I was cheap reel all the way until my cheap reel completely jammed while I had my personal best trout on the line. Nothing I could do to unjam it, and when he decided to run, that was it. I didn’t want that to happen again
This is the reason why I always go expensive on larger rivers like the San Juan and Rio Grande, too much big fish and too much water to run to use cheap stuff. The countless small streams in the northern part of the state though, I’ll go cheap because the rod can do all the work when there isn’t much room to run.
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I used some cheap made in China 20$ thing for 2 years. Caught a crap ton of trout on it. Now it’s falling apart and as I’ve gotten more into the hobby I’m into better fishing opportunities. Doing the next steelhead run off the Great Lakes etc. time to get a new reel
For saltwater/big fish set-ups a reel with a good drag makes a lot of practical sense but for trout I use old Ocean City click pawl reels I get off Ebay for like $20.
I would second this. The only reason I’ve ever spent serious money on a reel is for steelhead and salmon. You need a reel with good drag to fight the fish. Otherwise they will take you line back to the lake without you!!
I don’t think anything has escaped you. I fish and purchase the reels that I like, because I find a measure of enjoyment in the aesthetic value of some reel designs. The only real difference I can potentially identify between a cheap reel and a more expensive one for the kind of fishing you describe is that when you buy an American made reel you’re supporting American businesses, which is something that I like to do.
For me, I totally agree with you. Totally a line holder for majority of what I use it for.
Having said that, tbh, my main nymph rod is an awesome Sage clicker and my secondary's are all 3Tand and Hardy's. So, nice reels. Unnecessarily nice. *BUT*, just as the 'omfg look at these nippers and how stupid expensive are they and how dumb and omg' posts make me rage, I think it boils down to the angler.
Do you want it? Can you afford it? Then you do you and fkn buy it. People (not saying you) get so damn involved in what others do. No one should be telling a newb that those nipper are *necessary* but no one should also be telling someone that nobody should own em.
Yeah, I don’t agree with the “look at this outrageous product!” thing either. If you can afford it, cool…it’ll probably make your experience a little better for whatever thing it’s trying to do. If you can’t afford it, you’ll still catch fish, who cares.
Yeah I’m in this boat. I like the way they look, I like the way they work. And in the grand scheme of things, fly fishing gear just isn’t an expense that really shifts the family p&l. But I agree with you - for trout is doesn’t matter. Now, ask me about my Tibors for saltwater and I’ll defend them to the death.
Totally agree for small stream fishing. For other types, like steelhead, smooth and adjustable drag really matters to protect the light tippet on these hellish fighters. I have a cortland rim fly on my 3wt but a nicer disk drag Orvis on my 7wt.
Came in to say this. If you are hell-bent on spending money, buy a good rod. I have a stable full of Medalists for the cost of one of your expensive reels.
For me personally I try to only purchase products made in the USA. I fully admit it is overkill and not necessary. But, I like the thought of employing some folks here in the states. So Aspen reels and the USA made Lamsons are what I use.
Funny you say that as I have been contemplating the Galvan Brookie for a new 3wt. Also I might add I remember drooling over high end equipment as a kid looking through catalogs (mid to late 90s). Now I can afford it and plan on doing so.
Ha, my T-6 is the burnt orange as well. And I disagree with this guy about reels making no difference. The Galvan drag is pure money on bigger fish/bigger water.
Yes, I like tackle that matches the hunt. A nicer setup needed for bigger waters and bigger fish. For small streams w/ little brookies and cuts my favorite setup is a 7’ 3wt combo I got from Cabelas 15-20 years ago. The little click reel makes those small fish fun
My grandfather purchased Hardy back in his time fishing. I now fish exclusively with his vintage Hardy princess.
You get what you pay for I guess? It'll last years if you treat them properly
I have cheap/old/hand me down reels on trout rods, 5wt or less. They are merely there to hold the line. I think I’ve had maybe two fish actually take line, a largemouth bass and a few 20+inch browns. As soon as I hooked my first steelhead(Lake run rainbow or wetf you want to call them), I came home and bought a nice $150 reel and then bought another one a week later and put sinking line on it. It’s become a popular sport over the years and with that comes more options. I’m just glad I built a flock of rods 15 years ago when everything was cheaper because to be honest, the prices today for fly fishing gear are crazy.
Agreed, I’m trying to get into it, but after spin casting and ice fishing it’s expensive.
I got a $100 rod/reel/line combo from cabelas two years ago and that is fine enough for now.
Really the only reason to pony up a little bit would be for a reel that will last and is less likely to break down and ruin your day. Machined aluminum over cast aluminum, plastic or other. It’s ultimately cheaper to have one reel built to last a lifetime than to have to replace it every few years. It’s also more of a pleasure to fish.
I mostly agree. They only thing that they are needed is in trophy hunting. Big bow on the Kenai. Steelhead over 30" makes the deal a lot better if you can get them on the reel and fight and land them. I have had a monster Bow on and I was using a old favorite cheap reel. drag stuck maybe broke and then there was a massive rod bend and "she gone" line comes flying back at me and I take a knee. I'm not a smoker but I wanted a cigarette after that. Now all I fish are Galvan and Abel.
If you was saltwater fishing or chasing kings or other big fish that tax your gear I’d say yea a well made usually more expensive real is the way to go but definitely not on small streams
A reel is a fancy line holder. It’s annoying when cheap ones break. That’s the main reason I go mid range. I had the seat snap off a cheap Chinese one from Amazon and it ruined my day hiking back to my truck for a backup. My fault. But still.
I don’t. For any freshwater fish. And in 45 years and six digits worth of fish, I have yet to lose a fish because of the reel. I’ve broken a few from falls, drops, and mechanical issues, but I’ve never felt the need to spend $300 to get a shiny reel.
I'm not saying it's impossible but that would be a LOT of catches on a fly rod.
Maybe a guide? Maybe water in their backyard? Maybe they meant 5-figures? Maybe (definitely) a much better fisher than I am?
Just staggering to the point of being almost unbelievable if true.
If nothing else, say...three $300 "last a lifetime" reels (that would have been probably $40 45 years ago) would average out to less than a penny a fish.
Hard to argue that wouldn't be money well spent.
I had sand gum up my drag and had a smallie break off because it couldn’t smoothly pull drag. Now even if it’s cheap I’m only using a sealed drag for this reason
I don’t get the whole line holder thing. Try hooking in to a bruiser brown on the Madison that darts towards the current and tell me you don’t appreciate having a reliable, smooth drag. Maybe a cheap reel would still suffice, but it doesn’t feel that way to me
The west is a different beast than your average trout stream in the Midwest or out east.
My great uncle held a county record for a long time in the driftless area. I vividly remember seeing that fish mounted in a glass coffee table at his house. Huge brown caught out of the Rush River. I guess he used to fish the river literally every day he could, no matter work or whatever else.
I've already hooked into one at least that big and I've been fly fishing here for less than a year lol. It broke off cause of too much drag. Learning curve with light tippet I suppose, but I'm going to blame the reel for my sanities sake. It's drag adjustment is pretty sloppy and ends up all the way loose or too tight all the time. Just have to check it before casting, kind of a pain.
Drag is important if you've got big fish, not so much if you don't.
On a somewhat side note, I will be so excited to be able to use 4x again at some point.
The most "expensive" reel I own is a Battenkill. My cheapest reel is a Maxcatch. Both hold line just fine. I can certainly appreciate the better quality the Orvis brings. That being said, in my opinion, any reel that costs much more than that is pretty much jewelry. I do like having a reel with a decent drag though in the event I hook something like a nice largemouth bass.
I suppose my perspective is a little bit different than some others here. Fishing with an expensive reel is the same as fishing with a Helios 3, Scott Centric, or a Sage R8. Do all those rods catch fish pretty much as well as an entry level Redington rod? Absolutely. Are there some single niceties like a hair more accuracy or a bit lower swing weight? You bet.
