I apologize in advance for yet another “I’m a beginner, what should I buy…” post. Yes, I’m a newbie and interested mainly in a fairly inexpensive freshwater outfit for panfish and small bass. After reading a bunch on this and other forums, I’m leaning towards a 5 or 6wt Cabelas Stowaway. As far as a reel, not sure whether to get the Okuma Sierra or Ross Flystart - but those seem like two solid choices for about $40 or less. Any opinions or suggestions? Does it even matter for this kind of fishing?
I don’t know if the word “solid” is appropriate but…
I do know there is NO better customer service than at ROSS!
If you subscribe to the theory that the reel (for smaller trout & pan fish) is nothing more than a “line holder” than it wouldn’t matter…
however, keep in mind, you will be buying another reel soon, if you stick with fly fishing.
Later,
an Oregonian
I have the Okuma Sierra. It’s a good reel for trout. I also have the Ross Flywater. It too is a good trout reel. Both have adjustable drags and are more than adequate for most trout fishing. What I prefer about the Ross is the clicking sound when you reel in. This is absent on the Okuma. Does that matter? Not really. Just a personal preference. I haven’t had to deal with either company’s ‘customer service’ department. Heck, other than a manufacturer defect, I take care of my reels and accept personal responsibility for them. I’m not about to call the manufacturer if I fell and smashed the reel against a boulder.
Anyway, I think either reel will be a good decision.
I have a Ross Flycast and a Ross Flystart. They’re both good reels. They’re not the works of art that some of the high end reels represent but they are functional reels. The drag is the same on the Flycast and the Flystart. The method of adjusting the drag is a little different. The flystart’s drag adjustment knob has no click detent it’s just a screw. Turn one way, set heaver drag, turn the other way, set lighter drag. It’s not as “sure” when you’re fighting a fish and want to adjust the drag in the middle of the fight.
The Flycast’s adjustment screw has “clicks” and it’s easier to fine tune the drag during the fight.
Other than this and some minor cosmetic things, they’re very similar reels.
I cannot comment on how they will hold up over the years. I’ve had mine for a year now and have fished it hard. I’ve been on the water at least 100 times this summer and the reel has not skipped a beat.
When I was taking the reel apart (don’t ask, I"m a tinkerer) a screw head broke when I was loosening it. I called Ross and the replacement was in the my mailbox in about 4 days. I told the guy it was my fault and asked how much it’s going to cost to get the part to me. He said not to worry about it. It was probably a three cent part (if that) but they had to pay that man to talk with me and to put it in the mail.
I will second their customer service and the next new reel I buy will be a Ross.
If you are looking at the Cabelas Stowaway, why wouldn’t you just get the combo. There is an option to get the Ross Flystart reel, but not the Okuma. By getting the combo, you would get backing, an adequate fly line and carry case for essentially $0.
I agree! And I would definitely do the combo. I remember reading that Cabela’s Prestige reel is either a private label version of the Okuma Sierra or a really close knock-off. Has that ever been confirmed? They look identical.
i fish with the okuma seirra and my wife fishes with the ross. she loves the ross and i like my okuma. she doesn’t like mine because it doesn’t click. i dont like hers because it does click. does it matter for light fishing? probably not but its just a line holder at that point. both have great adjustable drags for when we both have gotten into bigger fish. they were more then addaquit (sp) to land the fish. i like the okuma because of the ease of changing the retrieve direction. both are good entry level reels and will last for a long time. i bought mine used and all are about 4 to 5 years old and still working good. and if not they are cheap to replace. hope this helps.
thanx roadhog
I agree! And I would definitely do the combo. I remember reading that Cabela’s Prestige reel is either a private label version of the Okuma Sierra or a really close knock-off. Has that ever been confirmed? They look identical.
Thanks for all the advice. This board rocks![/quote]
The Prestige reel does appear to be the same as the Okuma reel. I have one that I got with the Three Forks (3wt) combo. It has been a great reel on thousands of Gills and Crappie. It never even sneezed when the Bass took it for a ride, and a couple of those have pushed 20". The Prestige Plus is the same thing with a large arbor reel. (Read as; ‘holds less line’) They are both more than usable as a trout reel, unless you are dealing with big fish on big moving water. Then you will probably want something a little more robust.
Have fun choosing! That is all part and parcel for the game!
