand style you never knew you had!
I have expensive reels, Abels high end Orvis and yes even a Bogdon. I fish them all and fish them alot. I also find when I land large fish on light tippet or big saltwater fish where a high quality drag is neccessary I’m glad I have the reels I do.
Depends upon what you are fishing for… Little tunny, striped bass, weakfish, flounder, croaker, and the occassional cow-nosed ray can, and will, put you into your backing and test your drag.
While lots of sw fish have been landed on old Pfluegers, it isn’t worth the aggravation factor! And I’ve seen more than a few blown reels with piles of spaghetti line and no fish!
So, ya…I’ll spend a bit to get a good reel.
a blown reel has nothing to do with the price of the reel or the loss of a fish-it has to do with the fisher person??if i lose a fish because of me or my reel i could care less as i release all my fish except a few small brookies for me and the wife and i have yet to catch one that would matter what reel i was using??i have never had a reel freeze up and i fish yr. round with water temps.-32%to33% air temps.15%to20%?steelies&salmon never had a reel more than 200.00 and friends who dont have a reel over 100.00-they are better fishers than i??
bob faorite past-times winter steelie fishing-fall bow-hunting-would write more but with my typing i would be here for wks.??
Comanche,
The folks that I fish with are dedicated and skilled saltwater guys. They are on the look-out for the ultimate cheap sw fly reel. So far, they haven’t found one.
You should see what a 100 lb. cow nosed ray can do to a reel 
And the little tunny’s are known for the damage they do to rods as well as reels.
That’s not the same as a brookie or even a steelhead.
When it comes to reels you need to buy the best that is suited for the type of fishing that you do.
i am sure you are right-if fishing salt water-myself and friends never fish salt??
bob faorite past-times winter steelie fishing-fall bow-hunting-would write more but with my typing i would be here for wks.??
Bowhunter, if you don’t play the fish on the reel then the reel is just a storage device, although a large arbor is useful to help you pick the line up fast. But if you are fishing for larger (or faster, such as bonefish and albies) saltwater species your most important piece of tackle is your reel; that’s where your money should go; and the difference in quality of the drag will soon become apparent.
Analogbob…“Patina Inc”…I LOL!!!
I own 2 Teton Tiogas which I bought for their toughness more than anything else. In my case, I try to look at the wear & tear I’ll put on my stuff & buy accordingly. They also are said to have a good drag, so I’m hoping that proves out when I land that 1st steelhead or “light saltwater” species.
I’m SURE that in many saltwater applications a “premo” drag is a top priority.
That being said, we all have different needs, wants, desires, motivators, & priorities…it’s what makes us each unique & also why there are so many different brands out there.
Buy what ya want!!
Mike
ohiotuber
last week on the PM the guides tioga failed and lost the only steelhead my buddy hooked into. I was happy I had my own equipment. good equipment may be expensive but their is some better values out there. I use a harris and I believe that they are as good as reels much more expensive. I am sure there are other values out there also.
Paying good money for a reel gets you a number of things
- Quality Finish
- Quality Machining
- Quality service (if needed)
Buy cheap if you want a reel that will lose its finish and look like its been run over after 3-4 years. Buy cheap if you don’t mind your spool falling out when you finally hook the fish of a life time. Buy cheap if you like buying another reel every couple of years (some people love to shop)
Remember you don’t need to spend $400-$500 on a quality reel but $150-$250 is reasonable for a machined reel with a good anodized finish. Sure anything will hold line, even a beer can with line wrapped around it. If you’re going to fish for a lfetime make senseable investments. Buy the best you can afford.
Al
“I keep seeing this thing about silky drag making a reel worth the money, but in my opinion a drag is an extra you can do without for trout. I have landed trout to over 13lbs and always play the fish by hand instead of off the reel.”
Give me a break, you need to learn how to fish and stop critizing those of us who do. Let alone busting our rocks because of our equipment. Any fool trying to land a 13 pound trout with a hundred or so feet of line and backing wrapped around his feet and drifting in the current has no place posting his advise to others!