I am looking to buy a new fly rod/reel. This will be my first attempt at fly fshing. I plan to fish for smallies, reds and sea trout. Local fly shop in Greenville is suggesting a Greys (mfg by hardy) GRXI rod and reel 7/8 wt. Not a bad looking set-up for right at $300 (reel comes with 3 extra spools). Anybody have experience with Greys?
Also, considering a more expensive option of a TFO TICR and a Lamson reel (08’ closeouts of the Velocity or the Radius…no extra spools with purchase).
I’ve got no experience with Grey’s, so I can’t comment on that. However, I do have a TFO rod and two Lamson reels (both the Velocity and the Radius) that I really like. You definitely can’t go wrong with the Lamsons.
For the rod, TFOs aren’t bad, but definitely not the best out there. If I were looking for an 8 wt setup, I would check around to see if you could find a St. Croix Reign. They discontinued that rod recently and good deals can be had if you can still find them. I had the 6wt and really enjoyed it.
Thanks…looks like a pretty sweet deal on the Reign. What is the main difference between the Radius and Velocity? Is the drag the same on each. As for spare spools, are the new radius/velcoity spools compatible with the older models they have on closeout?
Woudl really like to have a nice set-up for under $500 for the rod/reel. Just don’t want to get something I will outgrow in a couple years.
The velocity is a higher grade model than the radius and I believe the radius is really considered a fresh H2O reel. I know some may use them in the salt and they have a sealed drag as well but…
I have 2 velocity (the oldest is about 5 years now), one radius, and one litespeed…the oldest is my favorite and they are all flawless in performance.
If you want something that will be with you that you wont outgrow, get the velocity for salt water usage.
Dont know about older reels fitting new spools…call Lamson and ask…
If you’ve got the money, go with the Velocity. It has what Lamson calls a “hard alox” finish, which is ■■■■ near bulletproof. I’ve picked up a Velocity 1.5 earlier this year that was a demo reel for the Charleston Angler. They had scratched it with something abrasive (sand paper maybe?) but you can barely see that it is scratched. Pretty impressive - especially since I got a discount due to that.
The Reign is somewhat of a beginner rod because of its somewhat slower action. However, it’s a helluva rod for the price, and if you have a slower cast, you won’t outgrow it. The lifetime warranty is awfully nice, too.
the radius is fine in salt… the main differance is in the frame construction… the radius has a 2 piece spool the other models are one piece machined… also the velocity has a larger arbor which makes it a little better on the retrieval speed…
All lamsons have the same drag so there is no difference there.
and no the spools will not interchange between models… sorry…
the greys rods have been very popular in europe for a while now. a german friend of mine swears by them and he is the roughest person on tackle ive ever met. i fish his rods when im with him and they are def good un’s. ifish mostly lamson reels and they are indeed a smooth hard workin drag and about the lightest reel you can buy.
Thanks for all the input…Defintiely getting the Velocity 3 closeout reel. I have narrowed the rod down to the St Croix Avid or Reign in 8wt. Can’t decide on the great price of the Reign or the “Made in USA” of the Avid. Both have a lifetime warranty. I like the fact that the Avid is made in the US, but if the performance and warranty is the same, I can’t see why I would pay more for the Avid just because it is mfg in the US.
Does anyone have any personal experience with the performance of these 2 rods?
Question for you, are you dealing with DK Littlejohn in Greenville?
“Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty.”
“Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets.”
“Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.”
“Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite ay one end and no responsibility at the other.”
“Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their live.”
The Gipper
Yes, I have talked to Spider at DK Littleton several times and he kindly gave me a free casting lesson. I bought a few things from him (flies, fly line, etc.), but did not pull the trigger on rod/reel. Spider is closing the Augusta Rd shop and reopening in another location downtown. He said it may be a month or so before the new store was up and running. By the time I started my search for a fly set-up, he had dissolved the majority of his stock preparing for the new location.
I wish I could wait until the new store is open so that I could cast several rods, but I plan to take this new set-up to the coast at the end of the month and then to the New River for smallies in mid-July.
i disagree, go with the avid. you won’t need to upgrade it later on. and it is no harder to cast than the reign. have an avid 7 wt that i might keep forever. sweet stick. i upgraded from the entry level st croix (then imperial) in about a year. i know, i’ll get blazed on this sight for this but never buy a tfo. over-rated heavy tubeless broom handles.
i know, i’ll get blazed on this sight for this but never buy a tfo. over-rated heavy tubeless broom handles.
Well I'll disagree with that. When I started out, I picked up a TFO Signature Series 8 wt. It's no Loomis or Sage, but it got me into the sport and am still catching fish with it.
Is it the best? Hardly. Is it absolutely functional for those on a budget? Absolutely.
i started out with the americana diamondback, back in the day when foothills fly shop was still open in greenville, they hooked me up and taught me everything i know, I got some pictures in D.K. Littleton on the wall but they aint got red lead eyes how am i gonna tie a clouser in greenville?
i agree about the tfo, they cast well, but i have never seen a rod break as often as a tfo, except an orvis…right chattahoochie???
lamson is a solid co. i had a drag fail on me in alaska, and they had a replacement drag washer/dealio on the door the next day.!! buy the best rod you can afford…seriously, i swear on everything holy to me, my ex found the reciept for a sage Xi2 (first ever full retail rod purchase…if youve cast one ya know) but the rod is still lovin me, she aint brudda. ya see? its all relative, ya think da fly is expensive, we dont have green fees to play…well maybee:sunglasses:
golfers are always mad at themselves, with fushin there is never a bad day.