Would like to take a poll as to what brand of reel and model you use in freshwater and why?What features do you like or dislike and what size reel.
I have too many, but the ones I use regularly are the Able Trout and Creek. The Creek is an updated version of the Trout. Theses are rock solid exceptional crafted click and pawl type reels that were built to last. They balance my 4 and 5 wt rods nicely. I have had other click and pawl reels, but none were as solid or given me flawless performance as these two have been.
Thomas,
Are we talking trout reels? Perhaps you should state the scope or your poll as fly reels can cover the whole spectrum of fish species swimming out there. While I might like to fish a full caged Hardy lightweight or Young Pridex, spring and pawl type reel for trout and panfish, I certainly would want a reel with a meatier drag for salt water species that love to run.
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I own and regularly use six Orvis Battenkill Bar Stock reels. They are lightweight, with a decent drag, and very dependable. They are a rather traditional reel, as I just haven’t been able to see the advantage of mid or large arbor reels; plus I prefer a more traditional look. They are reasonably priced, which is important to me. If I needed reels for more specialized fishing (ie big game or salt water) this reel might not be my first choice, but for the type of fishing I do I think the features, quality and price make them one of the best reel values out there. They ae sized from the I which works very nicely on my 2 and 3 weight rods through the V for 9-11 weight rods; the IV’s work well on my 7 and 8 weights. I have other reels also, but all my Winston rods wear Battenkill Bar Stock reels.
I own 3 Teton Tioga’s. Well built, hard to find a fault in them anywhere & reasonably priced.
Love my Lamsons. Big bang for the buck.
Ross for most freshwater fishing. Tibor for salt.
For the same reasons, I prefer the Battenkill Disc. Price, traditional appearance, function & durability. Unfortunately they have discontinued them. If I needed another reel, I’d either step up in cost to the Battenkill Barstock, or step down in cost to the Hobbs Creek by Bass Pro Shops.
I really like my Heddon 125 Imperial’s. I fish them on my cane rods all of the time. If I were to break out a plastic rod I would use a Bauer.
Ross, Galvin, Orvis Battenkill. Ross is usually is the go to reel. I like the Galvin because of the large drag “Knob”. The Orvis is just a mediocre reel. My biggest overall gripe with most reels is that the drag knob is small and difficult to hang on to when my hands are cold. Not sure what direction Ross will be going now that they are owned by scientific anglers.
I did like galvan esp. the ob series until they quit making them I liked the silent retrieve and soft click drag.Don’t know of any other reel with a silent retrieve maybe able super series.The galvan ob3 is a nice reel on a larger weight rod and longer but on myv7 1/2 foot models it is a tad large in width and weight.4.5 oz 1" wide.
Hi Thomas,
Almost all of my freshwater reels are Bauer M through MSL series reels and a couple of LM’s, about ten of them. I’ve got a few odds and ends, Abel, Ross & Orvis for the sweetwater too.
Dave
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2 Older Ross Gunnisons (2 qnd 4) and a Ross Cimarron 1, a Battenkill Mark 4, an old Young Beaudex, a Pflueger Sal-Trout, Fenwick World Class, and a couple of Cabelas and an Albright GP for back-up or loaners.
No need for the latest new and shiny,
The good older reels take a lickin and keep on tickin
DuFf
I primarily use Ross Evolutions (original ones, not the LT). I like them because they are light and smooth. You can also take up slack line with them very quickly by hitting the side of the spool with your open hand. I also have several Orvis battenkill Barstock reels. I like them a lot too, but they’ve taken a back seat to the Ross’s. There’s not a thing wrong with the BBS reels. They look great and have a great drag system, too. I also have a few Orvis CFO reels that I use on my bamboo rods. I used them because of the classic look as well as the classic sound.
Pflueger 1494 American made with 7’ 6" boo Payne 100 taper. i also use a Cortland Crown Rimfly reel English made. Wore out several of the plastic click pawl but able to order from Cortland. The reel doesn’t seem to be made any more
+1 on Abel Creek - little gems.
The two I use most for trout are an old style, British made, click/pawl, Orvis CFO and a Ross Evolution. The CFO is simple, lightweight and functional. The one sided frame makes spool changes easy. The Evolution is modern, lightweight, large arbor and has a more powerful drag.
For Steelhead I use a Lamsons. The drag is smooth and seems able to stop a freight train.
I have fly reels from a variety of manufacturers. Mostly mid- to low- price point reels. Reels from Pflueger, Albright, Allen, Nautilus, Lamson, Wright & McGill, Echo, Scierra, Loop and Okuma. I have favorites, but I don’t recall any of these reels ever failing me in any way…yet.
I own several of the second generation Lamson Velocity’s in the “gunsmoke” finish. Best bang for the buck in a reel I’ve ever owned. Silky-smooth, tough as nails and have never let me down. I’ve banged`em on boulders small-stream brookie fishing to dropping them in mud in the smallmouth river and never a problem.
I agree with David. I also have a bunch of reels mostly low to moderate priced. Unless you are going after something that is going to tear off 50 yards on your backing, I don’t see the need to spend hundreds of dollars on a flyreel.
Dave