I’m looking for a large arbor reel in the $200-250 range to balance an 8 wt Redington CPS. It will be used for redfish, bonefish, permit, baby tarpon, and etc. I was using a Lamson Radius, but the drag was too grabby at higher settings. Any recommendations?
Sea level Tempest 7/8 or 9/10 or TFO LA 375 or 425
Ditto. I have the 9/10 – great reel.
I really like the Lamson Product and the drags systems, I have found them to be exceptionally smooth. If you want to upgrade from there Madison river has some good close outs on the Velocity, some Abel and Ross reels: http://www.mrfc.com/MadisonRiverShopping/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=4
Personally would just call Lamson and discuss your issues with them. That Radius should do anything that you want a reel to do.
Unfortunately, I got the Radius used without the warranty card. It works fine on the lower drag settings, but it gets very grabby and rough when you crank it up for bones.
Never heard of Sea Level reels before. Their website indicates that the Tempest was originally sold by Albright. I heard that the Albright reels (and the Redington CD) were actually made by Okuma. So, what makes the Sea Level Tempest a better choice than an Albright or Redington?
The Orvis Battenkill LAIV looks pretty sweet @ $239.00.
If it was me, I would look for one of these click/pawl, multiplier darlings.
Hopefully you could find one in this condition…
bobbyg 
Oh man, that Hardy multiplier is sweet!
Does anyone like the Ross CLA?
Don’t know who makes the Sea Level Tempest but I doubt it is Okuma since Okuma has not produces a drawbar type design as far as I know. Doesn’t matter who makes it anyway. The Tempest has had very good reviews from users around the world. Albright discontinued the reel when they got out of the higher end tackle business. The Sea Level tempest sells for half what it would from a name manufacturer because there are no marketing and distribution costs involved.
The Redinton Crosswater may be a clone of the Okuma Airframe or Cascade. The Redington CD/Rise , Orvis Mid Arbor, and Pflueger Trion are near clones with the exception of machining and the drag material and bearings, which the Redingtons have the better components.
The Sea Level is a much sturdier build than any of the current offerings from Albright or the Redington CD/Rise as well as having a much better drag systems.
The Redington CDL (not the same as the CD) is also a great alternative in your price range with a better build that the current Albright offerings. Is the Sea Level much better than the Redington CDL? I do not know, but I know of many happy Sea Level reel owners who have put them to the test in Baja for tuna, dorado, roosterfish, sailfish, etc. as they have also with the TFO Large Arbor reels.
The Ross CLA may be a good option also, I don’t know anyone who has one though.
Here’s my choice and they can still be found on ebay, for instance. These are much like the Tibors, etc in that they are a CNC machined, drawbar reel with a cork drag. Smooth and very reliable! In fact, I prefer these over the reel that Old Florida went to, the Nautilus although these are nice also but more expensive…
I prefer Danielsson Fly Reels…they are fairly cheap…I dont use the saltwater reels but the Traditional Reel with no drag…I believe you can get it for about $300 but the others are not bad price either…if you can get past the belief that you need a stout drag then this reel is perfect, especially for a 8wt…very wide spool to facilitate palming and its the original large arbour reel that is copied by everyone…just like a Volvo the Swedish design is built to take a pounding…I routinely catch the fish you are after with this reel and its all I use on all my rods
Har!
Thanks for all the good recommendations, guys–and the amusing ones, too. I’m still thinking about it…
I absolutely love mine
I just noticed it is Not In Stock. so why list it? grrr…
wonderful reels
How about the Sage reels? Is their “floating tripod carbon fiber drag” any good?
I have a Sage 1880. So far it seems pretty darned good for the $. I have only had it since last November so can’t speak for durability.
i have an albright tempest, which is a very nice reel. have a look at ll bean–they don’t make reels and i know that, in the past, their larger reels were made by islander–a very fine reel for the salt. i have a few redingtons but certain parts, like the drag lever, weren’t stainless or iodized and they corroded on me. if you want something that will survive a nuclear attack, look at the penn international. weighs a bit much, but could probably deflect a bullet from a 44 magnum. great drag on all of these reels, imho.
valentine reels are big bang for the buck.
Elkhorn T-3 w/extra spool can be had in that price range, which is simply an amazing buy! These are sensational reels at an increasingly impressive price point as you go up the size scale from T-1 through T-4. Check them out before you buy.
Disclaimer: I am a member of the Elkhorn Field Staff.