I am looking for a reel to go with a Sage TCR 691 for heavy Alaskan trout, big river smallies and light saltwater(reds, snook and maybe bones) use. Right now I am considering both the Ross Evolution 3.0 and the Tibor Light Tailwater. Any thoughts, comments, suggestions.
Abel Big Game #1
Ari Hart MachII or MAch III…
Rich
[This message has been edited by flymaker2 (edited 18 July 2005).]
It may be sacrilege to suggest such a thing, but after you decide between the Tibor and the Ross, consider spending another $70 on an Okuma Magnitude as a backup reel. I know … how can you even consider defiling a Sage with an Okuma reel, but they seem to have reliable drags and once you consider the conditions you’ll be exposing the reel to in AK, you may end up sheltering your better reel while you float the Goodnews or the Karluk or wherever your AK travels take you.
Good luck,
tt
I would go with the Tibor between those 2 choices.I have both Ross and Tibors reels and the drags on the Tibor are stronger with a wider range of adjustments.I also fish J Ryall reels and these are very nice reels.Super drags and light weight.Abel would be a good choice also.All these reels have good customer support and thats important.Buy American!
I almost bought a Ross Evolution a while back for a 5 wt. Nice reel and very light weight.
It was a tough decision but I ended up with a Galvan Rush. It’s a little heavier than the Ross but great quality and about $80 less. One of the sponsors here, kkflyfisher.com carries them both.
Joe
alsoconsider the Teton Tioga…From Teton Reels…you’ll not be sorry…
“I’ve often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before” A.K.Best
“Wish ya great fishing”
Bill
The Tibor Tailwater is too small for a 6 wt! Better to go up to the Back Country. The drag on these is a “brake shoe” type design.
I have several 6 & 7 wt. rods. I have a pair of Teton 7’s std arbor and a Tibor Back Country, and a pair of Back Country Wides. I’d take the Tibor.
I have not used the Ross Evolution; but, have several Gunnisons and Canyon BG’s (saltwater). Can’t go wrong with a Ross either.
Abel #1 Big Game or Abel Super Series #6.
Dahema
I recommend checking out Old Florida Reels.
The price/quality combo is hard (make that impossible)to beat. For example, the #4 holds 7/8/9wt lines and is only $200. They also have large & super arbor models (#44LA $230).
Info here:
[url=http://www.nautilusreels.com/Reels03.asp:4870a]http://www.nautilusreels.com/Reels03.asp[/url:4870a]
Regards,
Bob
Fly Supplies
aflyshop.com
I’d have to cast a vote for an Abel Super 5, shown here on a Sage 697-4 XP.
It’ll take a WF-6 and 125 yards of 20lb. Micron ~ that should be more than adequate.
As for the Sage 697-4 XP ~ Fewer calories, taste’s great!
All the best, Dave
[This message has been edited by Dave E (edited 19 July 2005).]
[url=http://www.thesportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1772448:cea78]http://www.thesportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1772448[/url:cea78]
I’m very happy with this one. I just purchased my second one for my stepson.
Well, my $.02 on top of the widely divergent advice above is that a 6 weight is not enough rod for heavy AK trout or the salwater species mentioned. If you are going for big trout, a 7 wt and an Evolution 3.5 is the recommended rig by my guiide friends. I fish the Ev 3.5 with an 8 wt for bass and big trout. I have an old Canyon 3 lined with 7 wt.
If I were going to use a Ross for the inshore saltwater species mentioned, it would be at least a Canyon Big Game 4.
I believe that you are trying to do too much with one rig (both fresh and saltwater), which is a little on the light side. If I had to make do, I would get a Ross BG 4 and an 8 weight with a spare spool for the saltwater line.
[This message has been edited by Rawthumb (edited 19 July 2005).]
I have the Ross Evolution 3.5 in slate blue. It’s a good looking reel and since I have owned it I have put it’s drag to work with some big browns and some frisky freshwater stripers on multiple occasions. The only thing dissappointing about this reel is the cost of spare spools.
If I were you I would take a hard look at the Lamson Litespeed in the LS3.
I would go with the Ross Evoloution, the Lamson Litespeed, the Waterworks ULA, and would also consider a Solitude.
The Solitude reels are designed specifically to excel in cold conditions.
The nice thing about reels in that price range is that you can’t buy a bad one!!!
Rich
Thanks for all the good suggestions. The last post said it all, aren’t we fortunate to have so many wonderful choices.
Rawthumb, I especially appreciated your comments. I know this rod might not be enough for large Alaskan trout, but I was thinking of the special purpose of drifting down a large fast river and needing to get 5-7 feet deep quickly. Picking up a sink tip and “flies”, read that plastic beads that look like salmon eggs and the necessary anchor to get then down fast, is a challenge and I think the 6 wt TCR will be just the ticket for that.
As far as a light saltwater rig, I think it will be fun with 24"-28" reds or snook and I believe it will have the punch to deal with the wind that always seem to follow me around.
Believe me, I have no intention of being under-gunned in either case. Not good for the fish or the angler. I have Xi2’s in 8, 9, 10, and 12 with Tibor reels to make sure that doesn’t happen.
[This message has been edited by David Higley (edited 19 July 2005).]
I thnk the TCR 691-4 is a great rod. I have the 697-4 and both of these rods will throw a 7 wgt. line it’s full length and not feel overloaded doing it. If I didn’t already have a 9’ 7 wgt. I would have bought the TCR 691-4 over the TCR 697-4. It’s certainly grunty enough for very large rainbows.
I use a Waterworks ULA LT 3x on mine and it’s a good combo. Any of the top reels would work well but I would avoid anything too heavy for such a nice light rod.
DH: You are one of the few guys that posts here and on the SSM BBS. It must be nice being retired, worrying about upland hunting and chasing big fish.
This is an example of an Alaskan rainbow that is not an easy 6 weight fish.
[url=http://www.mysticfishing.com/:203a4]http://www.mysticfishing.com/[/url:203a4]
[This message has been edited by Rawthumb (edited 20 July 2005).]