Building first fly rod which is IF-866 and i was doing some searches and i see that you be alright to use a reel one size bigger than the rod wt. So if i get a 203M reel rated 7/8 wt, do i get 6wt line or 7 wt line?

Thanks,
Roger

You can put any weight line you want on that reel. You may be able to put a little more backing on the reel with the lighter weight lines.

By the model number of that blank, it sounds like it is rated for a "6wt" line, depending on your casting style and the distance you are going to need or want to cast, your going to have to play around with a couple of different lines until you find what suits your needs. Some people like to over line a blank by one weight high, some like to use the rated line for it, its all based on you, what will feel the most comfortable for you. I have an older Pac Pay IGFA 866, very similar to what you have, in that Batson blank. I like mine with either a 6wt WF 333 Pro or Western Drifter, both are Cortland Lines, if I am going to be working in close, less than say 30ft, a DT6 (444SL) works great. The Double Taper lines tend to be a bit heavier in the first 30ft than a corresponding WF Line, but again this is me, this is something you'll need to figure out for yourself, and remember, don't blame the blank if it does not cast right, its either you or the line in most cases. I would advise you to visit a shop and see if the have some lines you can play around with before spending the money. Most fly shops are very happy to let someone do this.

As far as picking a reel, I would start with a reel that has an outside diameter between 3" and 3.5", what you are looking for is "balance", you don't want the reel to under weight or over weight the rod when casting. Again, this is something that once you have put a couple of reels on it (with line and backing if possible), the one you want is the one that just feels right when in your hand. Best to find a reel that is rated for 5/6wt lines. There are a ton of the out there and even some of the lesser priced reels are still decent and will hold up just fine if you take care of them. The Cabelas RLS+ is one example of a good value. I personally like the Bauer and Galvan stuff, USA made and they stand behind their stuff. Orvis also has some very good reels, even their lesser priced ones are good.

Good luck and enjoy that blank!

What you see on the reel is only a suggestion. You may find that a larger reel benefits you in several areas, including better retrieve ratio (OD of the full spool counts, ID is immaterial - don't fall for the large arbor myth), better balance on a longer rod, etc.

I'd select the reel that feels best to you on the rod, then load it (fully) with whatever line you're going to use on the rod.

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I would suggest that a beginning fly fisherman join a fly fishing club which provides casting instruction or engage the services of a certified casting instructor before buying a fly fishing outfit or building one. Doing so will quite likely save money and frustration. Casting and fishing with a fly rod is a whole lot different than casting or fishing with a spinning rod or a bait casting rod. Learning what you want and how it works before you buy it is a sensible first step.