Hey Fly Goddess, it just really bums me when a company like Orvis does something like that. Almost everything we buy today is made in China. We keep losing jobs to China. So when I see fly fishing manufacturer’s move production over there, well, it really bothers me. I’m thinkin’ I should have put this on the sound-off board.
There seems to be a little confusion on these reels.A true large arbor reel has a wider than normal spool. This conteracts the loss of backing by making the spool shallower, allows the line to lay on the reel in more relaxed coils and faster retrieve speeds.
Then we have what I call LA spools, ie Teton , IMO this is a jump on the band wagon marketing ploy. Where this spool fits the standard reel. You lose backing capacity, gain reel weight and do not gain any retrieve speed benifits of a true LA/wide spool reel. The only benifit, that I can see, of this type is that the added weight helps balance some of my bamboo rod over 8’ in length.Don’t get me wrong I own 5 Teton Tioga reels they are great reels.
WCU truthfully I don’t see why you would want a LA reel for Bass and Bluegill.The added expense of a la/wide spool reel in your price range means you may have to go with lesser quality reel.The Teton Tiogas’are a great USA made reel for just above $100.00. Check out the Orvis (China) Battenkill BBS or the, cast, Battenkill Disc $75.00. If money really a problem try the Okuma Sierra (Korea) the 5/6 hold a lot of backing and has a fairly wide spool.I agree with Fly Goddess and wish Orvis would go back to England for their reels.But they, unlike other companies, have lowered their prices somewhat.
Tom
Well, I got to say, we weren’t making the manufacturing money on these before. England was. Granted, I would rather be putting my money the British pocket, better yet in the American pocket, but we just want too much to make stuff.
I feel pretty soon the tags will say “Made in America by Mexican” Not a slam, but that is where it is going.
hmmm…
Yes, I talked to an Orvis rep about the whole China deal. I think a company with so much heritage should be building stuff here but the costs is so high and so many other manufatures are now OVERSEAS that it would mean the products cost would be higher. Consider that the Sage reels are made in either China or Korea also. I lucked out with my last LA II Battenkill. They had about five of em but this one was the only that said Made in England. It however didn’t look or feel any better than the others that were China made. I’m very happy with my BLA reels… Hands down I think they are the best reels for the money but hey, I’d say that about the Bar Stock Battenkill reel also… It’s all in the eye of the beholder 