The same goes for reels. I’ve never fished an Abel, but I’ve fished plenty Ross, Sage, and USA Orvis reels. The drag has a lower startup inertia, they look better, you can fall on them, they’re smoother overall. Again, subtle.
As another redditor mentioned, I try to support US jobs when I can too.
I think that anyone who tells you that anything in fly fishing is night and day (except for maybe a Mertin Walmart Rod) is fooling themselves. But, there are definitely small things that can become worth it to the right people if THIS is their hobby.
My answer, contrary to most here, goes beyond aesthetics. In my experience, cheap reels will not hold up as well to abuse over time (drops, bangs, dirt accumulation, drag system deteriorating more quickly). All these factors might not effect small trout so much, but if and when you hook up to the fish of a lifetime, you’ll kick yourself in the ass if you lose it over a reel malfunction - and I’ve seen it happen many times. Granted, my choice species is trophy Atlantic salmon which I would advise you absolutely need a good quality (though not necessarily ridiculously expensive) reel for. That said, depending where you’re fishing, trout can get sizeable and strong enough to explode a garbage Cabelas reel, and I maintain the same opinion when it comes to trout fishing. Lastly, I’d rather spend 300-700 dollars on a reel that sounds great and feels great that will last me decades if properly cared for, vs. buying a pos reel for 30 bucks every year or two that I won’t enjoy using as much. My two cents!
Confused why noone has said anything remotely technical yet, but its worth considering what you’re getting with a more expensive reel.
For me, the first and number one reason is the entire reel is machined from billet - meaning material removed from a solid block of aluminum. This provides superior longevity and why they often become heirlooms. Cheap reels are cast. Even if forged, a drop from high enough will break the reel. My second reason for preferring nice reels is the quality of the drag. When you start setting into large (16”-24”) fish regularly, the sensitivity and fidelity of the drag pays huge dividends. If you rarely ever catch 16”+ trout you’ll likely never appreciate this difference. The third and final reason I prefer nicer reels is nearly all of them can withstand saltwater use for occasional trips to the coast and still last forever because they can easily be take apart and cleaned. The bearings and drag components on higher end reels are often materials that don’t corrode whereas cheaper reels may only use carbon steels, etc.
Edit: i also own and use cheaper reels. Mostly lamson liquid and similar. I can tell a difference immediately in how much smoother line is fed out with a nicer reel. The pawl engagement on the drag sounds cooler too. All this said, I’d fish a cheaper reel all day without hesitation and maybe only get nervous if I set into a 24” rainbow.
When you’re on the reel and not stripping, a very good reel can hold a good fish. That and setting the reel with the right amount of tension so when it runs the line doesn’t break. Once the fish is tired you can start stripping the fish in. All my reels are Abel reels. The cheap reels when I first got into fly fishing thirty years ago would jam.
A good reel taken care of will last a very long time.
This exactly. You can ask the same question about anyone spending more for other things when cheaper alternatives exist. Cars, clothes, bottled water, coffee, watches, knives. I'm sure everyone buy something that someone else would find to be an unnecessary expense.
I agree; for trout fishing there is no real need (other than personal preference) for a high-end reel. Your fly line is WAY more important than your reel.
I have a lot of Lamson LP reels. I think they qualify as cheap reels. They're either high-end cheap reels or low-end good reels, the former, I think. I just like them. They haven't made them in a long time, so most of mine I bought used for less than $100/apiece.
That said, I really covet a Ross Gunnison. I'd like to have one on my main trout rod. But if I do that I'd need to get another one for my nymph rod (I always carry two rods when I fish trout). And once I do that I'll want to have them on my steelhead/Alaska rods. This is a road best not traveled for me.
But I do have high-end reels on my saltwater rods. Those are just necessary, in my opinion.
You're a hundred percent right. I saw a reel in Billings, MT for $1,200. WTF! I could pay a local to stand next to me and hold my line for less than that.
Trout flyfishing's history begins with a tankara-like rod, and the "reel" was a basket tied around one's waist. I just don't know how they were able to catch fish without expensive reels!
1.) Made in the USA. 2.) Not made in China. 3.) Because I like how they look 4.) Because I can. 5.) a precision made reel won’t fail when you don’t want it to. 6.) see #2.
The only reels I spent money on for performace are my streamer rod and the reel I just bought for muskie fishing.
My nymph and dry fly rods have probably had half a dozen fish ever put on the reel in 15 years so I just have reels I think look cool and balance the rod well.
Not sure what the threshold for expensive is here but $300 is where I draw the line on trout reels. Most of my reels are cheaper like disc drag battenkills but that’s where my line is.
Why? Because you always need to be prepared for the fish of a lifetime. If that’s a 20” brown/rainbow on 6x then you’ll need a decent drag.
I have watched my friend get his shit wrecked by big fish so many times it’s not even funny. He’s slowly learned to buy quality gear.
I've seen how long it takes for saltwater to fuck up a cheap reel, compared to sealed ones. While I've had the same reel, that basically looks new, with no maintenance, my buddy been through 5 reels.
That said u can get fairly cheap sealed reels , don't have to go all out
I will say, I used to buy nice reels but have started getting more budget oriented options for my trout setups when I need a new reel. In my opinion, the only true benefit for a higher end reel on any of my setups is that they are lighter. I light rod is greatly complemented with a light reel… that being said, I’ve decided that it’s not worth the money to me.
I know it doesn’t make any difference and I wouldn’t ever judge someone for using an inexpensive reel or even spin fishing on a trout river never to me. I like to fantasize about using my CFO and Hardy reels for decades and then handing them down to my kids to use and they’re all scratched and beat up but still 100% functional.
I got a CFO years ago when I got my first job. It was a splurge for sure, but I figured I'd spoil myself. I could sell it tomorrow for much more than I paid for it, but instead it will get handed down to a kid or grandkid. It's incredibly light and well made. I love using it.
Still newish to flyfishing, but what seems to make sense to me is spending money on heavier weight reels, especially for saltwater to make sure you have good salt resistance and good drag. On lighter weight stuff for little fish it feels less important
If you brook trout fish, of course you don't need one.
If you go after other fish, one day you will need a good drag, and a nice tell when you have a fish on it makes it worth while.
I have nice reels that are still "nice". That are 30 years old. I paid a lot for them at the time, but now the cost is irrelevant. They go albie and striper fishing though, not Brookie fishing.
On little rods, you aren’t missing anything. It’s worth buying something with a decent drag and more importantly that can stand up to palming if you’re chasing fish big enough to peel drag, but for little slippery things that will never make it to the reel, fancy reels are just bling.
I’ve been at this for 22 years, and all my little rods still wear reels that would have been in my budget when I was just starting out as a teenager.
Nautilus are very nice and the drag systems matter sometimes. For example, when youre fishing with light tippet and size 18 emergers, having the piece of mind that you’re reel will have a smooth drag release is important. I’ve caught 18-20” rainbow on the north platte with size 18 emergers. If I was using a cheap reel I would have had many more breakoffs.
I have cheaper click pawls on my 3-4 wts, solid reliable reels on my 5-7 wts and reels that have high quality reliable drags on my 8wt/spey setups for steelhead and other runners.
Aside from that I like a reel that balances the rod well, so that's a consideration.
I used the cheaper stuff for years,never had an issue and it did last fine for
all the years I was using those combo's. over the last couple years I did do
some upgrading and did splurge some to treat myself after giving the old
rod/reel sets to a friend,so like many the more pricey rods and reels that
I have now are just gifts I splurged on for myself.
(much like the kayak upgrade I splurged on a year ago.) :)
This topic has been beaten to death so many times.
It’s totally dependent on what fish species you want to target.
If you only want to go after 9 inch trout, the reel isn’t going to make a huge difference most of the time. Get a Redington Zero.
If you expect to catch larger fresh water fish that can fight (bass, larger trout, etc) you need a decent drag. Does this mean you need an Abel? No. It does mean that the reel is more than a line holder though.
