Good Morning Gentlemen...
I ordered my very first flyrod yesterday from Mudhole, and this is the start of a new adventure !!
I have been building bass, crappie and saltwater rods in the past, so now it is time for another addition...
I bought a kit to begin with...a 9 foot, 8 wgt..2piece....it is for my brother and that is what he wanted.....traded out a 1939 Missouri License Plate for it....
The kit is comprised of a ATC Matrix rodblank....St.Croix Handle Kit...ATC FlyGuide Set....
I will be heading to Montana again this August and will also been building a flyrod for myself....Wooo-Hooo !!
I am at a loss for what kind of reel, should I should buy....so if you all could give me some input on reels, I would appreciate it !!
Many Thanks......
MaryLou


MaryLou Van de Riet
Weatherford,Texas USA

That's an easy one, I'd look at the Pfleugers. President, Trion, or Summit depending on budget and where you are fishing.

MaryLou,
I sent you an email on this subject.

Stan Grace
Helena, MT
"Our best is none too good"

MaryLou, the reel should balance with the rod and be able to handle the fish. For an 8wt Pfleuger is OK, Cabellas also has some good choices. Having fished Montana, (actually every state west of the ole Miss), with a fly, an 8wt is a bit stout for most of what you’ll likely encounter. Eight weight rods are mostly for BIG fish, I use an 8 for salmon & steelhead here. Mostly for trout I use a 4wt, but would recommend a 6wt for most beginners, (I've been winging fly’s for 20 years or better). But back to reels, just stay away from the 40 dolor models and you should be in business, my personal fav’s are Lamson, Ross, and Tibor. There a bit spendy, as most stuff associated wit fly fishing is, but are of good quality and balance well with most rods in class. Keep us posted on you’re progress.

Keith

Keith.....
I am building a 6wgt for myself for my trip to Wyoming and Montana........and the 8 wgt is for my brother, who will be fishing in Missouri..
Like my bass fishing reels, I have never wasted my money on cheap reels, always bought the best I could afford..!!
Thank you all for the great input.....I know this is is going to be fun !!

MaryLou

MaryLou Van de Riet
Weatherford,Texas USA

marylou. ross is the big name when it comes to high quality, midrange in price and long standing hardiness. their worldwide series are importaed but based on their own tested designs of the past and a nice price at $60 and under. but the cimmarron (not ross worldwide) is a nice deal and often suggested, the evolution is out of my price range but wins accolades, and very light but looks like a kitchen sink strainer to me ;-). i personally like my galvan (OB series). waterworks-lamson makes nice reels. i have a radius 1 which has developed some drag issues but lamson wil fix it and overall they make nice reels for the price. look at the velocitys.

for my stream trout fishing in the sierra where i fish 3, 4 and sometimes a 5wt, i would choose something like an orvis battenkill BBS (i have the cast AL model which works fine too). both are $100 or lower. all i really need is a click and pawl reel but those days are long gone with the advent of of large arbor everything and disc drags. a domestically produced reel (besides the galvan) whihc could fit your 6wt needs is the teton/tioga series.

there are many good reels out there. what type of fishing will you do in montana? it's a big state i hear, various forms of fishing available...

eric
fresno, ca.

Eric......
Thank You for your input......I will be fishing for trout in Montana.........
Montana is not a big state......it is a hugh state !!
Seems Montana always gives me a reason to go back !!



MaryLou Van de Riet
Weatherford,Texas USA

i started dreaming of montana lately... of fly fishing montana. i never dreamt of fishing before. weird. email me, i can send you to a forum which might help you address your needs if you're looking for gear info.

eric
fresno, ca.

I own several Tiogas, and numerous spools. And, while I've not fished them in Montana, I've fished them extensively on the White River in AR, where they regularly subdue trout over 20". For the price, I doubt you can find a better reel.