fly fishing reel advice needed

[fishfight]

While I was fishingon the creek last week, I was impress how another angler used his fly reel, was loop casting close to the water rather than overhead casting, he said he landed many steelhead that way and seldom gets tangles above the tree behind him. For years, I have always wanted to get into fly fishing, but concern of limited casting space, since I witness that it is possible to fly fish with limited back space, I have decided to get info fly fishing as well.

I have been going through ebay and there were tons of fly fishing reel at good deal. I have decide to buy 7/8 weight reel for my needed application.

ANY ADVICE on the following three option?

1. Some unkown brand name has 2BB + 1 BB for under $50. Cnc anodized fly reel, probably made in china, but considered high quality . Most fly reel only have 1 BB. Does additional 2 BB help in releasing the float line just like a centerpin reel? Does it mean I can just palm it and forget the drag system? Centerpin needs 2BB in the reel. The 7/8 reel goes for $30 from BC , canada, check http://www.truenorthfishinggear.com/Reels.html.

2. Anyone owns an Okuma sierra or magnitude? they are all under $50 reel on ebay. http://www.fly-rod-review.com/okuma-fly-reels.html

I am not too picky on brand name since many new offshore copycat model can produce decent reel for the price. Due to my budget, new to fly fishing, and limited time using it. I do not want to invest in something too expensive.

3. Some fly reel have extra cartridges in them sold for $35 on ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/290572650700?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649, no review on thsi model and not sure how drag system on cartridges work either.

Can I temporary use an 9' medium fast steelhead rod on a 7/8 fly reel , just for steelehead fishing? I will eventually get the proper rod. Under $50 in Ebay as well.

I also found some good deal fly line in BC for $15 landed cost.

 

[efka]

you will get tangled using spinning rod, the guides on the fly rods are different, the reel is all the way at the bottom, rod and reel are well balanced in you hand and the line has to match the rod stiffness (wt #)
using fly reel on a spinning rod to and trying to learn fly fishing is going to be a nightmare. why not get a combo from lebarons or bps for around a 100-150, and you will have everything perfectly balanced; rod, reel, line, and backing.


i wouldn't worry if i were you too much what brand the reel is or what kind of bearings it has since you are a beginner. most reels come with bearings these days,but try to get the reel that has a disk drag and wide arbor.

 

[ChaseChrome]

Hey ff:

This is a tall order indeed-as Ef has said, look for a combo package to take the guess work out of it all and then concentrate on your casting technique. Having said that, here are a few considerations:

Consider an all-purpose rod--a 7 wght for example (stout enough for steelheading). You will likely want to opt for a medium speed rod as this will let you better "feel" the rod "loading" on your back cast (the most critical aspect of a proper cast). A faster rod will require more finesse in your casting technique. Get a cheap forward weight line (or used from someone who is trashing his) and get out into the yard and PRACTICE. Bill Spicer is an accomplished fly man and certified casting instructor (check out his Youtube vids on casting). When you hit the water you will want a line rated one weight heavier than your rod--better casting control with longer leaders...

Stick to a "functional" fly reel--I've used many, from Abels and Hardys to lower priced ones. Ross makes a solid reel and has some good entry level options as does Bauer--Pflueger has some redesigned at entry-level prices also. Certainly check out Ebay, Kijiji, and the forums. Of course Amundson is a CANADIAN company and also makes a good range of reels in a range of pricing--BUY CANADIAN!!

Hope this helps for starters...
Best of luck with your new learning curve bro...
CC

 

[NADO]

I wouldnt mess around with buying online for your first fly rod if I were you. Buy at a store and they will show you some knots and techniques to go along with your rod. Its the off season so im sure you might be able to get a deal on a decent combo for $100. Rainbow Sports in Waterloo has a few good priced fly setups in that price range on sale right now.

 

[Madriverfisher]

I gonna have to agree with what everyone has said you can get some pretty good deals on fly set ups at bps or sail and I would stay away from the cheap reels on eBay I have seen them they have a small abor witch would make it hard to battle steelhead because you would have almost no backing. cc is right Ross has some really great lower price feels as does lamson even orvis. Good luck

 

[Porter86]

Hey fishfight. You are in the exact same position I was at this time last year. I got a combo deal on sale at the Spring Fishing and Boat Show last year at end of Feb. I would suggest that you check out BPS since they have their Classic starting next week, and they have 2 Fly rod combo kits on sale as well, from the 9th-25th. But don't forget as well that the Sportsman Show starts in a week or two, so you would have that option as well. The combo kits are good, I got a 7/8wt rod, and just a the reel that came with it....wasnt the greatest reel that came with it, I got it in Feb and by Sept my drag broke on the reel, and I was very fortunate for Point Defiance, a member on here, to give me a spare one that he wasnt using too much and it was a nice reel at that. But the combo kit is best way to go for starting off cheap, I got my combo for $80.

 

[tidsworth]

I woudn't buy any of the reels you've shown.

You need a large arbor reel (gives you a quicker retieve). None of the reels show are large arbour.

Fly reels are basically just fancy places to store line, so there is no need to spend 100's of dollars. I use a $40 Hobbs Creek large arbor reeel (and most of my fishing buddies use something similar). Put the money into a good rod ($200 or so)

http://www.basspro.com/Hobbs-Creek-Large-Arbor-Fly-Reels-or-Spare-Spools/product/44558/70506