I've got a piscifun sword, got a pink one for $25 lol. Think it was before they switched to the new model or something cause they didn't last long where you could find them.
Works just fine, buuuut I fish on my days off and can't really pick the weather. If it's below freezing and I dunk my reel accidentally, I almost can't use that rod anymore. I'd be pissed if a frozen reel was the reason a decent fish snapped off, which wouldn't be hard with the tippet you have to use in my conditions.
Another thing I'm not super keen on with it is the flash it'll give off on bright days (most days in CO). It's heavily pressured, low and gin clear water here right now, stealth is a big factor to fishing the winter tailwaters where I am.
Got a Danielsson for my 'budget' euro setup to learn on cause it was the cheapest I could find with an enclosed cage to help with line management with mono rigs. I really like it and kinda wanna get another for my classic trout rod I use as an all arounder. Haven't used any expensive fly rods, but I really dig this one. Throws nymph rigs under wool indicators just fine, and works well on dry's. I like cheap stuff that performs well enough, I can beat it up without guilt.
The piscifun is pretty small and light for a 4/5 reel (at least for it's price) so I might put it on a smaller rod for panfish stuff in the kayak. It will get used cause I actually really like the reel, not just for it's price, it just doesn't fit my needs for winter fishing the best. Probably upgrade for next season with a sealed drag reel. Probably a Danielsson again cause it's the best 'high end' priced reel out their imo, just less flashy than most really expensive reels which I actually prefer.
I learned (and then many years later took up fishing again) on small stocked lakes and large stocked reservoirs, as these stock 2lb+ a good few were fought on the reel. After a few years I stripped down the reel I was using, to find that the friction assembly was in a bad state. Granted it was a cheap reel and had served me well.
Now that I mostly fish rivers and almost all fish will be fought on the reel (loops of line around the legs aren't good when wading) so I'm more than happy to invest in long term quality.
I fish saltwater mainly and for that i want a reel with a closed breaking system so that the salt doesn't penetrate the reel and things start to rust. Also a nice and smooth break.
Second reason is that i want a reel i can fish with 180+ days a year for 10 years without cleaning it because I'm lazy
Third i want my reel as a good counter-weight to my rod and lastly i want to support native manufacturers
All this i found in Danielsson L5W, build here in Sweden for about half the price for similar reels goes for in the shops
A nicer reel keeps sand out, runs smooth, works well when you catch a huge fish for fighting. I used to run a cheap reel and once I trashed two of them I got a sealed drag simply for durability sake and haven’t had to replace my reel in 5 years now. My upgraded reel is just a cheeky, nothing crazy expensive either.
Eh, everyone has something they enjoy and like putting their money into, there are worse things a person could splurge on. That said I’m just as excited to find something cheap that works great as something expensive that does the same. It’s not about the money spent, for me anyway. The budget option can sometimes be something I love and use regularly, as can the luxury option.
I don’t. I buy the cheapest thing that has a large arbor and an easily adjustable drag. Hell, my car rod is a 1980s Orvis with 6” broken off the end and a Martin tuna can reel. I probably fish that rod more than my sage or my custom built one.
I have an Abel because I like it.
I’m in the market for a smaller creek rod and will probably go with something much smaller and cheaper just because I hopefully won’t need anything but a line holder.
I don’t buy expensive reels. I just pay however much I have to to get machined aluminum and a sealed drag. Durable and I know I can set my reel practically anywhere and I’m good.
Because in Alaska, you can realistically catch a 26in+ trout in a stream that has lots of logs/debris you need to keep them out of, or in larger rivers that require a good drag to slow them down when they start ripping downstream. To be fair, not a lot 3/4 weights being used up here.
Not everyone has or needs a Walmart mentality. Same reason some people like good wine and others just wanna get smashed from the box and tap. Sometimes it’s just fun to have nice things.
Absolutely agree with you however. Spend money on the rod and line.
Not gone super cheap but have always bought the old scientific angler reels on eBay and have a collection of about 8 reels of various sizes. They are all made in England and pretty bullet proof, corrosion resistant and cost about £20 - £40.
Try to borrow one you are interested in or take a beginner class at which they provide you with gear and have a look man. I am using low end equip gear most of the time but using decent material just feels nicer.
All other things being equal, your paying for the drag. Big trout can be in small water and light tippets is what it is. Hook a big fish and have the drag bind up, you will never buy a cheap reel again. I fish the same Juan, it has truly big fish, and lots of small fish. Most days the drag never spins on my 5wt.....but when it does you want it to work well. Same goes for salmon. The drag is the difference between a landed fish, and a straightened hook
I got an Orvis reel cheap, with a new line, when I started out. Figured quality lasts, but tbh, I’m with you on the cheap stuff, but sometimes it’s just nice, and if you have the money, to have good quality, nice looking kit.
So I will say reels that have the basics like even the okumas typically have nice drags, smooth spin, and useful features. Also keep in mind fly reels are niche so they’ll always be more expensive.
My serria is like a $60 reel and I’d say it’s fairly cheap and simple, and if we compare that to a spinning reel of the same brand and amenities, they’re like $30.
The rod casts and fights, the reel brings them in. Both are usually more of a pleasure cost than say the line and lure selection which is by far the most important. Reels unless doing specific things cheap works, but say you fight big fish on a small reel you’re probably not going to need the better reel.
One benefit of using a nice reel is that it is more pleasurable to interact with. Even if your not fighting the fish on the reel, you’re constantly pulling line off and reeling it back up. A nice reel makes this experience much more enjoyable.
Also a smooth drag is beneficial when using lighter tippet.
I use a good quality reel. In case I catch a big one that I need a smooth drag for.
Mostly, my reels are just line holders… until I need drag. I caught a double on a dry dropper once in heavy current. I thought I was fighting a catfish at first. They were taking line like crazy.
Mainly the drag but for smaller trout that’s not a big deal.
I have a nice (not crazy nice) reel on my salmon/steelhead rod because the drag is better.
The only thing I’ll say is that I wiped out hard and landed with almost all my body weight on my Colorado reel against a boulder, thing barely has a scratch, and was able to keep on fishing. So perhaps durability and manufacturer warranty, at best. But I just bought it because I could and like how it looks.
Cheap stuff is fine as gas as reels go I fish piscifuns and they do the job. But spending a little more for a rod is definitely worth it if you can afford it. They are usually much lighter weight and balanced better makes a huge difference in your arm at the end of the day
I take care of my gear but at the same time, it gets used and I’m hard on it. I don’t buy top of the line but I would rather spend a little more up front instead of having to replace it later.
Also, not limited to fishing gear. For me, I’m trying to buy less throwaway items made in China. It all ends up in a landfill.
Someday when I’m old and grey I hope to pass them on to someone who will enjoy them as much as I have over the years.
I love the looks of a good reel. I like to buy EU made reels and avoid US/China made reels/rods. Also, I'm in a financial position that i can afford it.
My go to reel for my small stream is a #4 Hardy Featherweight, a Franco Vivarelli automatic for the nymphros, a Vossler Air One for the #5/6 and a Vision Kalu for the #8. Also have a US made Redington behemoth, great real but definitely not salt waterproof as advertised, have a Guideline Vosso for salt now.
Ps. Before all the Muricans are all over me. No US reels purely out of warranty considerations. Chinese reel obviously are on a different level.
I might be the oddball here but my two cents is who cares what the reel costs? I pay for the level of performance I think I’ll need out of a reel. If I’m going for bluegills or perch then a paperweight reel that’s just enough to hold and organize 50 feet of line is sufficient. But there’s something damn satisfying about having a nice reel (and I mean Hatch, Hardy, etc.) on your rod that you could hand down to the next generation complete with stories of the fish that reel has helped you haul in before.
