Hi,
I just purchased a new 4wt fly rod. I am looking to pair it up with a reel. I plan on doing lots on small stream trouting and maybe some panfishing with this rod. I am really looking for something inexpensive…I am leaning towards the simple Okuma’s like the sierra or carina…Any comments or suggestions?
Thanks,
Mike
Pflueger 1494, used on the board for sale here. It will pop up. Get a reel made in Toledo. You won’t be disapointed. Plan to spend $35.00to $49.00. You will be cool and happy at the same tiem. If you don’t iike it, you can always get yor money back.
I use mostly Scientific Anglers System One, and Two. I’ve always been reely (sic) happy with them. In also have an Ocuma, but I like the S. A.s better.
I’ve been fishing nothing but a 4 wt for a while now and have a small, simple click pawl reel. I’m not convinced it’s any better (or worse) than many other similar reels of varying prices. I’d recommend taking a look in person at several. This is what I did and probably would have made a different choice if i hadn’t, but in person it was obvious which reel had the best fit and finish in my price range ($50 and under). You don’t need much from your reel for a light rod like this so just find the one that you like best (color, looks, sound, balances your rod best).
Also don’t discount the click-pawl, I came VERY close to landing an unexpected 36"-ish pike on this setup. Unfortunately I had just been fishing midges and was too lazy to change to a heavier tippet when switching over to a streamer. I got a good look at him and he at me before he made a dive into some half submurged bushes and broke me off. But the reel was up to the challenge, even if the tippet (and myself) were not.
For under a hundred bucks you can get this.
Orvis’ Battenkill disc drag
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choi … %5Fid=0385
Or at a hundred bucks- Orvis’ Battenkill Bar Stock
http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choi … %5Fid=44KY
You can’t go wrong with either.
RTJ
I’ve got one of the earlier Okuma reels on my little three weight, it works just fine.
Thunderthumbs.
coltranem,
You said small streams, so I don’t imagine you would play the fish off of the reel too often. I have an Okuma Sierra 5/6. The drag on the Okumas are very touchy, either on or off basically, and there is nothing internal that keeps the setting in the same place. They are good for holding your line and for 25-35 bucks that is what you get. I would consider the SA first.
I lean towards the Pflueger Medalist reels. They are simple, reliable, easy to maintain, and inexpensive. I use them on my 2, 3, and 6 weight Templefork rods.
They can be set up for either right or left hand use.
Thats my 2 cents.
:mrgreen:
coltranem,
You said small streams, so I don’t imagine you would play the fish off of the reel too often. I have an Okuma Sierra 5/6. The drag on the Okumas are very touchy, either on or off basically, and there is nothing internal that keeps the setting in the same place. They are good for holding your line and for 25-35 bucks that is what you get. I would consider the SA first.
I would second the comments about the Okuma Sierra drag. I’d rather have a click and pawl reel, rather than deal with the Sierra’s drag. IMO, The Battenkill, or SA reel is a much better choice.
briansII
Thanks for the replies everyone…What size Medalist is right for this application…How much backing do I really need?
Mike
I like the Medalist 1494 1/2 model for my 3 and 6 weight rods. As far as backing, I have just spooled it up to just where the first row of holes are covered. There is plenty of room for the fly line left.
I have a big spool of backing, so I don’t really know how much is on the reel.
Cabelas has the reels for $25.00 each.
I’ll second the hands up for the Orvis reels. I own both of them and love em. For the application you are talking about, you likely don’t need more than 75 yds or so of backing. I think I have 100 yds on both of mine.
wayne
OK…I had thought I had settled on getting a medalist. The 1494. It is 5.4 oz…I was wondering if this would be too heavey for my 4wt rod…not sure of the weight but it is an elkhorn traveler. Most other reels in this price range seem to be an ounce lighter. maybe that is just because this reel is built tougher?
Mike,
First, ask yourself what you want the reel to do?
Next, ask yourself if ‘image’ (what other fly fishermen will ‘think’ of your reel) matters at all to you.
From what you’ve described, all your reel will likely do is hold the line. You’ll fight most of your fish with the line in your hand.
Except for the convenience of storing and ‘unstoring’ the line efficiently, you don’t NEED a reel at all. You could mount a simple cleat in the reel seat of the rod and just wrap the line on it after you are done fishing (reels are more covenient, but this CAN be done, and you can still catch fish).
The ‘drag’ is irrelevant.
All the backing will do is ‘fill up’ the reel so that the fly line fits it correctly. The amount doesn’t matter, as long as it ‘fills’ the reel.
If you want a ‘bargain’ you can go to Ebay and find a very inexpensive used reel.
Both Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s sell inexpensive, brand new, ‘proprietary’ brand, unconditionally guaranteed fly reels for around $20. ANY of them will do you just fine for the actual fishing chores you described.
You can walk into any Sports Authority store and buy a graphite composite Southbend fly reel for under $20. They work just fine.
The current ‘new’ Medalist reels from Pflueger are inexpensive and will work just fine for your described fishing.
You can spend a lot of money on a fly reel. You don’t ‘need’ to spend it, though.
Good Luck!
Buddy
You may want to consider the new Ross Flystart from Ross Worldwide. $39. Also the newer versions of Ross Flycast and Flywater, all under $100.
I like the Medalist also along with the Scientific Anglers Concept II for low cost reels.
I use the 1494 1/2 with a Templefork 3wt, 4pc, rod - the professional series - the 8’6" rod. The TFO website says the rod weighs in at 3.2 ounces. The 3wt is my backup rod at the moment. I also have a TFO 6wt, 4pc, rod - same model with the 1494 1/2 Medalist.
To me, both rod outfits feel fine, balanced, and very “castable”, but that is my own very subjective opinion. 
I’ve owned Okuma Integrity and use and Okuma magnitude as my go-to reel for my fresh water set up. I’ve also examined the Sierra. They are all good value for the money. I have never had a single failure with any of their products so I would not hesitate to recommend them. Only problem is the finish chipping off which is one reason why I chose the magnitude. The other is weight. Its a very light reel.
jed
Howdy,
I recently bought a 3/4 Pflueger Trion for my new (used) 4-weight rod and the reel seems (and feels) like a money-no-object brand … although I’ll admit I’ve never handled a money-no-object brand.
As a matter of interest, a Canadian distributor (C.G. Emery) just started selling its own “branded” version of the same identical reel (called the Streamside Harmony) but with a slightly more ergonomic (easier to grab/adjust) drag button.
The Trion is reasonably priced at about US$75 off EBay shops … I’m surprised that this particular reel is rarely mentioned on the BB.
Ron