First off thanks for all the advice on saltwater fly fishing. You guys have increased my learning from freshwater to saltwater fly fishing tenfold.
I am beginning to understand the difference in saltwater vs. freshwater equipment. My 6wt pack rod is working good but my $15 Cabela’s prestige reel has shot craps.
I am not ready to fork over saltwater reel money so I was wondering if anyone has a good idea for a all in one,less expensive salt/freshwater fly reel. I will buy extra spools to change out depending where I am fishing.
I have seen the Cabela’s 3 fork reel for $40. It looks like it would work. Graphite materials, extra spools and room for 50/75 backing.
Most of my fishing is wading out around north tip of wando or around marsh in Charleston National, so backing has not been a problem when landing fish.
Okuma Cascade - the reels are around $30 brand new and extra spools are less than $20. I’ve been using 2 of these reels for 2 years and they’ve been great. One of these days I will get a nice reel with a great drag for dolphin, albies, etc… The okuma will handle anything you can throw at it inshore in Charleston.
Pillage and plunder with a 9wt and a fist full of clousers.
It’s still salty so you need something that’s designed to handle the conditions if you plan on using it again! You should be able to find something in the $75.00 to 125.00 range. Check out some of the top end Albright reels on line. They are dirt cheap for the money and features and you’ll be able to use it for more than a couple of trips!
The Okumas have been going strong for 2 years of abuse in the salt, and I’m not nice to reels. The only time I questioned their abilities was when we went after albies up at Cape Lookout this fall. I’m not sure they would have stopped that albie, but for ANY inshore fish you may target in Charleston you’d be hard pressed to find a better budget reel. There are much nicer reels out there, but Medgar seems to be asking about an inexpensive reel. The Okumas will never win a beauty contest, but they will get the job done, and for less $$$.
Pillage and plunder with a 9wt and a fist full of clousers.
The Okuma Cascade is hands down the best inshore reel for Charleston SC and I’d venture to say that they’d do well in any situation where the fish are under 15lbs.
Me and Jerms are hell on our gear as he said above…my cascade is still smooth after 2 years of the occasional not getting washed off, sometimes spending a week in the boat outside, being dunked in the salt water…etc.
reels, IMHO, are not the backbone of the inshore setup. However, if a drag slips or stops, it can easily mean a lost fish (or broken rod.)
ive never fished the Okumas but they do seem to fish and hold up great. for that price, you could get all kinds of spools rigged too! personally, I would do whatever i needed to get started, and then build up from there. Lamson makes a great reel, as do Albright, Ross, Tibor, Abel, etc. However, i can tell you, i have had a lamson litespeed that has taken all kinds of fish everywhere and the abuse of many years. Its the older version. available cheap. check ebay and sierratradingpost.com. the velocity and radius all have the same drag (which has never changed) sealed,waterproof.
I’ve got a ross gunnison with a spare spool for 6wt that I was gonna put on ebay this week. It has an SA floater and a type3 sinker on the spare. I’ll sell it pretty cheap. PM if interested
reels, IMHO, are not the backbone of the inshore setup. However, if a drag slips or stops, it can easily mean a lost fish (or broken rod.)
ive never fished the Okumas but they do seem to fish and hold up great. for that price, you could get all kinds of spools rigged too! personally, I would do whatever i needed to get started, and then build up from there. Lamson makes a great reel, as do Albright, Ross, Tibor, Abel, etc. However, i can tell you, i have had a lamson litespeed that has taken all kinds of fish everywhere and the abuse of many years. Its the older version. available cheap. check ebay and sierratradingpost.com. the velocity and radius all have the same drag (which has never changed) sealed,waterproof.
Great advice…I dont think the okuma has a sealed drag which is important in saltwater plus they are really bulky if you ask me. I would look hard at other brands and invest right the first time and get a nice reel…nothing extremem but something dependable. Lamson sounds like the reel for you. I fished one for several years and loved it…Ready to replace it soon(I lost it).
Thanks for your opinions. I had a chance to fish with Okuma reel in mountains this weekend. You guys our correct it is smooth and versatile for the price. Anything is smoother than my $15 beer can with trout line wrapped around it.
I can outfit my freshwater and saltwater with 2 extra spools and still be under $100.
A fishing buddy put me onto the Ross flystart reel also. It is on sale for 6 wt $45. Never fished with it put only hear good things about ross.
Would love to have a nice Lamson etc. but have to wait till kids are off the payroll for that type of equipment.
and all I’m asking is when it comes to a savvy fly fisherman why not buy a product that hasn’t shown the first sign of wear between 3 people on the site alone that fish these inexpensive reels extremley hard?
Tell us what about this reel is not “right” or “dependable” about this reel?
Guys I’m not knocking metal reels one bit. I have fished lamsons, tibors, loomis, and nautilus reels…some are very very nice.
But in no way shape or form does someone need to drop that much money on a reel when IMO it’s unneccessary.
I’m not going to push something on someone when I believe they’d do just fine with something else while saving them a few bucks in the process.
Now if someone wants to go with something metal I have no problems selling them something that looks pretty too.
Ok, time for my $.02. I know and have fished with both Stretch and Jerms and can attest that their setups have worked just fine for them. I also think that these setups are just fine for 95% of the fish you catch here in Charleston, but I like to try and catch the other 5% that will test not only me, but my equipment. I have only had two reds take me into my backing and both were deep with a strong current running, and the fish really put up a hell fight and a fair amount of strain on my reel. Also, sometimes the moon and stars align just perfectly and you can catch some nice saltwater fish off the coast of Charleston. Just this past year I hooked into a dolphin on my 9wt with a Tibor that was just seconds away from handing me my a$$ (That is the only fish that I have thanked god I did not catch because I was WAY underguned). I also like to travel to catch fish that will test the limits of my equipment. When you add up all the money you spend on guides, gas, food, lodging, money so your wife can shop and not complain about your addiction etc. the equipment you bring on multiple trips pales in comparison. It is nice to know that in the aforementioned situations you can count on your equipment.
I guess what I am saying is this: I fish for fun and if I have the fish of a lifetime on and I loose it because of an equipment failure, it tends not to be quite so much fun.
So, My advice is if saltwater fishing is something you know you want to stick with, buy the best reel you can afford, it will probably last as long as you will.
“Fishing is alot like sex…when its good,it’s really good, and when its bad, its still pretty good.”
Sure. These pics are from an older post and are still in my photobucket account. I have a few variations of the pattern and I will try and post those a little later.
“Fishing is alot like sex…when its good,it’s really good, and when its bad, its still pretty good.”
That shiz is too funny almost forgot about the Jesus… It dont matter to tha Jesus.
Edited for releviance: Try diffrent reels on the rod you plan to use you will notice little things about diffrent designs thta you like and dislike. I have caught fish on okumas and nice expensive reels if it feels good fish it
