Hello everyone… I am looking for a decent reel around 150 dollars or less, for a switch rod. I have an 11.0 4 piece deer creek 8 weight switch rod, and looking to pair it up with a decent reel, that can hold spey line, with decent backing.
Any advice on a good reel to match it up would be awesome!!
(a little more back ground. I have the Sage 1600 reels that I absolutely love, but I don’t think it would hold, something like Royal Wulff Ambush line with enough backing for steelhead, etc. any other combos obviously appreciated! )
There is a Lamson Radius 4 for sale here: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/d/2249_Fly-Reels-and-Fly-Line-and-Reels.html I think it was about $165 It might be large enough for you. The Radius was still machined but at a Konic price and the Lamson drag system is well known for being dependable. I own two of the Radius reels one in a size two and a size 3.5. I’m very happy with them.
Pflueger trion in a 9/10wt size holds a spey style line on a 8wt very nice. I used it on mine for a couple years, and you can get it new on ebay for about $80 which is a nice bonus.
I have the same exact rod and presently I have the running line and AFS shooting head with a small amount of backing loaded on an old Pfleuger reel and it works fine. This was the only reel that I had available and I wanted to start playing around with the rod and learn the casts. The only problem is that it isn’t a large arbor so it takes a little more effort to reel in the line. It will be replaced with something better real soon.
I will be fishing in Alaska this fall and they tell me I need about 200 feet of backing at a minimum so I am leaning strongly towards the Ross CLR – which cost more than the 165 you are looking at spending. I have looked also G. Loomis that has a larger reel that I am sure is made by the same company that the Pfleuger Trione is made by – as the guts look exactly the same (same for Orvis Battenkill mid-arbor). I think the G Loomis was in your price range.
The main thing is to be sure the reels holds the amount of line you have to pack around— especially if you are thinking about the thicker Skagit type lines. If you ask the fly shops they usually have a 2 handed casting guy in the shop who can also help direct you
I have a 1990 Trion, which is the 9/10 on an 8 wt single hander and if I wanted a Trion on a 2 hander I would opt for the 1912 with the larger backing capacity: http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/products/products.php?p=29 Nice reels, I’ve had two.
I fish the 6wt switch version of that rod and like a Lamson Velocity 3.5, and sometimes I even fish it with a Lamson Velocity 4. I like the capacity of those reels for a compact skagit head, which is a seriously bulky line. Konic would be a great choice, too, if price point is important.
Want a different looking and super cool reel? Silver and black looks great. The GP 9/10 fly reel is a great cross-over reel. It’s well-suited for larger fish like Permit and large Redfish. It also makes for a great two-hand fly reel.
Thank you for the ideas guys. Please keep them coming. I am hoping to find something that I can at least get some backing on it. when using 4lbs tippet for some tought steelheading, They tend to take the line for a run! Let alone the additional length of spey line.
I have a TFO Deer Creek 2 handed spey that I use with a lamson konic 4.0. The 4.0 goes for $149 and the 3.5 goes for $139. The lamson konic are very nice reels with excelent fit and finish. The drag is smooth and pretty much maintenance fee. It should last you a lifetime. Give them a looksee here http://www.waterworks-lamson.com/konic.html
I think mrfc.com still has the size 4 Radius on sale. It might be a bit light but it would have plenty of backing capacity. I have that same rod in a 7wt., and I use a Ross CLA 5, or Bauer JM5 on it. Both reels balance it well. The SA system 2 would work well too but they’re a bit more than the radius.
