Should You Spend Big $$$ On A Fly Reel?
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- Take a look and see if you should spend big money on a fly reel. For fly fishing, reels range wildly in price, much more than spin fishing. A Redington Behemoth starts a $129 is a great reel! A Mako Fly Reel starts at $1360 and goes up to $2400 for their 9700 which is used for big billfish, sharks, and other big game species on fly. There's a reel at just about every price point you can think of in between the $129 and $2400.
For a lot of trout and stream fishing, the reel is not all that important. Much of the time in small streams, the fish never gets to the reel. In this case, the reel is not much more than a line holder. In the same way that all watches tell time, all reels hold line and will work for this purpose. But some people like Rolex watches and some people love their casios.
For most saltwater scenarios, the reel is incredibly important. Tarpon, Sailfish, and GT's will melt drags on some entry level reels. They are so fast and strong, that the cheaper drag components will fail. This is where choosing a nice reel makes a huge difference. Also, you'll need a reel with minimal startup inertia, so that when the big fish does run, you get a smooth transition from pulling on the fish, to him screaming line out. Many lesser quality drag systems will stick before they start letting line out smoothly.
If you'd like to spend money on a fly reel, go for it
If you want to go after big saltwater species, go for it.
If you are trout fishing in small streams, you don't need to
If you are fishing light inshore saltwater species, you don't need to.
Shop our reels in store at
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Palm Harbor, FL 34684
or shop our fly reels online here
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Reels in the Thumbnail
Redington Behemoth - tailwatershop.com/products/re...
Orvis Hydros - tailwatershop.com/products/or...
Nautilus CCF-X2 Silver King - tailwatershop.com/products/na...
Tibor Everglades - tailwatershop.com/products/ti...
Abel Rove - tailwatershop.com/products/ab...
Mako 9600 - tailwatershop.com/products/ma...
about 48 years ago I started with a 20 dollar Shakespear 8ft outfit in 7 wt and a level floating line with a jinky reel . I caught tons of fish from perch to rat reds ( 20" and under redfish in Louisiana lingo ). Then I amassed a collection of Billy Pate reels and various rods of low to High end price. Hurricane Katrina took everything away . Afterwards I stayed sub 300 dollar with 4wt and a 10 wt outfits and have been happy catching lots of fish .Recently I tried out an Orvis Helios3D in a 9 ft /9 wt and it's distance capability was very surprising indeed.
2 grand... I'm sticking with my echo bravo. It's been in salt, mud, etc and still hasn't missed a beat.
This has been a regular question for the 50 years I have been fly fishing. In the past, the issue was between reels like Finnor and Bogdon, vs Phleuger and Hardy. The cheaper reels had very little functionality, and I lost one trophy fish when a well maintained Hardy spool lost the arbor and jammed up. But the general response was that since the reel was only for holding line, one did not need anything terribly expensive, unless one was after powerful fish. As soon as the first CNC reels came out from Ross, I was a buyer.
Today even the smallest reels may have sophisticated features and are designed to make fishing easier and cheat the multiplier ban for records. Nobody really believes modern reels don't need to be sophisticated. There is an upper tier of reels that are like Rolex watches and just for show. In fact the fancy milling patterns change so often none of them hang around long enough to establish the reputations of the expensive reels of the past. But that is OK, because reels are generally so much better they all meet specs. Todays fly reels are as expensive as the most expensive spinning reels, and yet functionally are about as complex as the spools on those reels. It is a buyer's market where you can get cheap reels that are very efficient, or you can bling out your life like a guy with gold teeth.
i use a 6wt for bay salt and ocean shores... mostly fish early morning when the winds not kicking up... 6wt on salt is so fun just cant handle medium or bit stronger winds
Great explanations as always! Thanks for the insight 👍
Thanks Jeremy!
Yes, but start with what you can afford and put a good line on it. I started with a Sage Spec C for my 5wt and hated it until I replaced my crappy RIO Gold line..yes crappy.. with SA Amplitude now it works better. The Rio held onto silt and made my reel sound like crap. My next purchase was the Orvis Battenkill for my 3wt and while it’s not high end it was so much better than my Sage until I replaced the line. Most recently I bought a Ross Animas and holy cow it’s phenomenal. I’ll never buy another cheap reel.
I use an orvis hydros for salt water and my 6 weight fresh. I like that u can get the interchangeable spool. If I didn't need a sealed drag id of spent less though.
Thanks. This review is helpful. I fish in southern New England so the most demanding fish I encounter are false albacore. I view fly reels like I view watches. A twenty dollar Casio quartz watch works as accurately as a Rolex watch. The Rolex has status appeal. But it is true the Tibor and other high end reels seem to work better on more demanding fish. My collection of saltwater reels include a used Orvis reel and an Allen. Not glamorous but never failed me. In my experience fly lines is where I splurge. Newer models are constantly improving. I'd like to see you review leader materials. I suspect my seagar fluro leader material is unreliable.
Thanks
Glad you liked the video Theodore! I agree 100% about the watch comparison. Leader material testing could make for a great video
No Seiglers?
Nice bunch of reels you have there . I personally like Tibor , Able , Danielsson and Nautilus, that being said they are what I consider expensive except for the Danielsson. I have also fished with Matchcast , Echo , and Redington and like many people have see that these reels are very well made and get the job done and are economical to buy . To me it comes down to how much am I going to be using that rod reel setup vs the expense . I have never used the Mako but have looked at them quite a bit and they have some cool features but I Personally I just can’t justify the expense . Thanks for the video
What model of Danielsson you use? Thinking of getting my first saltwater setup this year #10, 11 or 12... and the H5D is currently on the top of my list. Mostly because it is budget friendly.
