Any thoughts on a reel for a 7?6? #3?
A friend of mine has a Lamson Velocity on his 3 weight and it seems like overkill. I want something light and I?m not too concerned about a disc drag. Ross doesn?t make the Colorado 0 anymore which would be a perfect match in my opinion.
What reel has everyone matched to their favorite 3 weight?
HD,
I use an all graphite (plastic) reel for my little 3 wts. The smallest of the Cahills made by South Bend that I can get at Sports Authority for around <$20. Clean matte balck finish looks okay with any rod.
I find that it works well with a light rod, where all the reel actually does is store the line. I’ve used mine for bass, panfish, and trout in four states.
Not flashy, but they have always worked well for me, seem to hold up (the oldest one I have is around 12 years old), and are pretty low maintenance (I rinse them off every year or so…).
It has a servicable drag (if one should ever, for some odd reason, be needed for such a rig), holds a 3 wt. line plus some backing, and is VERY light (which is the point, at least for me, to use a very light reel with such a light rod).
At this price level, you can own several if you need different lines.
You can spend a lot more, but I can’t see the point in this application.
Buddy
I use an Orvis BBSII on my 7’6" 3wt.
Jeff
The new TFO Prizm reels are in the fly shops now. The cast aluminum reels sell for only $39.95. It has as offset Teflon disc drag… the spare spools sell for $19.95.
any info on these, they are not on the tfo website
I have the same reel on a 6’6" Batson RX8 2 weight. I picked it up on ebay for $12. The beauty of it is that it weighs only 2.7 oz and doesn’t have a bad drag at all. They aren’t as common as they were, especially the cr-0001 model.
I had a opportunity to see and test both of the new TFO Prizm reels and was quite impressed. You’re right they are not on their website yet, but I do know that my fly shop, Uptown Angler in New Orleans, has both in stock.
Go to the link below to read a copy of the TFO Press Release:
http://www.warmfly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=103&Itemid=2
Hopefully JC and Deanna won’t mind me linking my website.
HD,
Sent you a PM.
Erik
My favorite 3 wt. reel is an Abel TR1 - they’ve been discontinued, but you can still find them around at a good discount. They’re really worth looking for. Sweet and smooth click/pawl.
Regards,
Steve
An Ross Evolution 1 or Hardy Flyweight is what I use on my 3wts.
I have two reels I use, an SA system 2 45L, and a Bass Pro Hobbs Creek #1. Both work fine and balance the 3wt well. I will not replace the SA when it finally dies but will continue to give BP $40 a reel for many years. I think I own four of those now…
BTW the BP reel looks amazingly like the TFO reel in the photo, to the point I suspect they make come off the same assembly line. Same price, too.
I have a Ross Colorado Co-0 on my Sage 279LL and a Ross Gunnison G-1 on my Sage 379LL and Sage 389VPS-light. I can see why you like the Ross Colorado! 
My daughter has a Redington 2/3 CT Reel with her Sage 386DS2. I’d highly recommend these reels but they are no longer produced.
I know of a place that has the Lamson Velocity Hybrid Large Arbor Reel RL V01Y WF3/40 yds #20 backing wt 4.00 oz dia. 2.85 reg $219 on sale for $129.95. Or take a look at this guy’s products at http://www.flyfishingbenefactors.com. They seem very reasonably priced. But I’ve never seen them first hand. Good-luck!
I just purchased a Deschutes I reel from Fly Fishing Benefactors… It’s a terrific little reel for $79! Really worth taking a look at for your 3 weight!
SALtsh!
I thought, that I was the ONLY person LEFT that still loves the TR-1 reels!! Nice to see that there’s someone else still in love with this great little reel!
It’s, also, what I use on my shorter 3wt. AND on my short stick 4wts.
I wish they were still in production. They’re a fantastically made reel, beautifully machined and smooth as silk.
Another, that I’d readily suggest, for a short stick, is the “Teton Tioga #2”. American made, bar stock aluminum, hell of a drag system, too, for such a small fly reel.
At a recent (last spring) show, I saw a new reel line from Germany. Vosseler. The RC1 (rim control) was a sweet little reel. Very light and no frills. Not that much money either. Should be what the doctor ordered. Stay away from the plastic/graphite crap.
Last spring I sprung for a custom fly rod made by a local (kettle Creek, Pa.) fly shop owner. It was a 3-4 weight “Hammersley Fork” graphite rod and it is very light. However, I was concerned about weight so he put, maybe 12 different reels in my hands and the lightest one was a TICA Fishmaster 108 reel. It is the lightest reel I ever handeled and it is good quality machined alumniun. Combined with the 3-4 weight rod, it is the smoothest casting combination and is practically effortless to cast. I never heard of the TICA Fishmaster before but it has proven wonderful and deserves consideration. Ron G. 
I have a Cabela’s Prestige Plus large arbor that is very light and a nice reel for the money.
Abel TR light is superb!
Okuma Magnitude regular arbor. It as lightweight magnesium, disc drag, and inexpensive.
Greg
ditto on the orvis battenkill barstock. decent drag, light and you can pick them up on ebay reasonably if you keep your eye out. the okuma magnitude is a fine reel for the money as well.