I find myself traveling a bit more with my job and therefore fly fishing salt more and more. My reel is not made for the harsh salt water conditions.
Therefore I am curious as to what you all think is the BEST DARN SALT WATER FLY REEL for the lowest price??
THANKS!!!
[This message has been edited by acorbin01 (edited 25 May 2005).]
Best, Saltwater and CHEAPEST. That is a triple oxymoron! Please tell us you have not fallen victim to the China Syndrome and are just kidding around with us.
My vote would be for the Teton Tioga or the Ross Cimarron.Both reels are around $150 and both have a good track record with few if any problems.
Jeff,
You’re right! I stand corrected. Your comments are now reflected in my recently edited post!!
Nonetheless, I think we will be pleasantly surprised by some of the refreshingly atypical suggestions that will be proposed. Tell me is it true or simply a myth that out there somewhere is a good salt water reel for less than $100. Or is that just a lie???
Skip,
Those are excellent choices. I’ve research both of those and it seams that for the money they are great values. But…if I tried to shaved off another $50, would I just be fishing with a piece of crap??
As you know oh Grand Poo-bah, you are the master and I am but the clay.
However I do have two questions. What about Okuma? Also, what about the STH POP 3? Are they worthy of their salt?
The best are usually the most expensive.
The best value salty reels IMHO are;
Old Florida, Nautilus
Vosseler S2
Danielsson HD or LW
Never used a Teton reel but have heard a lot of good things about them from their owners
JME
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Member of B.A.S.S [url=http://www.ukbass.com:8ca98]http://www.ukbass.com[/url:8ca98]
I have been satisifed with my Redington AS or an AL which one can still find on e-bay. With good care mine has lasated quite well. I do not fish salt every time I fish, but for the dozen times a year it works fine.
I have also used the Okuma Integrity for several years without problem. It is a little small and heavy, but it has held up without problem. It was a temporary until I was able to step up a little as money is an issue.
FYI I do soak my reels after every use to get ride of any salt residue.
jed
[This message has been edited by Jed (edited 26 May 2005).]
if you buy a cheap reel you’ll fry the drag! 
i have a friend who has been fishing the sth cassette reel for over ten years and loves it. I’d also have a look at the Bean Orion reel, too.
But any money you’ll save will have to go for a $600 sage rod…
[This message has been edited by D. Micus (edited 26 May 2005).]
Second the Redington AL. I also have a pair of Cortland Magnum 200’s which have been flawless for 2 and 4 years respectively.
The SciAng series reels also fit the bill. I have a friend who has one that is at least 10 years old, heavily used, and still ticking.
kirk
I’ve had problems with Redingtons (RS2) rusting. Just something to keep in mind.
I’d give Albright a look, too.
[This message has been edited by D. Micus (edited 26 May 2005).]
Know a few other people who have had problems with Redingtons rusting. Most typically the drag seizing up.
JME
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Member of B.A.S.S [url=http://www.ukbass.com:7d7ce]http://www.ukbass.com[/url:7d7ce]
I prefer the Penn reels for fly fishing the salt. Not real expensive. I have had one for a number of years that I use everytime I visit family in CA. Never had a problem with it. Just IMHO. John
[url=http://home.comcast.net/~bassman540/johnsfliesandswaps.html:6224c]http://home.comcast.net/~bassman540/johnsfliesandswaps.html[/url:6224c]
I wish you all everlasting flies and tight lines.
I have an STH POP3 reel and a Bass Pro Hobbs Creek 8wt. It is primarily my fresh water set-up for larger fish here in my area (Bass). I have fished the reel in salt twice, and the rod once. All three times I caught NOTHING. So, they have really not been tested. I soak the STH and rinse the Hobbs Creek every time I have fished salt with them. I am expecting to start fishing salt a little more. By “little more”, I mean 6 or 7 times per year.
With that said, do I even need another reel or do I really need another rod?
[This message has been edited by acorbin01 (edited 26 May 2005).]
“With that said, do I even need another reel or do I really need another rod?”
You need very specialist gear for each specific fishing situation. Fishing the briny is not to be taken lightly and having the right equipment is of paramount importance. When the wind is quartering from the south by south west your gear really needs to reflect this. It a total curse when you get to your spot to find the wind has changed direction and you have the north west wind with a 10mph wind and slight swell (flat calm to 1.5 foot wave) fishing tackle with you. Rather than waste time flogging the water; go back to the car and get the right tools for the job 
Hope this helps
JME
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Member of B.A.S.S [url=http://www.ukbass.com:fb621]http://www.ukbass.com[/url:fb621]
Thanks for the sage wisdom. I am still a bit of a novice. I am trying to get ready for Atlantic City, New Jersey. ANY help with regard to gear, tackle, conditions, and etc. is GREATLY needed and appreciated!!
Allan
Sage wisdom? I thought you wanted inexpensive!
Check out cabelas–get the 8 wt. 7-peice travel rod and a reel to match.
Grand Poo-Bah,
I did not even get the “sage” connection thing there. I must really be a novice! I don’t want to wear myself thin here either, but fly fishing is such fun for me and I am so glad I found it! Before I started fly fishing I was a stresses out mess!! I fly fish every chance I get and also always try and get some of my non-fly fishing friends to come along. I tell them, ?Just try it.? It is a shame though that most of them say it’s not for them. Chief among their reasons is that they feel fly fishing is an elitist and expensive way to mess up a simple day of fishing. I hate hearing that because I am as far from elite as you can get, and there are few people as concerned with managing expense as I am.
I know that money is relative, but there must surely be a way for people of modest, even very modest means to fly fish salt water from time to time. Heck, even consistently if they wish. It is hard to believe that the stereotype of “too expensive” really does apply to fly fishing, at least when it comes to salt water, and that for many people it is simply prohibited.
Right now I need you to say it aint so Grand Poo-Bah! Say it aint so!
I use the SA System II. Good drag,poor finish. I have had one for about 10 years w/o a problem except for a little salt corrosion. I bought a second one last year on sale for 109$.
I also have a Pflueger Supreme, good finish, the drag is a little jumpy. No problems so far. Cheap from Hook & Hackle.
For years I used a Pflueger Medalist, modified “Lefty” style. I landed some nice fish with that cheap reel, but it needed to be cleaned and lubed after every outing. It was what I could afford at the time and it worked. I still use it on my 8wt.
[This message has been edited by dudley (edited 26 May 2005).]
For Salt I prefer Hayden’s, Yes they are expensive but worth it, you can check their website for specials.