My dad just moved out to the Canadian Rockies and after spending a few weeks out there using my spinning gear, I've decided fly fishing is definitely in my very near future. I've started the daunting task of researching gear and really glad I found your channel early on (before I've shelled out a bunch of $$) because you explain things clearly, thoroughly and definitely don't get the impression I'm listening to a sales pitch. Thanks for doing what you do!
Thanks Gus, we appreciate it. Call here anytime, our staff is awesome. Super helpful, honest, no pressure to buy. They will give you great voice to voice advice if you're ready for that. Shop number is (509) 933-2300
Nice job once again. Thanks. Good information to help make good decisions and spend wisely. Appreciated the 'how to select a rod' video as well. I typically fish small mountain streams and its refreshing to hear an educated opinion that says you don't need to spend a bunch of money to get a drag system that I'll never use in these fishing situations.
I also like a reel that I can freely take up a lot of loose line with when I get a fish on, just by giving it a quick spin with my free hand so I don’t have to take my attention away from fighting the fish. In my early days, (ok, and still sometimes now and then too..) I would lose a nice fish because I took my attention away from the fight because I was trying to take up loose line on the reel. So having that ability to just give the reel a quick manual spin to take up that loose line is real nice.
I’m a big Lamson fan. I have a Lamson “Konic” 5 wt. cast reel that I’ve used and abused over 10+ years of hard fishing. I like the conical drag system that appeals to the engineering part of my brain (however small) and it is as smooth running today as day one. I also have a Lamson Liquid 8 wt. that is a pretty decent reel for the price. I made the mistake of buying an el cheapo, , supposedly fully-machined , imported reel that ended up getting a minor “rock shampoo” and it was bent totally out of round. It was obviously poorly machined using a very soft alloy. You usually get what you pay for but I still swear by the lower end Lamson reels. I do have an heirloom, English-made Hardy reel that is about as sweet and reliable as any. I treat that one like glass and it only gets used on a bamboo rod for special occasions. Very good video Joe as always very informative.
Great overview on reels and what they are for or capable of. I appreciate the no nonsense explanation. And that water on the river behind you is looking swell. I might need to come up there when all these shenanigans ore over.
I say Loop fly reels they awesome good! The dry fly the 2W and the 3W the only thing whit those is put some oil at the ballberings they have 6 ! That's your biggest issue you might face whit those! I got my first one every 90s still use the same reel ! And no reel can handle as light tipet as the traditional Loop they are king there ! Crafted in aircraft aluminium. There is one more Danielsson fly reel. I use Tibor Tibor Pacific for my Tarpon that reel has the best drag I know of. Best regards from Sweden Scandinavia 🇸🇪
After using a disc drag for the last few years i think i may go to click pawls. I have rarely ever needed drag. I was able to put so much drag on a fish with just my index finger, i was able to bend out a hook. Conversely, the occasional times i needed to put a trout on a reel, i have broken tippets. Obviously, there is a time and place for drag but the nice reliable click pawl should prevent jerky drag systems. Both reels have their purpose
Speaking of reel weight, Reddington Rise 6-8 reel weighs less than many 5-6 reels and has a decent drag. It is not sealed, so I wouldn’t take it anywhere near salt. The price point is good I use them on my musky set ups and WV trout and smallmouth water.
I'd rather skimp on the rod than the reel. A rod might break & your only out $100 or so. A good reel lasts for a decade ! Buy the best you can afford (that has the features outlined in this superb video )! Fish 'til ya drop ! ;^)
The rod and line in fly fishing is way more important. If you are conventional fishing, the reel can be the better choice. It comes down to casting...fly fishing the rod and line do the work...conventional the reel does more work.