@@ThePPTP2 I have three F3W7Ten reels two I use on single handed rods 8wt for silver salmon , Steelhead , Trout ,Dorado , Redfish , junior tarpon , permit , Roosterfish , trigger fish etc. and they work great . I also have one on my trout Spey 4wt .For what your looking for a 10wt + I would say is H5D , I also looked at them but decided on the F3W7Ten just because of what weight rods I would be using and the fish I would be targeting . In any case I don’t think you can go wrong with a Danielsson they are well made I found there customer service to be very helpful when selecting what reel would suit my needs best and the best part is they work great and the drag system is fantastic . I use them a lot and have never had an issue. I would reach out to them and I’m sure they can help direct you in the right direction. Good luck
Thoroughly enjoyed this video 👍🏻😎, what is your opinion on the Shilton regarding durability?
Glad you liked it! It seems very well build. It doesn't feel as solid in the hand as the Makos, but the quality feels great. It feels like a mix between a Nautilus and a Tibor
@@tailwaterflyshop thank you!
I started fly fishing in 2014...I bought my first high end reel (Graphite Tibor Gulfstream with name and Tarpon engraving) in 2016. Since then, my heart doesn't feel full unless it's balanced by a tibor. There's Alot of great reels out there for a reasonable price, especially on the lighter end (looking at you Lamson). But, it just doesn't "Feel" the same to me. It doesn't "Send" me unless I can have one of Teddy's gems on my rods...
They are legendary. We’re pretty addicted to them as well
I currently use an Abel Rove 5/7 on my 7wt and absolutely love it. I also have the Rove 7/9 for my 9wt. I just bought my 3rd outfit: Maxxon SLIM which is a click n paw reel in 5wt for retention pond fishing in my neighborhood. It feels great so far. The lifetime warranty including accidental protection is unbeatable.
Accidental protection from Abel? I think you need to reread their policy
I was referring to the Maxxon policy not the Abel.@@perrykomick9478
Maxxon not Abel@@perrykomick9478
I bought a Redington for my kid's rod and was very disappointed, they are generally fine but the start up on the drag is ridiculous. A start up drag around 2 pounds before it hits the guides on a 5-6. Garbage. It is adjustable by the knob, but too heavy on the lowest setting. Sorta a specialized for carp reel. I hope there is a way to adjust the internals but should not have to ask that question.
Hi guys 1990 I watch these guys catching Atlantic salmon in Sault ste Marie where I lived I didn't have a lot of money so I had to make the right choice this is the setup I came up with I have a able 3N it has a stop-a-sub drag it has a lifetime guarantee if someone steals it you report it to able someone sends it in for maintenance Abel will send it back to you the rod I chose is a GLX 10" 8 weight it had the largest variety of fish that you could catch with it guaranteed for life I've caught everything from bluegills to 30 lb Chinook salmon hundreds of them I I was a die-hard fisherman it's the best investment I ever made don't go cheap you regret it on a big fish
Agreed!
What do you think of the reddington grande?
Don’t have personal experience with it, so I’m not sure. Looks nice
Just picked up a animas super happy with it
good deal!
@@tailwaterflyshop yup I love it
But what can a MAKO exactly do, other reels like Tibor and Nautilus can´t do to justify $2.000?
It’s not about fishing it’s about taking the best gear on the market for a walk along the creek and showing off on instagram lol. Jk but not really.
Hardy is years ahead of Nautilus. Tibor is good for sure but cork and extreme heat is no good . Fortuna series are the only real reel that can go against a Mako. You don't get it until you are fishing for something really extreme. Nowadays there is no reel that you can open the drag and close it as fast and smooth as with a Mako. Probably the less profitable company on the market but in terms of quality they are no doubts the best. (Not sponsored by any brand just played with those toys a lot for billfish and big fish)
I have a 12wt rod $100 and 12wt reel $150
“180lb tarpon” 😂
Long story Short: sweet water, not at all necessary and for salt it’s definitely necessary.
I love Abel’s but they have pretty much priced themselves out of the market☹️
Honestly the prices are ridiculous lol you don't need all that I own an Abel super 7,8,9 tjey are awesome and to easy to date pr loose for the price . Dropping it is lile dropping a new motorcycle . Why I gave it all up . I'll just 3d print my own fucking reel and but my own cork lmfao .
tibor is mostest prettiest
So, girl-next-door vs. Supermodel money?
NFT money vs Bitcoin money
Just buy an Echo.
Gotta say, that Echo Bravo is pretty mighty. Only thing I don't like is the polymer engagement, which I'll bet money the Redington Behemoth has too. That's an expensive piece to machine with lots of odd angles.
Sorry but you are worry about that do matter about drag on reel do matter and know fish in the rocks and i use a 8 wt do not use no more because i find need something powerful reel and rod so get a 12wt reel and 12wt rod spinning $99.99 and spinning $150 on my reel rod do not matter at all hate people think do not need experience rod borke upset about it thing spinning on is the reel because i know need my drag to work will become spinning more on it you do not need to spend lots of money on fly line at all i use $40 and Amazon backing 20lbs 456yd i can hold my reel meet for biggame fish never know go cashe in saltwater i have big reel saltwater meet deep sae fishing but use for redfish sharks and grouper and saltwater big game fish i do not play with small fish go find big fish to play with
no following you man
" Uhhh Ummm" 81 times at least. It was obvious when you were more familiar with a product. Rehearsal? Script? Editing?
Wow, you are Mr Negative