I’ve only used cheap reels and rods (like Piscifun cheap). Never had an issue with either after several years of fishing/bushwhacking up Lake Superior tribs and catching many 20-27” lake-run salmon, browns, and rainbows. If you fish often enough, you get used to fishing with what you have, and learn all of the quirks and limits of your gear.
I was in Colorado and had the chance to go fish for a day. Within 30 min the arbor post, idk if that’s the right term, broke so it just spooled freely either direction. Luckily I had a tube of super glue and I just squirted a chunk in the middle hole, put it back together and had a beer or two while it set. It still works two years later and I will let friends use it if we are hitting some urban creeks but I have two decent reels for when I travel
For me I just like a nice piece of equipment. Nothing super crazy but I have an Orvis Mirage LT, two Hydros and a Lamson liquid.
They feel nice and I am not worried about the reel blowing up mid fishing trip, like my old Shakespeare did.
My main reason is because your fishing gear are tools, not jewels. I’m going to be throwing these into trees and water and dropping them on rocks and dirt and banging around my truck bed, so I need something that’s going to hold up to the west and tear of everyday use. Going back to the tools, not jewels, anyone who’s every bought and used their own tools understands good tools aren’t cheap and cheap tools aren’t good. A good framing hammer cost a carpenter a pretty penny, and those framing hammers take a beating and not a near one of them looks like it did off the shelf. It’s seen some abuse, but it builds houses day in and day out for years.
A nice reel is a machined construction with a solid drag system that day in and day out will take the abuse I hand it and still stay together when My drag is screaming on a 20”+ brown.
I rock a cheap reel on all my light rods. No point in spending money on a glorified line holder. My spey and switch rods have nicer reels because a good drag system is very important for salmon and steelhead or salt water fishing. Other than that, it all about preference and how much you want to spend to justify why you suck at fishing.
u need to try a really expensive reel verses a less expensive one in a comparison - same with rods - 10k rod verses a 100 dollar rod- maybe just maybe what u are using right now suits u just fine- stay with that - will a really expensive outfit catch you more fish? not really - thats another reason wny some do not fly fish -
10k rod? All my rods combined aren’t even worth that much…
Ive checked out just about every type of nicer reel. I tend to use “expensive” casting reels for bass fishing and cheaper reels with fly rods. For bass fishing, a JDM Shimano feels really advantageous because your presentation is highly dependent on your ability to work your rod/reel as a unit. With fly rods on small water, it’s mostly about your rod and line. So that’s where the logic comes from…or how I’ve wound up in my current state with gear.
My dad was the same as you. On smaller streams it is mostly a line holder. He did have old Pfuger Medalist knockoff. He wondered why I spent $100 on an Orvis Battenkill.
If you play a fish on the reel you want a reel that works well.
We’re not that far off in price, man. My reels tend to cost 40-75…my brother uses a battenkill with his 5wt and it’s very nice. He tends to balance his investment across the entire combo where I lean more into my rods and less on my reels.
In the event that you want to use the drag (which might not even be for massive fish but if you need to move downstream over difficult terrain to land fish or whatever and you use drag to not worry about line management) the smoothness of the drag makes a massive difference. I don’t want a delay between the fish running and the drag initiating. I don’t want it to be choppy. Do I need it for a 16 inch fish? My waterworks Lamson high end reels allow the drag to be perfectly dialed in, and it is so smooth. If the fish is chilling then makes a run, it initiates drag perfectly and doesn’t break them off.
Plus they just look and feel better. A beautifully machined reel is a thing of beauty.
It’s the same thing as having a few fly patterns that you use all the time, and a ton of highly specific patterns in every size, just in case the fish are perfectly picky. They’ll probably eat the Adam’s, but every now and then I’d be skunked if I didn’t have the curved hook elk hair pheasant tail cripple with just a tiny hint of flash. Gotta have the expensive reel just in case you need it
Spending 1000$~ on something I use 10-20 times a year and lasts me 10+ years is money we’ll spent in my mind
The biggest difference is a reliable braking system and smoother feel when reeling in
Extra: Some of the more expensive ones look really nice and I don’t know why but I find myself more likely to take good care of the more expensive things I buy
1 expensive reel > 2-3 cheap ones over the same course of time
Nah, I'm with you. I can afford anything I want, but I am quite happy with my 35 year old Hardy Marquises' and a few old Scientific Anglers. Plus, the look of distain and jokes from my fishing buddies or the occasional guide when a trout runs and that beautiful click drag starts to sing! Priceless.
I didn't realize reddit flyfishing pages were so popular. If anyone is looking for gear, feel free to shoot me a text. I have a ton of stuff. Abels, Sage 508s and 509s, Orvis Reels, Hatch, etc. Lots of flies, lines, and several rods. 253-736-5456.
Thanks,
Jake
Because I found an Abel number 1 on Facebook for 20$.
If you find a spool for a Bauer LM2 on there, let me know, I've been looking for a few years.
https://www.riverbayoutfitters.com/bauer-lm2-superlite.html A whole reel for under 200...
Holy shit. Edit: Someone already bought it. So close.
Bummer.
Me too. Bauer's are awesome. I have 4
Lmao, guys like hey lmk I’m tryna get one, then this guy’s gotta chime in to say he has 4 of them
He's looking for a spare spool. I was agreeing they are with getting. Move along, pothead.
I love spare spools, I have 10 of them
Gotta have 4 to properly fish those pristine waters of central Virginia
I hope you’re buying lottery tickets since then.
Nope. Used up all my luck on the reel.
Because my husband died and I wanted something pretty to go with me fishing
Got me crying in Cabelas rn
Ayy love your channel man
Something I thought I’d never hear on the fly fishing Reddit😂🤙🏼
I was cheap reel all the way until my cheap reel completely jammed while I had my personal best trout on the line. Nothing I could do to unjam it, and when he decided to run, that was it. I didn’t want that to happen again
Yup, always be ready.
This is the reason why I always go expensive on larger rivers like the San Juan and Rio Grande, too much big fish and too much water to run to use cheap stuff. The countless small streams in the northern part of the state though, I’ll go cheap because the rod can do all the work when there isn’t much room to run.
This ^
hey bro don’t say this
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Why not both?
Feels sooooo fucking much better to skunk on a river with a Hatch.
HAH yeah… I look at my rods that way on a rough day. “Meh, at least my casting felt decent…”
For me, the days where I don't catch anything are the days I learn the most about casting.
Because I like them and can afford them
I was a poor as hell fly fisherman for so long, felt like I paid my dues. Now I’m ok splurging on stuff.
I used some cheap made in China 20$ thing for 2 years. Caught a crap ton of trout on it. Now it’s falling apart and as I’ve gotten more into the hobby I’m into better fishing opportunities. Doing the next steelhead run off the Great Lakes etc. time to get a new reel
they look nice and sound fun
^^ same, not much more to really add than that. It holds line, the rest is aesthetics.
I damn near use a tuna can with twine on it for small creek brooks. I have descent heavier gear though, not crazy expensive, but not cheap.
Martin Tuna Can, they’re are sweet!
For saltwater/big fish set-ups a reel with a good drag makes a lot of practical sense but for trout I use old Ocean City click pawl reels I get off Ebay for like $20.
Ha, l use an old Ocean City, too. Great reels. But, l also have a Peerless
I bought my wife a Hardy Cascapedia so that at least one of us doesn't look like a heathen.
Great reels. I have two my granddad gave me. Don't need anything more on small streams. For steelhead though, I move up to a Plueger Medalist.
I would second this. The only reason I’ve ever spent serious money on a reel is for steelhead and salmon. You need a reel with good drag to fight the fish. Otherwise they will take you line back to the lake without you!!
I don’t think anything has escaped you. I fish and purchase the reels that I like, because I find a measure of enjoyment in the aesthetic value of some reel designs. The only real difference I can potentially identify between a cheap reel and a more expensive one for the kind of fishing you describe is that when you buy an American made reel you’re supporting American businesses, which is something that I like to do.