I have used both the Pflueger Trion and the Okuma SLV reels before. I would recommend both for your situation. I have a new Batson RX7 5 weight switch and I’m planning on puting the Okuma SLV on it. They are light weight, have decent tolerances and are exceptionally smooth. The drag knob is knurled and I like that feature. They retail for only $59, but the Wholesale Sports (formerly Sportsmen’s Warehouse) has them on sale for $47 and change. I’m going to pick one up today. http://www.okumafishing.com/family/61832
There is no comparison between the quality of a Trion and the SLV. I have both. The Trion is an awesome reel. Having said that, I really like the new SLV I have. But have not lined it or fished with it. So, don’t really know how much spey line it will hold. A fellow in another town met me to show me how to do a simple cast. He liked my Trion so much he ordered one for his spey…reckon they will hold enough line. I dunno. I have the #12 model.
On the SLV…it, as well as the Cascades have a center adjust knob. My concern is there is no stop. If you keep turning counter clockwise it will just come off the reel. If you had this backed off when you packed it…and traveled, you could find it not on the reel. The tiniest amount of a speck of dirt or sand is gonna put you out of business if it gets on the threads. And that is my concern with both the Cascades I have and the SLV. When you back off the drag the cheap plastic looking threads are exposed to the elements. When fishing it seems very likely a piece of sand, dirt, whatever can get on the threads. Most good reels the threads are enclosed and sealed. The speck of sand will not only freeze the knob on the spot…it will possibly damage the threads as well. I don’t like the drag knob on the Cascades anyway. But I love the SLV. Soooo…I am going to try to go to Ace and buy an “O” ring to fit onto the threads to seal and keep dirt out. Hopefully this will work, and won’t affect the drag integrity. Wish I paid only $34…for the big one like I see now on that website.
But, for the price of a Trion, you can get THREE SLV’s at those sale prices. Or an SLV with extra spools…
Just fyi
Jim
Thank you again guys, I have some time before my next steelhead trip so I am really looking into these options.
Is there a general rule of thumb when looking at switch rod lines to capacity? For example does an 8 weight switch rod line fit on an 8 weight reel? how much does the capacity of the reel change?
For Example, I have my current reel Sage 1600. Which holds a Floating 8 weight line with 200 yards of 20LB dacron backing. If I put on say, the Beulah Elixir SWITCH ROD Line, could I expect 150 yards of backing? or does it really just matter on the line etc?
I guess what I am saying, is based on your reel suggestions, and the fact that my switch rod is an 8 weight. should I be looking at 10 weight reels or 8 weight reels?
Hi Shakefly, I think you will be better off with the 10 weight reel, the Elixir line will take up a heap more space on your spool than a normal fly line. The extra weight of the larger reel will also help to balance the extra weight of the rod. I use a Sage 2085 and it is only just big enough for a Skagit line and backing. Of course a 40 plus line or a Scandi line will take a bit less room and cast very well on that rod.
All the best.
Mike.
Thank you Mike. That was a similiar response that I got from a couple of different places. I contacted Sage company, and per one of their reps, They indicated that the Beulah elixir SWITCH ROD line should fit on the 1680 reek with about 100 yards of dacron. They suggested that if I go this route, that spectra braid would offer more backing, but make sure to lay a base of Dacron backing first to prevent slippage. They estimate that I might be able to get 175 - 200 yards of spectra backing with that particular reel. They did however offer suggest going to a larger size reel as you did.
Call and talk to Poppy at the Red Shed in Peck Idaho. Look them up on their web site. He will be able to pretty much tell you anything you need to know about switch / spey rods and reels and realistic backing quantities.
I have caught quite a few steelhead – maybe nothing huge like in the 15 pounds or larger and I have yet to get into the backing. having said that, I just purchased two reels for two switch rods – one a Vision and the other a Ross CLA. I put get spun on the Ross for a little more room for the line – Still, I only have about 200 yards of running line and backing combined. I will be using these for Silvers in Alaska and I think if I get that far into my backing that I/m just not controlling the fish or it is foul hooked and needs to be broken off.
Thanks Orthoman. I was fishing up in Pulaski, and had several fish pull be a fair amount into my drag. I was using 6lbs flouro, so it wasn’t that hard for the fresh chrome coming out of the lake. I will have to look up Poppy!
