Lamson Litespeed 3.5

Saltwater Fly-Fishing
1

Looking into purchasing a Lamson Litespeed 3.5. Anyone own or have experience with these? thanks

2

No experience with the Litespeed, but I have a Radius that I absolutely love. Being that the Radius is basically Lamson’s entry-level reel, I don’t see how you could go wrong with the Litespeed.

3

yes. I fish a litespeed. i think its the 4 though. it is a powerhouse and looks like a washing machine drum. the only tiny problem i had was king fishing in alaska. After a dozen or so big mammas the screws on the handle seat started to wiggle the smallest bit. Locktite cured it @ camp (lucky we had it in a repair kit!) The drag is a great design and truely does have little or no inertia at the start up. I recomend them alot- i like my old velocities as well. the older models are on closeouts online Im sure for cheap.
PS- you’ll be hard pressed to find a lighter wt. reel

4

I have a Lightspeed 4 for my 10 wt rod and a older Lampson 3 solid body for my 7 wt rod. I am happy with both. Lampson makes great quality at a lower cost (in my opinion). I have fished the LP3 for 7 years, pretty hard, and the finish looks like new. I am pretty tedious about keeping it washed down after use. The finish on the Lightspeed is suppose to be even tougher than the older model. I think the 3.5 size would work well on a 8 or 9 wt rod. I can work my size 3 on my 7 wt rod all day long. The old ones have enough stopping power and the new Lightspeed drag system is many times better. I don’t sell them, I just fish them. I’m happy with mine.

5

i thought the drag was the same? didnt they only change the finish to a harder aloy?

6

Fished one for years until it went over the edge on the boat. Had no problems with it whatsoever and it caught a lot of fish!

Jeremy

7

The Lampson Litespeed is nothing like the older LP models; different finish and the drag systems would be like comparing a rock to a rocket. (That’s “a rock” not Iraq). The Litespeed drag is full sealed. The old model had (has) a open friction plate.

Snookie is just interested in the current model, I’m guessing, and the current model is a good/great one. The finish is suppose to be a higher level of anodized aluminum than previously used. They call it Lamson Litespeed Hard Alox,™. I bought my Litespeed before they added the “Alox,™”.

I read on some other fishing forum that a guy didn’t like the Litespeed. His three reasons were that Lampsons are too pretty, the drags are “too good” and they cost more that whatever he was wiling to spend.

8

The older Lamson lightspeed and Velocity I have use the exact same drag used on the newer models w/ the hard Alox. the only thing is additional porting and the new finish. the same sealed waterproof conical drag. “totally redesigned using a three plane pocket milling technique, the only thing that remains of Lamsons popular velocity series is the name and proven conical drag system.” Cabelas

9

Yea I got the Konic on my 7 wgt, used id down in Charleston I love it, ordered a spare spool to line with 8 wgt Sharkskin for the Bahamas in June!! Looking forward to hearing it really sing!

If it swims throw a fly at it!

10

Thanks for all the answers, I still haven’t heard anything bad about them so I think im going to go with it

11
quote:
Originally posted by snookie

Thanks for all the answers, I still haven’t heard anything bad about them so I think im going to go with it

If you haven’t already picked one up, the Charleston Angler in West Ashley has a steal of a deal on the the Litespeed 4 right now.

Pillage and plunder with a 9wt and a fist full of clousers.

12

I just got the Velocity 4 Alox and love it. You can find them all over the place for cheap right now. Take care.

13
quote:
Originally posted by dasheaff

I just got the Velocity 4 Alox and love it. You can find them all over the place for cheap right now. Take care.

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I am curious what weight rod you are going to put that size 4 on? I have one, also. Fly

14

iFly, I put it on a Scott A2 10#

I have only thrown it a few times, not had a fish on it, but a few buddies have fished them and love them. I am looking forward to seeing the backing come shooting out of it pretty soon. Take care.

15

i have a litespeed4 on my 10 as well, its like a dam-washing machine drum. i think it gets like 11inches a revolution…now dats gettin em in quick

16
quote:
Originally posted by scotty d

i have a litespeed4 on my 10 as well, its like a dam-washing machine drum. i think it gets like 11inches a revolution…now dats gettin em in quick

Yep, it is a drum. I fish it on a 10wt, also. I took it to fish albies and had it on a 9 wt with intermediate line. Unfortunately, all the albies wanted sinking line on a different setup. Around here, I'm looking for a jack to test out the drag good. Got to wait a couple months, though.
17

I hear that. I want to test mine out on a cobia.

I am new to the area, how do you go about catching the jack’s?
What grain sinking line do you normally use? Mouth of the rivers? I am kind of clueless when it comes jacks.

18
quote:
Originally posted by dasheaff

I hear that. I want to test mine out on a cobia.

I am new to the area, how do you go about catching the jack’s?
What grain sinking line do you normally use? Mouth of the rivers? I am kind of clueless when it comes jacks.

I have only caught one cobia in Charleston harbor. As for jacks, if you are new to the area you should try to find them on the surface, first. Start in the harbor and then look upstream a bit. I guess I would suggest intermediate line, a big deceiver and lots of looking.
19
quote:
Originally posted by scotty d

i have a litespeed4 on my 10 as well, its like a dam-washing machine drum. i think it gets like 11inches a revolution…now dats gettin em in quick

I just picked up the same reel last week, and a Sage FLI 10wt to match. Lookout Cobia, dolphin, and albies!!!

Pillage and plunder with a 9wt and a fist full of clousers.