Large Arbor reels are now common among serious fly anglers. Be the first
on your block to own one. They boast a couple of important features typical
of most saltwater reels. Made of bar-stock aluminum (aircraft grade) for
strength and corrosion resistance, they are more reliable and the arbors
are less likely to twist or bend from the pressure of a strong game fish.
They are also quiet (versus a click/pawl reel).
Silence and stealth are factors that will make the difference in successful hook
ups on the flats. There is nothing I hate worse than hearing, "click, click, click,
click," in rapid succession when we are sight fishing reds or tarpon. Stand on
the deck, of a flats boat, and strip out 30 feet of line onto the deck. The
click/pawl reel will sound like a machine-gun. That sound just transfers
right through the hull and into the water. The sound is amplified at least
30 feet from the boat.
Talk about spooking fish that are already paranoid from fishing pressure.
Most of the large arbor reels or big standard arbor reels have large disk
(cork) drags. This type of drag will allow you to put pressure on a running
fish without damaging or overheating the reel. The large disk drags are also
quiet, and allow the angler to easily adjust the drag by using a knob or star
on the backside of the reel.
There remains a lot of confusion over large arbor reels. I see the biggest
advantage being the ability to retrieve more line with fewer turns. Also
having the ability to advance line without those nasty little loops going out,
typical of a standard arbor reel. However, I do like standard arbor reels
when you need 600 yards of 50# gel spun backing for large game fish.
Most large arbor reels won't hold more than 250 yards of backing. So
there is a trade off. My favorite standards are Billy Pate Marlin and Orvis
Odyessy+. But, then again, how often do you think you'll need a half-a-mile
of backing. Just imagine reeling all that line in.
The hardest decision for you to make is how much to spend ($250 to $1200)
and your expectations for the reel. I teach fly-fishing at our school here in New
Smyrna Beach. All our teaching reels are large arbor (Redington and Orvis).
They are light, easy to operate, and easy on the budget. The best advice is
to go to a sportsman show and look at, (I didn't say buy), the reels from different
manufacturers. They vary widely in price and line capacity. For instance,
Redington's AL 9/10 is especially good for anglers with arthritis because the
star drag is easy to operate with one finger.
My personal favorite is the Battenkill 9/10 Large Arbor (since replaced by the
BA-V). This is just the nicest reel I've ever used and it picks up more line per
revolution than any reel on the market. It easily adjusts to right or left hand
and is very light giving it a nice balance. I've had clients land redfish and jacks
to 35 pounds. It can take the pressure of a big fish.
~ Doug
About Doug:
Capt. Doug Sinclair has relocated from New Smyrna Beach, Florida to
Grantsboro, NC. He specializes in fly-fishing and light tackle charters.
Doug charters the Coastal Carolina area of New Bern or Oriental.
Catch him on the web at
www.flyfishacademy.net or call him at (252) 745-3500.
Doug is also a Sponsor here on FAOL.
|
