I am looking for a 3 wt. reel under $50. Anyone have any suggestions?
LL Bean quest 2, its a great reel for around $30, nice smooth drag, or a okuma sierra. Anything you are chasing with that 3wt should not need a strong drag.
Ditto the Quest. The Quest II #1 is the 3 wt. It is the best inexpensive reel that I’ve owned. You can buy it with backing and the #3wt line for $65 AND
right now they been out of line for the combos, so they’ve been upgrading to SA Tour Mastery line. Can’t guarantee, but you might check. Call the fishing line 800 347 4552.
Pflueger 1492
On eBay for <$20
A little over but the Okuma SLV is about $60 and is bulletproof… Best drag you can get under $100. I have one I have been abusing inthe salt for 5 years now… never washed it, never done anything but fished it for 5 years in the salt and it’s STILL kickin like it just came out of the box… fresh water will never kill it and if ya take care of it you’ll be more than happy for a LONG time with it.
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
nikon,
what are you fishing for in the salt that only needs a 3wt? Just curious.
“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
George Orwell
Not a dang thing DS… I have SLV’s in bigger sizes for salt 
3wts are for trout streams not salty critters IMO… Although while I was employed by a local t-shirt and clothing vendor here in the past, wink wink, I did do a little mud minnow fishing wiht my 2wt… might try it for real this spring tho
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
is there any real advantage of spending big bucks on a reel for freshwater fishing( panfish, bass, trout)? i managed to break the reel and rod of a 4 wt. combo i got 12 years ago, on the same trip, so I plan on dropping some bucks on a nice 3wt rod, but didnt really want to spend too much on the reel.
Also, would it make a difference putting a 4/5 wt. reeel on a 3wt. rod?
I just picked up the bass pro hobbs creek reel for my new 6 wt. was 39.99 and it seems like a good reel so far. Doesn’t hold alotmf backing but if u are buying a 3wt model how much backing could u possibly needL. And I also got the as head start line for it who nt bad for 39.99
I casted my 3 wt for some mullet (have an on going bet with a friend on who can catch the first mullet OTF)
Bragging may not bring happiness,
but no man having caught a large fish,
goes home through the alley.
-Anonymous
Cane…chum em mad with dry oatmeal and toss a tan cdc puff or marabou in the melee…bet won
on small reels: if your using light tippets, a good smooth drag will protect them since it wont “catch” or “slip”
take a 2/3 weight, tie on 6x tippet and hang a fly on a tree or similar. the tiny tippet wont break since the rod absorbs the strain and the mono can stretch some too- if you apply smooth steady pressure. start snaping @ it, and it’ll part ways…kinda the same thing with the drags…if it catches or slips, it has chances to become overstressed and break…
(sorry, i get longwinded in the a.m’s)