Any body have suggestions for a reel for 4 or 5 wt. bamboo fly rod thats more traditional looking but has disk drag.
And won't break the bank.
Thanks
Mike



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/25/2010 10:41AM by mike brune.

Orvis Original Battenkill would be a good option, IMO. It does have disc drag, it is reversible AND it is well under $100 ... all with a time-tested design and a solid company backing. You won't have any issues down the road finding additional spools, repair parts, etc.

BTW, you can order them from Angler's Workshop (sponsor on the left). If you want to purchase a line at the same time, they will load the backing and splice the line ... at no charge. They will even set it up for right or left hand retrieve. GREAT folks to do business with for any reason, but especially when buying anything related to fly fishing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/25/2010 11:32AM by Jim Gamble.

take a look at angers roost. he has some very nice reels at great prices

Would like to find something styled like the Peerless or Bellinger.
Has any body used the VH classic from Anglers Roost and how do you like it?

Thanks
Mike



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/25/2010 12:23PM by mike brune.

I believe the VH Classic is a Click and Pawl reel, but Angler's Roost has some nice stuff. You might check TJ's Bear Den. They has some classic designt reels. Most are Click and Pawl.

[tjsbearden.mybisi.com]

Orvis has a number of offerings, the Battenkill mentioned above, the Battenkill Barstock, the CFO and the Clearwater.

If you really want to go inexpensive, look at the Pflueger Medalist.

I have an Elkhorn Classic series reel that I really like, but it is click and pawl and runs about $395.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/25/2010 11:05PM by Bob Riggins.

Most if not all "traditional" reels were "click % Pawl" not disk drag. I question that with a 4 or 5wt rod you really need a drag at all. Most of us fly fishermen strip in fish with those light of rods and rarely get the fish onto the reel.

Very true.

A classic setup would be to find a USA made Pflueger Medalist 1494 and upgrade it with Onepfoot goodies. A Hardy Perfect was another classic but pricey. Otherwise look for a modern standard arbor reel like the already mentioned Battenkill or CFO. Also consider a Galvan Standard or nice used Ross Gunnison or Cimmaron. The Ross San Miguel is exquisite but $$$$.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/27/2010 02:00AM by John Van Emmerik.

There are many click & pawl reels out there, any one of which has more than enough drag capability for a four or five weight rod. Click and pawl style reels look and sound "right" with cane rods. In addition, C&P reels are usually quite light, and used reels of this sort can be had at a good price.
Take care that whatever reel you select that its reel foot snugly fits the reel seat on your new cane rod.

Whether you need to have a disc drag is dependent on the fish you are pursuing, not the rod. If you are going after brookies in Shenandoah National Park, you won't need a disc drag. Even if you're planning on catching some 20" brown trout out west, the drag required might be more determined by your own particular skill. A disc drag can be a nice thing to have but fisherman have been using reels with click'n'pawl for a long time and still landed plenty of big fish. On the other hand, if you're planning some sort of extreme bamboo fishing adventure and want to catch a permit, go with the Battenkill.
Slainte,
Hunter

From ghoulies and ghosties,
and long leggedy beasties,
and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord deliver us!

Many tarpon in excess of 100 pounds have been landed on click and pawl reels through skilled use of palm pressure on the reel spool. It's a sure bet a C&P fly reel will satisfy the needs of an angler with a five weight fly rod. Disregard your chances of stunt fishing. Even a relatively small permit on a five weight cane rod will either break the rod or kill the permit, or both.

Check with Pawn shops for reels you are looking for. Before drag reels you played the fish by line stripping or hand line control. In the old days they did not really retrieve the line on to the reel until they landed the fish. They put the line in a stripping basket or just let it float in the water. They did not have drag reels in the old days. Say the mid 50's back

Good Wraps Bob

For value and classic appearance I concur with the Pflueger 1494.
Unless pursuing big game species the drag on a fly reel is much over-rated.
Best to set the drag very light to avoid tippet breakage and apply additional force to the line or spool with the off hand.
Attempt to play every fish on the reel to avoid stepping on the line or tangles with unseen objects.
After hookset apply friction to the line with thumb and index finger of the casting hand until line may be retrieved to the spool.

Eugene Moore