I recently got a 5wt fly rod at a reasonable price. It is lighter weight then I would like but, it gave me the opportunity to get into fly fishing without spending a bunch.
My question is, I am thinking of getting a 8wt rod next and I am wondering what reel to go with it. I would like to keep it under $200, somewhere around $150 maybe. Has anyone used a Battenkill(Orvis), Lamson, Reddington, or a(G Loomis) Eastfork or Venture?
I fish saltwater for redfish,trout etc.
Thanks for your input.
Keep’n it simple
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2004 Sea Pro, 150 Yamaha
I’ve been flyfishing for a little over a year. I have an Orvis Battenkill Large Arbor on my 8 wt and I like it a lot. Its a good value for the $. There are some here who hate on Orvis reels but mine has been good to me. I don’t have experience with anything else however
The TFO’s and Reddingtons at the CA are pretty good and I suggest you pick up an Okuma SLV89 for it… AWESOME reel for less than $70… I have a few of them and I love them. Bulletproof and inexpensive… Of course if ya want a really good rod you’ll never want to upgrade spend a little more and buy a March Brown Hidden Waters 8wt or 9wt… travel size and still feels like a 2 peice…
Of those you listed, I would go with the Lamson - hands down. For your price range, the Guru fits the bill at $199 for the #3. The Guru is the lowest priced Lamson that is still fully machined aluminum and has a fully sealed drag. Essentially, it’s bomb-proof and will last you a lifetime.
You can also look on Ebay to try and find a Lamson Radius, which was closed out when the Guru came on line. I’ve got a Radius 3 and a I love it.