In the “Under $40” category - I bought a Hobbs Creek reel a couple days ago for $39.99. I do follow the “line-holder” theory, so I chose to go cheap on the reel and buy a better line. If you have to choose between the two, go with the line.
btw-The Hobbs Creek has been holding the line quite nicely.
I haven’t used a Ross so I can’t compare. I have owned several Okuma reels and currently use the Magnitude. THe Sierra is a fine reel for its price. I can’t comment on their customer service because in the years I’ve owned Okuma I’ve never needed to call them.
The reel generally is not that important when fresh water fishing so I wouldn’t fret too much. Either one has a decent reputation.
The Okuma Sierra and the Cabela’s Prestige are one and the same
I got my Prestige reel when they still went for 50 bucks
Not the best investment I ever made.
If you want an inexpensive reel, do yourself a favor and get a Pflueger Medalist
It’s a classic design, will last a lifetime, and costs less than $30 ($20 if you look around)
I own several Okuma Sierras and an SLV 2/3 for my 2wt. I’ve never had any problems so why worry about customer service? The reels just keep working great.
I really enjoyed the trip to Alaska when the guide was chiding the guys with the expensive $500 -$600 reels that were freezing up as my son was catching fish on his $50 reel! :lol:
It doesn’t hurt to buy quality, but note - name does not always equal quality.
You can go to troutlet.com and put your cursor over “fly fishing” and a drop down menu will let you click on Fly Reels.
Nice page. You will see a ton of Okuma reels, the Pflueger for $20 etc.
I have one Okuma and do not like it. The cover over the center on the drag side fell off, then a part, then another part. I do not know what is missing because they are gone. Yes this happened during first three times using it. Now I cannot even adjust the drag. I just do not like it.
Now…pls take a serious look at the Tica Fishmaster for $54. Read the specs, then above it you can click on tackle reviews where three people posted their comments about the reel.
I have two of them. My life a bit chaotic so haven’t fished them, or even seen them in awhile. But I think they are a heck of a reel for the money.
I have an Okuma disk drag on my 8 weight rod I use for Steelhead and Salmon and have never had a problem with it. I have only had it three years though so I can’t give any better insight than that. It was inexpensive when I could not afford better and has never let me down so I have never had a reason to replace it. It probably has over 100 King Salmon on it (and quite a few Coho, Steelhead and lake run Browns as well) so I think it has stood up to fishing quite well. It still operates and looks like new even though I am hard on my equipment. Will all Okuma reels perform as well? I don’t know. I really don’t pay much attention to the reel so don’t know the model name but I really have liked mine. I would not hesitate to purchase another if I had to get a second reel in that weight size. I also would not hesitate to get a lighter weight Okuma if I needed one either based on this reels history. Your mileage may vary…
Daren
I own both reels and bought them on sale at Gander Mountain at the end of the year model changes. Both HOLD LINE and have good drags on them. For sub-$40 you can’t go wrong with either. My “upscale pricey” reels are STH MR POP 1, 2 & 3 for $69 each, and that includes an extra cassette for each reel and a cloth bag also. Burned up a drag on a salmon while using the #2 (wrong reel) and they would not take any money for the parts, even after I explained it was MY FAULT! Cortland owns STH, but my reels were all made in the old country (I think it was NZ or one of those down-under islands).
Just to clarify what you wrote: I am pretty sure the original STH was made in Argentina. Cortland then bought the company or at least took over the repair department.
I had a Okuma Sierra (forget which size but I used it with a 6wt)for a little while. It wasnt a bad reel, but I wanted something with a bit better drag so I upgraded to a Ross Cimmaron which I liked a lot more. I liked the Sierra, but I sold it along with a rod to someone. I dont miss it, but would recommend it if someone is just starting out and isnt going to have to worry about the drag much. I also noticed it is identical to a Cabelas reel that my brother got as a startup combo (Stowaway 5 wt) from me 6 months ago.
Yes, I’m a newbie and interested mainly in a fairly inexpensive freshwater outfit for panfish and small bass. After reading a bunch on this and other forums, I’m leaning towards a 5 or 6wt Cabelas Stowaway. As far as a reel, not sure whether to get the Okuma Sierra or Ross Flystart - but those seem like two solid choices for about $40 or less. Any opinions or suggestions? Does it even matter for this kind of fishing?
