While I hate to promote non-sponsors, Bass Pro Shops has introduced a 2.2 ounce fly reel in their White River Classic series. Comes in two colors. I bought the black. Nicely made and the only competitor to the Forbes magnesium. Click and pawl. A serious contender for those of you with Dan Craft's Sig III 1 weight rods.

I also recently ordered this reel and expect it to arrive in the coming week. I had received a classic #3 as a gift, but never used it so I swapped it for the ultralight in black. I can tell you that the Classic Reels are very nice and the UL should be a great reel for those short rods.

Lou

I guess we should mention that the price is $90.00.

My Redington CT 2/3 at 3.2oz is now on @#$%& after I looked at one of these last week.

Apparently these 'White River' reels are made by Okuma in Korea.
Kind of a flimsly little click mechanism but the weight is great and they are well-machined.

The reel that I'm designing right now is for a 1 or a 2 weight line. As the current design stands its about 2.4 oz. if I were to use a traditional arbor (instead of the larg arbor and a wheel spoke style frame I could easily get it below 2 oz.

The reel that I'm actually building now is for a 3 or 4 weight line and the frame (which is the only component I've had time to machine so far) has come in at under 0.65 oz (its about 17.8 grams). The total weight of the reel should be just over 3 oz. Maybe next week I'll have time to work on the spool for it. The spool, frame and foot are the 3 most time consuming/dificult parts to machine. Once those are done it should come together really quickly.

Mark

sounds cool. any photos to share??

eric
fresno, ca.

Any plans to market that there ultralight reel, Mark?

Hey Eric,

[www.fishingphotos.net]

Scott,

I would really like to take it to market, but it won't be until I'm out of college. The inbetween time... R&D. :-)

Mark