Let's make this easy for you joe ! You need to buy a reel that balances your rod ! Now I'm not saying that you put your finger on the cork and it balances like a teeter- totter ! That's so wrong !! Lol you must have a reel that when you cast, or better to say false cast you reel should complement your swing weight ! Now doesn't that make a world off sense? Yes it does ! You should find the right reel that counter weights your rod while casting !!! I'm so good joe ! I would love to cast against you some day ! I have a 1k to put in the kitty ! Yes I'm calling you out on social media! In those imortal words of Jonny Ringo " let's do it"
i got a sage rod/reel kit for christmas from my brother, went to set it up and got the backing and flyline all wound up in a knot, i got the 100yards of backing on then went to put on the flyline and ran out of space on the spool, with 40 feet left of flyline out, and the whole spool was spongy and airy, started to unwind it and got it knotted up so badly, I had to cut it off the reel.... i took the reel down to my local flyfishing shop in Sacramento (Fly Fishing Specialties) and asked them if theyd spool it up correctly if i bought new line there. they said no problem and asked me what weight i needed, the reel said 3/4 on it and i already had trouble fitting the regular stuff so go with the lighter of the two, im just fisshing tiny streams anyway, they said it had to match the rod, i said i dont care just make it so it winds and unwinds and im happy, then asked how much they charge and they said it was $100-$130... i started laughing and said "$100 plus for fishing line!?!? i think ill pass i dont wanna go fishing that bad if it costs that much" he said "its not fishing line, its flyline!" i said no offense but thats too rich for my blood, and walked out, he seemed all offended, and the feeling was mutual if so.. went home and looked up flyline on amazon and found most of it in the $20-$40 range, and backing like $8-$14... now i just need to find someone who will roll it up for me properly haha
turns out my rod is a 4, my reel is a 3/4... i ended up just skipping the backing so i wouldnt get it ratnested since i dont have any way to spool it on evenly without crisscrossing it... asn as i say, im only fishing tiny creeks, theres no way half the flyline will ever be out... so ii got a 5 weight line because it was a good deal and i knew id have plaenty of space on the spool now without the backing... seems to work perfect in my driveway... a ton better than with backing, thats for sure, that didnt even get out of the house! ha
@@toadamine Ok, glad that you found a solution to get out. Over time you'll find there is a huge difference in the performance and longevity when comparing a $20--$40 line to a $100 line. The main thing is to just get on the water and you'll develop your own preferences over time. Good luck out there!
@@redsflyshop I'm never ever gonna find out... it can't be good enough for me to spend $100 on a piece of string... hahaha I've always done fine with a $30 spinning rod and reel with $2 fishing line, still have 2 or 3 of them in my garage, and never use those either anymore... so if this isn't catching me a ton more/bigger fish with the $20 stuff, it's getting given to someone else next Christmas! The only thing I like about the flyrod is it breaks into 4 small pieces and fits in a small case that can easily be strapped to or stuck in a pack... so was gonna take it camping/hiking... which would be awesome... if it actually catches dinner reliably... I remember trying fly fishing as a kid with dad and grandpa... nobody ever caught a single fish, tons of bites but they never got hooked... bought a spinning rod and caught multiple fish every time I used it, but I was an adult by then, a d also use treble hooks and plastic lures.. so I'm gonna g8ve this flyfishing thing one more try, but so far it's been nothing but a bad taste in my mouth... I'm gonna try a spinning lure with treble hooks instead of a flies if I have that issue again.... I always loaded my own spinning reels and never had any issues... followed the directions eclxactly on this fly rod and it was an instant ratnest, by the time i got the backing on i could only fit on half the flyline, and then it turned into a giant ratnest when i tried to unwind it and start over... now everything is stupid expensive on top of it... like I say, I'm gonna try it once more since I got it as a gift, but so far it's going rather poorly...
@@toadamineas you progress, you’ll come to appreciate the better fly line. You don’t have to go 80-120 either. Fly line technology changes frequently so there’s always deals to find on a line that has sat in the shelf a few years. You can pick a line up for $50 that was twice that five years earlier. As far as running a 5 weight line in a 4 weight rod, eventually you’ll want to get a 4 on there. If you ever go to fishing larger streams of lakes the casting performance will be much better. Keep doing what you’re doing though. That’s half the experience. I taught myself by watching my dad in the 80’s. Good luck
Impressed. another complicated topic made simple and understandable. harder to do than most people appreciate.
My dad just moved out to the Canadian Rockies and after spending a few weeks out there using my spinning gear, I've decided fly fishing is definitely in my very near future. I've started the daunting task of researching gear and really glad I found your channel early on (before I've shelled out a bunch of $$) because you explain things clearly, thoroughly and definitely don't get the impression I'm listening to a sales pitch. Thanks for doing what you do!
