Orvis Click 'N Pawl Reel Battenkill III, Opinions Please

FAOL Community Fly Anglers Online
1

Aside from the fact that a trout reel is just a line holder, I’m looking for persons who have had experience with the Battenkill III, the 5-7 wt. reel. How is the drag? Will is slow down a 20" trout in moving water? Do they sell extra spools for it?
Thankshttp://www.orvis.com/p/battenkill-reel/7h9p

2

I don’t have experience with the new Battenkill III, but I recently bought a new Battenkill V, the biggest one they make now. I bought it to use as a 7 wt spey reel. It is very well made, with close tolerances. It has a good strong clicker that is internally adjustable. If the III model is made as well as the V, I think it should be fine as a trout reel. You will probably have to palm it to slow down a 20" trout in moving water, but it has a good palming rim.

Regards,
Ted

3

Very odd. You are not concerned about the drag and yet you are concerned about the drag? Which one is it? Personally, I would opt for the Orvis Access midarbor instead, because I’d rather have drag that I rarely use than one that is not there at all, but YMMV.

4

Bruce,

I have a Battenkill II & III. Excellent reels. Plenty of drag with a palming rim to stop any trout. Between the Redington Drift, Cortland Retro and the Battenkill, I think the Battenkill drag is the most solid. I have landed trout up to 22" with my current setup and a Battenkill II, with no issues whatsoever. I’m partial to the Cortland however because it’s a tad lighter. But that’s simply a personal preference. I’d venture to say you will not be disappointed with the BII or BIII.

Ralph

5

I have no experience with the current generation of Battenkill reels, but the ones I have seen in the past were good quality reels. Yes they sell extra spools. No click pawl drag is going to stop a train. As mentioned above, you’ll have to palm it to slow down a large hot fish. I find that to be a perfectly adequate solution for trout fishing.

6

I didn’t say I wasn’t concerned about the drag. I have a Mid-arbor. I’m looking for a classic style click and pawl drag. Most of the fish I will land will be between 7 to 15 inches and the reel will handle it I’m sure. I just wondered if I happen to catch a larger fish would it suffice.

P.S. What does YMMV mean? I’m not up on all of that stuff.

7

last chance,
Just picked up the new Battenkill 11 and was fortunate enough to land a hefty 18" rainbow without any worries. the reel worked fine. I’m about to splurge on a new CFO that is made by Abel. That should complete my reel purchases for awhile. I have a few Battenkill’s and CFO’s, both disc and click and pawl and love them all. never had a problem with them and they have been fished hard.
Have fun with your reel.
by the way, i think the YMMV means 'your mileage may vary"

Steve

8

Thanks, Steve. I guess I just showed my age, not that it matters to me.

9

Your opening sentence implied you did not think the drag was unimportant (i.e. “reel is just a line holder”), and then your following asked about the drag, hence the question. And the question still stands, which is more important? Seems like it is pointless to worry about if all you want to stick with the antiquated technology for aesthetic reasons.

YMMV=your mileage may vary

10

I don’t know if I would call it antiquated technology. In a trout reel, for many, a click pawl is the correct technology for the application. The reel holds the line. The drag does nothing more than prevent over-run if a person never puts a fish on the reel. I know personally, I can’t remember that last time I put a fish on the reel.

11

Hi
I said that about the reel being a line holder because that’s the first thing I would have been reading in reply. I just wanted to nip that talk before it got started. Many people feel that way, and I guess in a way, they can be right.
Thanks

12

I should amend my earlier post where I stated I never had any problems with CFO or Battenkill reel. about two years ago I picked up an Asian - made CFO on sale . didn’t check to see where it was made and found out when I returned it that it was made in the Far East. what a piece of junk. broke on my second outing. When I took it back to Orvis,I was informed they had a lot of problems with this reel. Makes me wonder whether the current series of CFO’s made by Abel wasn’t an attempt to restore confidence in the venerable CFO line.
best,
steve
_

13

Seems to me that would describe quite a bit of fly fishing :wink: !