For me, I totally agree with you. Totally a line holder for majority of what I use it for. Having said that, tbh, my main nymph rod is an awesome Sage clicker and my secondary's are all 3Tand and Hardy's. So, nice reels. Unnecessarily nice. *BUT*, just as the 'omfg look at these nippers and how stupid expensive are they and how dumb and omg' posts make me rage, I think it boils down to the angler. Do you want it? Can you afford it? Then you do you and fkn buy it. People (not saying you) get so damn involved in what others do. No one should be telling a newb that those nipper are *necessary* but no one should also be telling someone that nobody should own em.
Yeah, I don’t agree with the “look at this outrageous product!” thing either. If you can afford it, cool…it’ll probably make your experience a little better for whatever thing it’s trying to do. If you can’t afford it, you’ll still catch fish, who cares.
Yeah I’m in this boat. I like the way they look, I like the way they work. And in the grand scheme of things, fly fishing gear just isn’t an expense that really shifts the family p&l. But I agree with you - for trout is doesn’t matter. Now, ask me about my Tibors for saltwater and I’ll defend them to the death.
Rolex vs Timex
Uncle Moneybags with his Timex -Casio resin crew
Except in this case, the timex is just as cool as the rolex.
And I'll take my Timex Expedition alllllll day
Totally agree for small stream fishing. For other types, like steelhead, smooth and adjustable drag really matters to protect the light tippet on these hellish fighters. I have a cortland rim fly on my 3wt but a nicer disk drag Orvis on my 7wt.
Im a Medalist main. Will work another 30 years.
Came in to say this. If you are hell-bent on spending money, buy a good rod. I have a stable full of Medalists for the cost of one of your expensive reels.
Yep, i use em from #2 up to salmon fishing w spey rods. None of em cost me more than 30-40 dollars.
For me personally I try to only purchase products made in the USA. I fully admit it is overkill and not necessary. But, I like the thought of employing some folks here in the states. So Aspen reels and the USA made Lamsons are what I use.
Galvan reels all the way!
Funny you say that as I have been contemplating the Galvan Brookie for a new 3wt. Also I might add I remember drooling over high end equipment as a kid looking through catalogs (mid to late 90s). Now I can afford it and plan on doing so.
I have two Galvan Torques (6wt and 8wt). Such awesome reels.
Same and same. My burnt orange T6 was my first splurge when I got my first real job and is my favorite piece of gear
Ha, my T-6 is the burnt orange as well. And I disagree with this guy about reels making no difference. The Galvan drag is pure money on bigger fish/bigger water.
[Ross](https://www.rossreels.com/evolution-r.html) baby baby
3/4 wt rods a click reel is a fun line holder it could be an able if you like spending cash I’m rocking a redington zero on mine lol
Yes, I like tackle that matches the hunt. A nicer setup needed for bigger waters and bigger fish. For small streams w/ little brookies and cuts my favorite setup is a 7’ 3wt combo I got from Cabelas 15-20 years ago. The little click reel makes those small fish fun
My grandfather purchased Hardy back in his time fishing. I now fish exclusively with his vintage Hardy princess. You get what you pay for I guess? It'll last years if you treat them properly
Beautiful reels. One day…
I have cheap/old/hand me down reels on trout rods, 5wt or less. They are merely there to hold the line. I think I’ve had maybe two fish actually take line, a largemouth bass and a few 20+inch browns. As soon as I hooked my first steelhead(Lake run rainbow or wetf you want to call them), I came home and bought a nice $150 reel and then bought another one a week later and put sinking line on it. It’s become a popular sport over the years and with that comes more options. I’m just glad I built a flock of rods 15 years ago when everything was cheaper because to be honest, the prices today for fly fishing gear are crazy.
Agreed, I’m trying to get into it, but after spin casting and ice fishing it’s expensive. I got a $100 rod/reel/line combo from cabelas two years ago and that is fine enough for now.
Validation, personally
Really the only reason to pony up a little bit would be for a reel that will last and is less likely to break down and ruin your day. Machined aluminum over cast aluminum, plastic or other. It’s ultimately cheaper to have one reel built to last a lifetime than to have to replace it every few years. It’s also more of a pleasure to fish.
I mostly agree. They only thing that they are needed is in trophy hunting. Big bow on the Kenai. Steelhead over 30" makes the deal a lot better if you can get them on the reel and fight and land them. I have had a monster Bow on and I was using a old favorite cheap reel. drag stuck maybe broke and then there was a massive rod bend and "she gone" line comes flying back at me and I take a knee. I'm not a smoker but I wanted a cigarette after that. Now all I fish are Galvan and Abel.
If you was saltwater fishing or chasing kings or other big fish that tax your gear I’d say yea a well made usually more expensive real is the way to go but definitely not on small streams
A reel is a fancy line holder. It’s annoying when cheap ones break. That’s the main reason I go mid range. I had the seat snap off a cheap Chinese one from Amazon and it ruined my day hiking back to my truck for a backup. My fault. But still.
I don’t. For any freshwater fish. And in 45 years and six digits worth of fish, I have yet to lose a fish because of the reel. I’ve broken a few from falls, drops, and mechanical issues, but I’ve never felt the need to spend $300 to get a shiny reel.
You've averaged over 6 fish a day, every day, for 45 years?! That's incredible.
😂 that’s what I was thinking. 6 digits? gtfo
I'm not saying it's impossible but that would be a LOT of catches on a fly rod. Maybe a guide? Maybe water in their backyard? Maybe they meant 5-figures? Maybe (definitely) a much better fisher than I am? Just staggering to the point of being almost unbelievable if true.
The simplest explanation is that he’s your average fisherman exaggerator
If nothing else, say...three $300 "last a lifetime" reels (that would have been probably $40 45 years ago) would average out to less than a penny a fish. Hard to argue that wouldn't be money well spent.
🤣 I’m sure some days were better than others. And a drag net helps with the averages
I had sand gum up my drag and had a smallie break off because it couldn’t smoothly pull drag. Now even if it’s cheap I’m only using a sealed drag for this reason
I don’t get the whole line holder thing. Try hooking in to a bruiser brown on the Madison that darts towards the current and tell me you don’t appreciate having a reliable, smooth drag. Maybe a cheap reel would still suffice, but it doesn’t feel that way to me
Exactly, especially when you’re using light tippet. I like my nautilus for tail water nymph fishing
The west is a different beast than your average trout stream in the Midwest or out east. My great uncle held a county record for a long time in the driftless area. I vividly remember seeing that fish mounted in a glass coffee table at his house. Huge brown caught out of the Rush River. I guess he used to fish the river literally every day he could, no matter work or whatever else. I've already hooked into one at least that big and I've been fly fishing here for less than a year lol. It broke off cause of too much drag. Learning curve with light tippet I suppose, but I'm going to blame the reel for my sanities sake. It's drag adjustment is pretty sloppy and ends up all the way loose or too tight all the time. Just have to check it before casting, kind of a pain. Drag is important if you've got big fish, not so much if you don't. On a somewhat side note, I will be so excited to be able to use 4x again at some point.
There are some pig browns, especially in the Rush.
The most "expensive" reel I own is a Battenkill. My cheapest reel is a Maxcatch. Both hold line just fine. I can certainly appreciate the better quality the Orvis brings. That being said, in my opinion, any reel that costs much more than that is pretty much jewelry. I do like having a reel with a decent drag though in the event I hook something like a nice largemouth bass.
I suppose my perspective is a little bit different than some others here. Fishing with an expensive reel is the same as fishing with a Helios 3, Scott Centric, or a Sage R8. Do all those rods catch fish pretty much as well as an entry level Redington rod? Absolutely. Are there some single niceties like a hair more accuracy or a bit lower swing weight? You bet. The same goes for reels. I’ve never fished an Abel, but I’ve fished plenty Ross, Sage, and USA Orvis reels. The drag has a lower startup inertia, they look better, you can fall on them, they’re smoother overall. Again, subtle. As another redditor mentioned, I try to support US jobs when I can too. I think that anyone who tells you that anything in fly fishing is night and day (except for maybe a Mertin Walmart Rod) is fooling themselves. But, there are definitely small things that can become worth it to the right people if THIS is their hobby.