Thanks Gus, we appreciate it. Call here anytime, our staff is awesome. Super helpful, honest, no pressure to buy. They will give you great voice to voice advice if you're ready for that. Shop number is (509) 933-2300
great comments on reel balance relative to rod you are using
Nice job once again. Thanks. Good information to help make good decisions and spend wisely. Appreciated the 'how to select a rod' video as well. I typically fish small mountain streams and its refreshing to hear an educated opinion that says you don't need to spend a bunch of money to get a drag system that I'll never use in these fishing situations.
I also like a reel that I can freely take up a lot of loose line with when I get a fish on, just by giving it a quick spin with my free hand so I don’t have to take my attention away from fighting the fish.
In my early days, (ok, and still sometimes now and then too..) I would lose a nice fish because I took my attention away from the fight because I was trying to take up loose line on the reel. So having that ability to just give the reel a quick manual spin to take up that loose line is real nice.
Loop traditional “dry fly”is the first and best large arbor reel!
Oh yes I use the 2W and 3W and speed trout they awesome!
I’m a big Lamson fan. I have a Lamson “Konic” 5 wt. cast reel that I’ve used and abused over 10+ years of hard fishing. I like the conical drag system that appeals to the engineering part of my brain (however small) and it is as smooth running today as day one. I also have a Lamson Liquid 8 wt. that is a pretty decent reel for the price. I made the mistake of buying an el cheapo, , supposedly fully-machined , imported reel that ended up getting a minor “rock shampoo” and it was bent totally out of round. It was obviously poorly machined using a very soft alloy. You usually get what you pay for but I still swear by the lower end Lamson reels. I do have an heirloom, English-made Hardy reel that is about as sweet and reliable as any. I treat that one like glass and it only gets used on a bamboo rod for special occasions. Very good video Joe as always very informative.
Great overview on reels and what they are for or capable of. I appreciate the no nonsense explanation. And that water on the river behind you is looking swell. I might need to come up there when all these shenanigans ore over.
Great lesson-thank you!!
I say Loop fly reels they awesome good!
The dry fly the 2W and the 3W the only thing whit those is put some oil at the ballberings they have 6 ! That's your biggest issue you might face whit those!
I got my first one every 90s still use the same reel !
And no reel can handle as light tipet as the traditional Loop they are king there ! Crafted in aircraft aluminium.
There is one more Danielsson fly reel.
I use Tibor Tibor Pacific for my Tarpon that reel has the best drag I know of.
Best regards from Sweden Scandinavia 🇸🇪
LOVE the Hardy!!
Awesome information. I am on the right track. Thank you.
After using a disc drag for the last few years i think i may go to click pawls. I have rarely ever needed drag. I was able to put so much drag on a fish with just my index finger, i was able to bend out a hook. Conversely, the occasional times i needed to put a trout on a reel, i have broken tippets. Obviously, there is a time and place for drag but the nice reliable click pawl should prevent jerky drag systems. Both reels have their purpose
Good points, a click/pawl is the best when it comes to simplicity.
Speaking of reel weight, Reddington Rise 6-8 reel weighs less than many 5-6 reels and has a decent drag. It is not sealed, so I wouldn’t take it anywhere near salt. The price point is good I use them on my musky set ups and WV trout and smallmouth water.
We've heard a lot of good feedback on the Rise from our customers, good testimonial. Thanks for chipping in here on the channel. Much appreciated!
Great reel
For trout I think it’s hard to beat a click & pawl Orvis Battenkill.
Those are nice reels. Good choice.
Great tips thanks
cast reels have gotten much much much better
I'd rather skimp on the rod than the reel.
A rod might break & your only out $100 or so.
A good reel lasts for a decade !
Buy the best you can afford (that has the features outlined in this superb video )!
Fish 'til ya drop ! ;^)
The rod and line in fly fishing is way more important.
If you are conventional fishing, the reel can be the better choice.
It comes down to casting...fly fishing the rod and line do the work...conventional the reel does more work.
Great information. Thank you. Tight lines!.
