I’m still using regular style reels, (but) I was looking at the Pflueger President large arbor reel and I got the itch. Does any body have any experience with thees reels or other large arbor reels and if so what is your opinion pros and cons.
Thanks
JAD
I ONLY use the LAs now. In my opinion, they are the only way to go.
Not only do I think they balance out the rod better, the line tends to have “looser” coils.
I could take them or leave them. To me they tend to be bulky and can present balance problems with your outfit. Make certain, as with any rod and reel, that you are going to like the way your rig balances. I just don’t see a big advantage over a good small or mid arbor reel. Just my 2 cents worth.
I tend to agree with nighthawk here. Most of my fishing is with 8 1/2’ rods in 4 wt and 5 wt and I have tried the wide/large arbor reels and to me I think they throw the balance off on my rods. I really feel, before you purchase one, that you go to your local fly shop with your rod and try one out on it before you purchase. If you really like it, then go for it. The wide/large arbor reels may work real well on larger weight rods in 9 foot or longer, but, I just do not like the feel of them on my rods. It boils down to personal preference.
I prefer large arbor for practical reasons… the main one being line coiling issues and then down the lne to quicker retrieve, more consistant drag, resale value and so on.
Unless you’re talking click-and-pawl vs. LA’s with disc drags, I’m not so sure there is a huge weight difference between the two arbor types. The rated weights seem to bare this out.
I have too many “regular” reels to even consider replacing them. Perhaps if it could be proven I would land more fish I could be swayed though I doubt thats gonna happen. In my fishing I have never felt the need for a faster retrieve. And you gotta know what your buying when shopping for LA reels. Some just take out the part of the reel that holds more backing without adding width.
I have been using a Teton 3wt reel that weighs 3.5 oz. The Pflueger President Arbor reel weighs 5.6 oz so not that much difference in weight.
I fish a 3 Wt 9 ft rod, last week on a trip I had several runs and it seemed like it took forever to wind it back in, then I started to notice how often I was winding up line and that got me thinking.
Thanks for replies
Jad
I must be getting daft. I just noticed that you are from Butler, Pa. I am a Grove City native. Mom’s side of the family are butler county folks. Neshannock Creek Fly Shop is worth the trip to help you out and there is plenty of good fishing to make the trip complete. Here is their web site:
2.1 oz of weight can be a big difference in balance to some of us. Knowing that there are some big waters in your area I would take a serious look at a mid-arbor. I have an Orvis Rockey Mountain 7/8 Wt large arbor composite reel on a Orvis Clear Water 9’ mid-flex rod and it does feel ok. I just cannot get used to the bulk of the large arbor reels but to each his own. Even this rig “feels” out of balance to me.
Hello Nighthawk
I have been to Bobs shop–Neshannock Creek Fly Shop
many times, I just thought I would get some back ground, so I knew what I was talking about. Thanks.
Regards
JaD
Large arbor reels definitely have some advantages in certain situations. Mostly those involve large and/or fast running fish. You can retrieve line faster (if the fish is running at you), line memory is lessened as the line is stored in a looser coil, and drag efficiency is increased since the relative spool size doesn’t change as drasticly when line is taken off the reel by a running fish. With smaller rods and smaller fish/water, this all becomes much less of an issue. My 8-wt line is on a large arbor reel and I really appreciate the benefits, especially when out after carp, gar, etc. The large arbor reel I have on my 4wt doesn’t really do anything special for me. The only reason I got it instead of a mid- or standard arbor was that it was on sale at the time.
Actually, once I used a large arbor reel on the lighter line weight rods I started swapping and selling to get more. It ain’t so much for the rapid retrieve or more consistant drag benefits, it’s mainly because of the line coiling issue.
On small conventional reels the spindle comes on rather quickly when stripping line out. That makes for tight coils.
Most of my reels are large arbors and I love them. They bring in line quicker, you have less problems with line coil and they aren’t really much heavier than the standard arbors. They’re especially nice for fast running fish, like salmon and steelhead. Even for trout fishing, I prefer to play fish from the reel and the large arbors are much better at getting line in quick.
Question about line coils, … Why do you have them ?
Each day out, while stringing up, I’ll stretch the fly lines a bit, quickly getting rid of most coils. It’s also a good opportunity to clean the lines with some sort of product or patch.
p.s. … I use mostly mid and large arbors reels … I like the pickup speed
I’ve got some Large Arbors, Mid-Arbors and standards and find each has its uses and advantages. If I’m steelhead fishing I like a large arbor to take advantage of the fast line pickup. A good drag is a real plus as well! I use my mid arbors on small mouth and general trout fishing and my standard arbors for small stream trout and pan fish.
It’s probably not a necessity. I fished for years without these new and improved reels and had just as much fun. As I upgrade various equipment components I’m open to trying some of the new stuff like large arbor reels and I’ve liked how they perform.
Your experience my vary but I wouldn’t be afraid to try one.
Because the line is wrapped around a very tight radius, silly! 
Really, I stretch my lines too but they don’t always stay off of the reel after stretching them. I’m big on not having a lot of excess line out that I’m not using so the amount I have off the reel varies considerably during the course of a day. On top of that, sometimes the lines are being usesd in cold weather and water and tend to take a set.
Bottom line? I just don’t see a downside to a well-designed large arbor reel.