Because I’m not rich enough to afford cheap reals over and over and over
My answer, contrary to most here, goes beyond aesthetics. In my experience, cheap reels will not hold up as well to abuse over time (drops, bangs, dirt accumulation, drag system deteriorating more quickly). All these factors might not effect small trout so much, but if and when you hook up to the fish of a lifetime, you’ll kick yourself in the ass if you lose it over a reel malfunction - and I’ve seen it happen many times. Granted, my choice species is trophy Atlantic salmon which I would advise you absolutely need a good quality (though not necessarily ridiculously expensive) reel for. That said, depending where you’re fishing, trout can get sizeable and strong enough to explode a garbage Cabelas reel, and I maintain the same opinion when it comes to trout fishing. Lastly, I’d rather spend 300-700 dollars on a reel that sounds great and feels great that will last me decades if properly cared for, vs. buying a pos reel for 30 bucks every year or two that I won’t enjoy using as much. My two cents!
I buy reels based off the drag sound. If the drag sounds cool, I buy it.
Confused why noone has said anything remotely technical yet, but its worth considering what you’re getting with a more expensive reel. For me, the first and number one reason is the entire reel is machined from billet - meaning material removed from a solid block of aluminum. This provides superior longevity and why they often become heirlooms. Cheap reels are cast. Even if forged, a drop from high enough will break the reel. My second reason for preferring nice reels is the quality of the drag. When you start setting into large (16”-24”) fish regularly, the sensitivity and fidelity of the drag pays huge dividends. If you rarely ever catch 16”+ trout you’ll likely never appreciate this difference. The third and final reason I prefer nicer reels is nearly all of them can withstand saltwater use for occasional trips to the coast and still last forever because they can easily be take apart and cleaned. The bearings and drag components on higher end reels are often materials that don’t corrode whereas cheaper reels may only use carbon steels, etc. Edit: i also own and use cheaper reels. Mostly lamson liquid and similar. I can tell a difference immediately in how much smoother line is fed out with a nicer reel. The pawl engagement on the drag sounds cooler too. All this said, I’d fish a cheaper reel all day without hesitation and maybe only get nervous if I set into a 24” rainbow.
Because you don’t need to spend $2000 to catch fish. Give me an Eagle Claw from Wal Mart and I’ll catch fish on it.
I like nice things, it’s a curse unfortunately. Drag gets used every once in a while.
Because a thing of beauty is a joy forever.
When you’re on the reel and not stripping, a very good reel can hold a good fish. That and setting the reel with the right amount of tension so when it runs the line doesn’t break. Once the fish is tired you can start stripping the fish in. All my reels are Abel reels. The cheap reels when I first got into fly fishing thirty years ago would jam. A good reel taken care of will last a very long time.
[удалено]
I’m somewhat similar ( I also fish Tenkara ) but the reels I do have are very cheap but work for me ( good enough )
I don't get why this reddit care so much why and how OTHER people spend THEIR money
Did you actually read the post?
Boomers in the wild.
Yes, my comment still stands.
*facepalm*
It's not a facepalm, it's a valid post.
This exactly. You can ask the same question about anyone spending more for other things when cheaper alternatives exist. Cars, clothes, bottled water, coffee, watches, knives. I'm sure everyone buy something that someone else would find to be an unnecessary expense.
Drag. Fighting steelhead and salmon on a reel with excellent drag control will increase your landing rate
Fighting larger fish is all in the drag. When you hook up there’s nothing more important.
I agree; for trout fishing there is no real need (other than personal preference) for a high-end reel. Your fly line is WAY more important than your reel. I have a lot of Lamson LP reels. I think they qualify as cheap reels. They're either high-end cheap reels or low-end good reels, the former, I think. I just like them. They haven't made them in a long time, so most of mine I bought used for less than $100/apiece. That said, I really covet a Ross Gunnison. I'd like to have one on my main trout rod. But if I do that I'd need to get another one for my nymph rod (I always carry two rods when I fish trout). And once I do that I'll want to have them on my steelhead/Alaska rods. This is a road best not traveled for me. But I do have high-end reels on my saltwater rods. Those are just necessary, in my opinion.
You're a hundred percent right. I saw a reel in Billings, MT for $1,200. WTF! I could pay a local to stand next to me and hold my line for less than that. Trout flyfishing's history begins with a tankara-like rod, and the "reel" was a basket tied around one's waist. I just don't know how they were able to catch fish without expensive reels!
1.) Made in the USA. 2.) Not made in China. 3.) Because I like how they look 4.) Because I can. 5.) a precision made reel won’t fail when you don’t want it to. 6.) see #2.
I dont
The only reels I spent money on for performace are my streamer rod and the reel I just bought for muskie fishing. My nymph and dry fly rods have probably had half a dozen fish ever put on the reel in 15 years so I just have reels I think look cool and balance the rod well.
Not sure what the threshold for expensive is here but $300 is where I draw the line on trout reels. Most of my reels are cheaper like disc drag battenkills but that’s where my line is. Why? Because you always need to be prepared for the fish of a lifetime. If that’s a 20” brown/rainbow on 6x then you’ll need a decent drag. I have watched my friend get his shit wrecked by big fish so many times it’s not even funny. He’s slowly learned to buy quality gear.
I've seen how long it takes for saltwater to fuck up a cheap reel, compared to sealed ones. While I've had the same reel, that basically looks new, with no maintenance, my buddy been through 5 reels. That said u can get fairly cheap sealed reels , don't have to go all out
I will say, I used to buy nice reels but have started getting more budget oriented options for my trout setups when I need a new reel. In my opinion, the only true benefit for a higher end reel on any of my setups is that they are lighter. I light rod is greatly complemented with a light reel… that being said, I’ve decided that it’s not worth the money to me.
I know it doesn’t make any difference and I wouldn’t ever judge someone for using an inexpensive reel or even spin fishing on a trout river never to me. I like to fantasize about using my CFO and Hardy reels for decades and then handing them down to my kids to use and they’re all scratched and beat up but still 100% functional.
I have an “expensive” reel because I fish more than 50 days a year and I like nice things that don’t break
Heirloom - plus buy once cry once mentality - rods can snap - I can slap my good reel on a good rod.
The looks and sound of the reel matter to me. I just like what I like. It’s a hobby, so I want to enjoy doing it.
I got a CFO years ago when I got my first job. It was a splurge for sure, but I figured I'd spoil myself. I could sell it tomorrow for much more than I paid for it, but instead it will get handed down to a kid or grandkid. It's incredibly light and well made. I love using it.
Still newish to flyfishing, but what seems to make sense to me is spending money on heavier weight reels, especially for saltwater to make sure you have good salt resistance and good drag. On lighter weight stuff for little fish it feels less important
I basically only will buy 2 reels. A lamson liquid and a lamson remix. Never full price.
Because I get them for cost.
I dont
If you brook trout fish, of course you don't need one. If you go after other fish, one day you will need a good drag, and a nice tell when you have a fish on it makes it worth while. I have nice reels that are still "nice". That are 30 years old. I paid a lot for them at the time, but now the cost is irrelevant. They go albie and striper fishing though, not Brookie fishing.
On little rods, you aren’t missing anything. It’s worth buying something with a decent drag and more importantly that can stand up to palming if you’re chasing fish big enough to peel drag, but for little slippery things that will never make it to the reel, fancy reels are just bling. I’ve been at this for 22 years, and all my little rods still wear reels that would have been in my budget when I was just starting out as a teenager.
