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Well, I busted my 30-40 year old cheapo fly reel (probably about $10) so I'd thought I'd check out a new one. WOW, Have no idea what to buy, Went to Cabela's web. site and they range from $29.99 to over $800!!!!!!!! I just want a reasonable every day reel for small waters and rivers to reel in my lose line and allow a trout to run a bit. I do most of my fish control by having stripped enough line to control em by finger drag. Surely there is such a reel at a reasonable price for the old fart, but after 40 years, don't know what's reasonable and inexpensive? What price range should I be looking at and maybe a recommended reel??
Surely I should be able to buy a reel for $50 or less that would do just fine. Any suggestions, like - Cabella's Prestige for $49.99 or the Phlueger for $34.99. What would be wrong with one of these as an example??
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[quote Leaky33] Well, I busted my 30-40 year old cheapo fly reel (probably about $10) so I'd thought I'd check out a new one. WOW, Have no idea what to buy, Went to Cabela's web. site and they range from $29.99 to over $800!!!!!!!! I just want a reasonable every day reel for small waters and rivers to reel in my lose line and allow a trout to run a bit. I do most of my fish control by having stripped enough line to control em by finger drag. Surely there is such a reel at a reasonable price for the old fart, but after 40 years, don't know what's reasonable and inexpensive? What price range should I be looking at and maybe a recommended reel??
Surely I should be able to buy a reel for $50 or less that would do just fine. Any suggestions, like - Cabella's Prestige for $49.99 or the Phlueger for $34.99. What would be wrong with one of these as an example??[/quote]
I'm a big fan of okumas. I have a couple of their low end large arbors that run 50$ ish and a couple in the 120$ ish range and they have fantastic cork drags for the price. Even the low end models. I've landed quite a few 4-6 lb trout on the low end reals and they performed fantastic.
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Go with Okuma. They are a great cheap real. I have 4 of them and never had a problem with them. There are different grades and prices, but they are all reasonable. I don't think you will find a decent reel for under $50 any more.
Windriver
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I own three of the wind river reels by cabelas and bought them all for $20. cant beat that I say. May not be the nicest reel but the do the job and have yet to find a reel that can compare for the price. plus if it breaks in a year or two your only out $20 or $30 if bought at full price
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I too was absolutely shocked by prices a couple years ago when I went to get a new reel. Wow, where had I been?
I ended up getting an Okuma for around $100. I think the Helios. Very happy with it and would get another. I did get a Okuma Cascade that I am not extremely impressed with. I think it is made from carbon and just....too bulky or plastic feeling I guess. The large arbor reels and the new materials they are making them with for the most part are pretty darn nice. Nothing wrong with the old "tin,line holder, palm drag" type for sure but not sure I would go back. I just did a quick search on Amazon and they have everything from the kind you are replacing to......space age NASA titaniumblutonite composite triple arbor drags.
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I have some of the Cabelas' reels and an SLV Okuma. I like the Okuma better, but some of the Cabelas' reels are ok too and they are lighter... carbon composite.
Don't be too worried on getting an expensive reel, you probably don't need much besides a line holder. So look a several and see what you like in your price range.
Whatever reel you look at, try out its drag and see if you like the feel of it. But probably most important look at the gap between the body and the arbor. You want a close fit there. If there is a wide gap, your fly line can get hung up in there and it is annoying to say the least.
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Get the pflueger medalist. It is cheap and has an excellent drag and the look of a classic fly reel.
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Get the SLV over the sierra. The SLVs can usually be found for 50-60$. I have 3 of them and my ole man has a sierra. The sierra spools that he has are pretty soft metal wise and both of his spools have been dented and then bent out from just normal use. The slvs i own have all been man handled tossed in and out of the jet boat, and one bounced down some rock ledges up in the windrivers and still work flawless. One of the best reels for the money you can buy IMO.
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Another great reel in your price range is the redington surge Ive 2 of them in 5/6 and 7/8 and they are tough. The drag system is nice and smooth.
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I have some older Pfluegar's but last i heard they are not making those any more... I recently purchased a couple from Cabelas the wind river ones I think and they are aluminum not the composite ones. Just tried them out for the first time a couple weeks ago and they were great! got them on sale I think for around $20
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Ive never used anything but automatics. I pick them up at swap meets.
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now take all this info and find a pawn shop you will be amazed at what people give away and the prices are great only down fall is you might have to hit 3 or 4 to find that one reel you like but well worth it you will be amazed at the prices anywhere from 10 bucks to 75 but like I said do your research before you go because they still do carry a lot of junk but then you are only out 10 to 15 dollars to try it.
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Now that's a new idea, thanks.
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I have a pfluger a creek company a shakespear and a okuma, my fave is the okuma, just smoother in my opinion and i got it for 45$ from a pawn shop with brand new line and backing
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I spoke up about the wind river reels and I think I may have jinxed myself. Went out yesterday and the drag on two of the three I own quite working.. Not a big deal for still water but I've been doing a lot more on the river lately. guess I'll be looking for a new reel now.
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] Reading all the posts from this and other forums, I've tentatively decided. Can still change my mind since I found an old crappy reel that will make due for a trip of 2.