9/10 size good reel for steal head
👏👏
Social distancing? Those guys in the drift boat seemed to have forgotten :)
Let's make this easy for you joe ! You need to buy a reel that balances your rod ! Now I'm not saying that you put your finger on the cork and it balances like a teeter- totter ! That's so wrong !! Lol you must have a reel that when you cast, or better to say false cast you reel should complement your swing weight ! Now doesn't that make a world off sense? Yes it does ! You should find the right reel that counter weights your rod while casting !!! I'm so good joe ! I would love to cast against you some day ! I have a 1k to put in the kitty ! Yes I'm calling you out on social media! In those imortal words of Jonny Ringo " let's do it"
i got a sage rod/reel kit for christmas from my brother, went to set it up and got the backing and flyline all wound up in a knot, i got the 100yards of backing on then went to put on the flyline and ran out of space on the spool, with 40 feet left of flyline out, and the whole spool was spongy and airy, started to unwind it and got it knotted up so badly, I had to cut it off the reel.... i took the reel down to my local flyfishing shop in Sacramento (Fly Fishing Specialties) and asked them if theyd spool it up correctly if i bought new line there. they said no problem and asked me what weight i needed, the reel said 3/4 on it and i already had trouble fitting the regular stuff so go with the lighter of the two, im just fisshing tiny streams anyway, they said it had to match the rod, i said i dont care just make it so it winds and unwinds and im happy, then asked how much they charge and they said it was $100-$130... i started laughing and said "$100 plus for fishing line!?!? i think ill pass i dont wanna go fishing that bad if it costs that much" he said "its not fishing line, its flyline!" i said no offense but thats too rich for my blood, and walked out, he seemed all offended, and the feeling was mutual if so.. went home and looked up flyline on amazon and found most of it in the $20-$40 range, and backing like $8-$14... now i just need to find someone who will roll it up for me properly haha
turns out my rod is a 4, my reel is a 3/4... i ended up just skipping the backing so i wouldnt get it ratnested since i dont have any way to spool it on evenly without crisscrossing it... asn as i say, im only fishing tiny creeks, theres no way half the flyline will ever be out... so ii got a 5 weight line because it was a good deal and i knew id have plaenty of space on the spool now without the backing... seems to work perfect in my driveway... a ton better than with backing, thats for sure, that didnt even get out of the house! ha
@@toadamine Ok, glad that you found a solution to get out. Over time you'll find there is a huge difference in the performance and longevity when comparing a $20--$40 line to a $100 line. The main thing is to just get on the water and you'll develop your own preferences over time. Good luck out there!
@@redsflyshop I'm never ever gonna find out... it can't be good enough for me to spend $100 on a piece of string... hahaha I've always done fine with a $30 spinning rod and reel with $2 fishing line, still have 2 or 3 of them in my garage, and never use those either anymore... so if this isn't catching me a ton more/bigger fish with the $20 stuff, it's getting given to someone else next Christmas! The only thing I like about the flyrod is it breaks into 4 small pieces and fits in a small case that can easily be strapped to or stuck in a pack... so was gonna take it camping/hiking... which would be awesome... if it actually catches dinner reliably...
I remember trying fly fishing as a kid with dad and grandpa... nobody ever caught a single fish, tons of bites but they never got hooked... bought a spinning rod and caught multiple fish every time I used it, but I was an adult by then, a d also use treble hooks and plastic lures.. so I'm gonna g8ve this flyfishing thing one more try, but so far it's been nothing but a bad taste in my mouth... I'm gonna try a spinning lure with treble hooks instead of a flies if I have that issue again....
I always loaded my own spinning reels and never had any issues... followed the directions eclxactly on this fly rod and it was an instant ratnest, by the time i got the backing on i could only fit on half the flyline, and then it turned into a giant ratnest when i tried to unwind it and start over... now everything is stupid expensive on top of it... like I say, I'm gonna try it once more since I got it as a gift, but so far it's going rather poorly...
@@toadamineas you progress, you’ll come to appreciate the better fly line. You don’t have to go 80-120 either. Fly line technology changes frequently so there’s always deals to find on a line that has sat in the shelf a few years. You can pick a line up for $50 that was twice that five years earlier. As far as running a 5 weight line in a 4 weight rod, eventually you’ll want to get a 4 on there. If you ever go to fishing larger streams of lakes the casting performance will be much better. Keep doing what you’re doing though. That’s half the experience. I taught myself by watching my dad in the 80’s. Good luck