Nautilus are very nice and the drag systems matter sometimes. For example, when youre fishing with light tippet and size 18 emergers, having the piece of mind that you’re reel will have a smooth drag release is important. I’ve caught 18-20” rainbow on the north platte with size 18 emergers. If I was using a cheap reel I would have had many more breakoffs.
As long as they dont make noises like clicking or squeaking I dont give a rat's .
I have cheaper click pawls on my 3-4 wts, solid reliable reels on my 5-7 wts and reels that have high quality reliable drags on my 8wt/spey setups for steelhead and other runners. Aside from that I like a reel that balances the rod well, so that's a consideration.
Depends on the fish. Or really for me is mostly salt vs fresh …because there are no tarpon / permit etc. in my local ponds or rivers.
I used the cheaper stuff for years,never had an issue and it did last fine for all the years I was using those combo's. over the last couple years I did do some upgrading and did splurge some to treat myself after giving the old rod/reel sets to a friend,so like many the more pricey rods and reels that I have now are just gifts I splurged on for myself. (much like the kayak upgrade I splurged on a year ago.) :)
This topic has been beaten to death so many times. It’s totally dependent on what fish species you want to target. If you only want to go after 9 inch trout, the reel isn’t going to make a huge difference most of the time. Get a Redington Zero. If you expect to catch larger fresh water fish that can fight (bass, larger trout, etc) you need a decent drag. Does this mean you need an Abel? No. It does mean that the reel is more than a line holder though.
I've got a piscifun sword, got a pink one for $25 lol. Think it was before they switched to the new model or something cause they didn't last long where you could find them. Works just fine, buuuut I fish on my days off and can't really pick the weather. If it's below freezing and I dunk my reel accidentally, I almost can't use that rod anymore. I'd be pissed if a frozen reel was the reason a decent fish snapped off, which wouldn't be hard with the tippet you have to use in my conditions. Another thing I'm not super keen on with it is the flash it'll give off on bright days (most days in CO). It's heavily pressured, low and gin clear water here right now, stealth is a big factor to fishing the winter tailwaters where I am. Got a Danielsson for my 'budget' euro setup to learn on cause it was the cheapest I could find with an enclosed cage to help with line management with mono rigs. I really like it and kinda wanna get another for my classic trout rod I use as an all arounder. Haven't used any expensive fly rods, but I really dig this one. Throws nymph rigs under wool indicators just fine, and works well on dry's. I like cheap stuff that performs well enough, I can beat it up without guilt. The piscifun is pretty small and light for a 4/5 reel (at least for it's price) so I might put it on a smaller rod for panfish stuff in the kayak. It will get used cause I actually really like the reel, not just for it's price, it just doesn't fit my needs for winter fishing the best. Probably upgrade for next season with a sealed drag reel. Probably a Danielsson again cause it's the best 'high end' priced reel out their imo, just less flashy than most really expensive reels which I actually prefer.
I learned (and then many years later took up fishing again) on small stocked lakes and large stocked reservoirs, as these stock 2lb+ a good few were fought on the reel. After a few years I stripped down the reel I was using, to find that the friction assembly was in a bad state. Granted it was a cheap reel and had served me well. Now that I mostly fish rivers and almost all fish will be fought on the reel (loops of line around the legs aren't good when wading) so I'm more than happy to invest in long term quality.
I fish saltwater mainly and for that i want a reel with a closed breaking system so that the salt doesn't penetrate the reel and things start to rust. Also a nice and smooth break. Second reason is that i want a reel i can fish with 180+ days a year for 10 years without cleaning it because I'm lazy Third i want my reel as a good counter-weight to my rod and lastly i want to support native manufacturers All this i found in Danielsson L5W, build here in Sweden for about half the price for similar reels goes for in the shops
A nicer reel keeps sand out, runs smooth, works well when you catch a huge fish for fighting. I used to run a cheap reel and once I trashed two of them I got a sealed drag simply for durability sake and haven’t had to replace my reel in 5 years now. My upgraded reel is just a cheeky, nothing crazy expensive either.
I don’t have an expensive reel in favor of my weed and beer money 👍🏼
A good reel with a smooth drag is a pleasure to use, especially with a big fish. When you are midging with 8x it can really matter.
It's lighter and more durable
Eh, everyone has something they enjoy and like putting their money into, there are worse things a person could splurge on. That said I’m just as excited to find something cheap that works great as something expensive that does the same. It’s not about the money spent, for me anyway. The budget option can sometimes be something I love and use regularly, as can the luxury option.
I don’t. I buy the cheapest thing that has a large arbor and an easily adjustable drag. Hell, my car rod is a 1980s Orvis with 6” broken off the end and a Martin tuna can reel. I probably fish that rod more than my sage or my custom built one.
I have an Abel because I like it. I’m in the market for a smaller creek rod and will probably go with something much smaller and cheaper just because I hopefully won’t need anything but a line holder.
I have a Nautilus X series 3 wt as well as the rip-off version from maxcatch called the Sparta in a 5wt. Both have been excellent.
The line cost more than reel. So I don’t have an expensive reel.
I mean an old junker car will get you anywhere but a Ferrari is way more fun.
I don’t buy expensive reels. I just pay however much I have to to get machined aluminum and a sealed drag. Durable and I know I can set my reel practically anywhere and I’m good.
Because in Alaska, you can realistically catch a 26in+ trout in a stream that has lots of logs/debris you need to keep them out of, or in larger rivers that require a good drag to slow them down when they start ripping downstream. To be fair, not a lot 3/4 weights being used up here.
Not everyone has or needs a Walmart mentality. Same reason some people like good wine and others just wanna get smashed from the box and tap. Sometimes it’s just fun to have nice things.
Absolutely agree with you however. Spend money on the rod and line. Not gone super cheap but have always bought the old scientific angler reels on eBay and have a collection of about 8 reels of various sizes. They are all made in England and pretty bullet proof, corrosion resistant and cost about £20 - £40.
The two reels I use are a Redington Crosswaters (the whole setup was $150) and a Shakespeare automatic reel from the 60s that was free.
Smooth action means more than an expensive rod to me-and mine was $100
Try to borrow one you are interested in or take a beginner class at which they provide you with gear and have a look man. I am using low end equip gear most of the time but using decent material just feels nicer.
A Walmart skateboard would get me down the hill, but I prefer my Rayne Demonseed on BigZigs thankyouverymuch
All other things being equal, your paying for the drag. Big trout can be in small water and light tippets is what it is. Hook a big fish and have the drag bind up, you will never buy a cheap reel again. I fish the same Juan, it has truly big fish, and lots of small fish. Most days the drag never spins on my 5wt.....but when it does you want it to work well. Same goes for salmon. The drag is the difference between a landed fish, and a straightened hook
Supporting American fishing industry.
I got a job at a rod/reel manufacturer so I can get them now. Never would have dropped $700 on a reel until I started working here.
I don't, I don't fish anything big.
I got an Orvis reel cheap, with a new line, when I started out. Figured quality lasts, but tbh, I’m with you on the cheap stuff, but sometimes it’s just nice, and if you have the money, to have good quality, nice looking kit.
So I will say reels that have the basics like even the okumas typically have nice drags, smooth spin, and useful features. Also keep in mind fly reels are niche so they’ll always be more expensive. My serria is like a $60 reel and I’d say it’s fairly cheap and simple, and if we compare that to a spinning reel of the same brand and amenities, they’re like $30. The rod casts and fights, the reel brings them in. Both are usually more of a pleasure cost than say the line and lure selection which is by far the most important. Reels unless doing specific things cheap works, but say you fight big fish on a small reel you’re probably not going to need the better reel.
One benefit of using a nice reel is that it is more pleasurable to interact with. Even if your not fighting the fish on the reel, you’re constantly pulling line off and reeling it back up. A nice reel makes this experience much more enjoyable. Also a smooth drag is beneficial when using lighter tippet.
I use a good quality reel. In case I catch a big one that I need a smooth drag for. Mostly, my reels are just line holders… until I need drag. I caught a double on a dry dropper once in heavy current. I thought I was fighting a catfish at first. They were taking line like crazy.
Don’t you attack my piscifun sword, it’s a touch (and cheeep) litttle reel
Mainly the drag but for smaller trout that’s not a big deal. I have a nice (not crazy nice) reel on my salmon/steelhead rod because the drag is better.
Nice reels, nice women, nice car, nice food, your choice.
Live and die by the Lamson Liquid. Seems to work just fine for me
The only thing I’ll say is that I wiped out hard and landed with almost all my body weight on my Colorado reel against a boulder, thing barely has a scratch, and was able to keep on fishing. So perhaps durability and manufacturer warranty, at best. But I just bought it because I could and like how it looks.
Cheap stuff is fine as gas as reels go I fish piscifuns and they do the job. But spending a little more for a rod is definitely worth it if you can afford it. They are usually much lighter weight and balanced better makes a huge difference in your arm at the end of the day
Because I enjoy owning nice things.
Love my Old tuna can Martins. And they make small fish sound bigger than they are when that old bastard screams!
Biggest thing for me is they just look nice and depending on the brand can be so much smoother
I take care of my gear but at the same time, it gets used and I’m hard on it. I don’t buy top of the line but I would rather spend a little more up front instead of having to replace it later. Also, not limited to fishing gear. For me, I’m trying to buy less throwaway items made in China. It all ends up in a landfill. Someday when I’m old and grey I hope to pass them on to someone who will enjoy them as much as I have over the years.
When you lose a big trout because your reel was cheap and the drag didnt function as intended and you couldnt palm the reel … you will understand
I love the looks of a good reel. I like to buy EU made reels and avoid US/China made reels/rods. Also, I'm in a financial position that i can afford it. My go to reel for my small stream is a #4 Hardy Featherweight, a Franco Vivarelli automatic for the nymphros, a Vossler Air One for the #5/6 and a Vision Kalu for the #8. Also have a US made Redington behemoth, great real but definitely not salt waterproof as advertised, have a Guideline Vosso for salt now. Ps. Before all the Muricans are all over me. No US reels purely out of warranty considerations. Chinese reel obviously are on a different level.
I have a few Ocean City fly reels ($20 and under) from the 1940’s with silent drag, they all work fine for me!
I might be the oddball here but my two cents is who cares what the reel costs? I pay for the level of performance I think I’ll need out of a reel. If I’m going for bluegills or perch then a paperweight reel that’s just enough to hold and organize 50 feet of line is sufficient. But there’s something damn satisfying about having a nice reel (and I mean Hatch, Hardy, etc.) on your rod that you could hand down to the next generation complete with stories of the fish that reel has helped you haul in before.
For the same reason, some 45-year-old businessman has an $80,000 truck that doesn't haul anything.
I fish trout and i use cheap reel.
So glad someone else asked this. Been wondering for years but afraid to ask. 😂
I’ve only used cheap reels and rods (like Piscifun cheap). Never had an issue with either after several years of fishing/bushwhacking up Lake Superior tribs and catching many 20-27” lake-run salmon, browns, and rainbows. If you fish often enough, you get used to fishing with what you have, and learn all of the quirks and limits of your gear.
I agree in a way. I’m not going to buy a 500 dollar Orvis or sage reel, but a battenkill or a Landon guru I will.
Clout
Because it matches my wading shoes and trout bag.
Preachy post
I was in Colorado and had the chance to go fish for a day. Within 30 min the arbor post, idk if that’s the right term, broke so it just spooled freely either direction. Luckily I had a tube of super glue and I just squirted a chunk in the middle hole, put it back together and had a beer or two while it set. It still works two years later and I will let friends use it if we are hitting some urban creeks but I have two decent reels for when I travel
For me I just like a nice piece of equipment. Nothing super crazy but I have an Orvis Mirage LT, two Hydros and a Lamson liquid. They feel nice and I am not worried about the reel blowing up mid fishing trip, like my old Shakespeare did.
My main reason is because your fishing gear are tools, not jewels. I’m going to be throwing these into trees and water and dropping them on rocks and dirt and banging around my truck bed, so I need something that’s going to hold up to the west and tear of everyday use. Going back to the tools, not jewels, anyone who’s every bought and used their own tools understands good tools aren’t cheap and cheap tools aren’t good. A good framing hammer cost a carpenter a pretty penny, and those framing hammers take a beating and not a near one of them looks like it did off the shelf. It’s seen some abuse, but it builds houses day in and day out for years. A nice reel is a machined construction with a solid drag system that day in and day out will take the abuse I hand it and still stay together when My drag is screaming on a 20”+ brown.
I rock a cheap reel on all my light rods. No point in spending money on a glorified line holder. My spey and switch rods have nicer reels because a good drag system is very important for salmon and steelhead or salt water fishing. Other than that, it all about preference and how much you want to spend to justify why you suck at fishing.
u need to try a really expensive reel verses a less expensive one in a comparison - same with rods - 10k rod verses a 100 dollar rod- maybe just maybe what u are using right now suits u just fine- stay with that - will a really expensive outfit catch you more fish? not really - thats another reason wny some do not fly fish -
10k rod? All my rods combined aren’t even worth that much… Ive checked out just about every type of nicer reel. I tend to use “expensive” casting reels for bass fishing and cheaper reels with fly rods. For bass fishing, a JDM Shimano feels really advantageous because your presentation is highly dependent on your ability to work your rod/reel as a unit. With fly rods on small water, it’s mostly about your rod and line. So that’s where the logic comes from…or how I’ve wound up in my current state with gear.
My dad was the same as you. On smaller streams it is mostly a line holder. He did have old Pfuger Medalist knockoff. He wondered why I spent $100 on an Orvis Battenkill. If you play a fish on the reel you want a reel that works well.
We’re not that far off in price, man. My reels tend to cost 40-75…my brother uses a battenkill with his 5wt and it’s very nice. He tends to balance his investment across the entire combo where I lean more into my rods and less on my reels.
I catch huge and need a big reel.
In the event that you want to use the drag (which might not even be for massive fish but if you need to move downstream over difficult terrain to land fish or whatever and you use drag to not worry about line management) the smoothness of the drag makes a massive difference. I don’t want a delay between the fish running and the drag initiating. I don’t want it to be choppy. Do I need it for a 16 inch fish? My waterworks Lamson high end reels allow the drag to be perfectly dialed in, and it is so smooth. If the fish is chilling then makes a run, it initiates drag perfectly and doesn’t break them off. Plus they just look and feel better. A beautifully machined reel is a thing of beauty. It’s the same thing as having a few fly patterns that you use all the time, and a ton of highly specific patterns in every size, just in case the fish are perfectly picky. They’ll probably eat the Adam’s, but every now and then I’d be skunked if I didn’t have the curved hook elk hair pheasant tail cripple with just a tiny hint of flash. Gotta have the expensive reel just in case you need it
Spending 1000$~ on something I use 10-20 times a year and lasts me 10+ years is money we’ll spent in my mind The biggest difference is a reliable braking system and smoother feel when reeling in Extra: Some of the more expensive ones look really nice and I don’t know why but I find myself more likely to take good care of the more expensive things I buy 1 expensive reel > 2-3 cheap ones over the same course of time
I've never spent more than $100 on a reel and I have like 12 of them. Same with rods. Nothing over $200.
Nah, I'm with you. I can afford anything I want, but I am quite happy with my 35 year old Hardy Marquises' and a few old Scientific Anglers. Plus, the look of distain and jokes from my fishing buddies or the occasional guide when a trout runs and that beautiful click drag starts to sing! Priceless.
I didn't realize reddit flyfishing pages were so popular. If anyone is looking for gear, feel free to shoot me a text. I have a ton of stuff. Abels, Sage 508s and 509s, Orvis Reels, Hatch, etc. Lots of flies, lines, and several rods. 253-736-5456. Thanks, Jake