Sage and Hatch tie for the best 8 weight fly reels.......

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

http://www.tridentflyfishing.com/blog/2013-8-weight-wt-challenge-fly-reel-review#.UVIaiol5mc2

[winxp_man]

I see my Lamson Guru 3.5 comes in at number 4 with two other kind of nice to know :) I have yet to get out for stripers with it..... I will soon though!

And Bill thanks for this post interesting read.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I see my Lamson Guru 3.5 comes in at number 4 with two other kind of nice to know :) I have yet to get out for stripers with it..... I will soon though!

And Bill thanks for this post interesting read.

That is great...the Waterworks 'Guru' fly reel is made in the US and fully machined too. Super good value.....

.

[nvpescador]

Referencing the final results chart, it looks like the Hatch 7 Plus (93) was rated the number one reel overall and with one point between them, the Hardy Fortuna X1(91) and Orvis Mirage IV(90) placed second and third. If I'm reading the review correctly the Sage 1880 was rated fourth with (84) points.

http://www.tridentflyfishing.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Final-Results.png

[Jed Peters]

I was gonna say...as an owner of multiple reels including hatch and sage, can't imagine there is anything BETTER than hatch (or even tied with) in that category...

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I would say that over 90% of the fly fishers don't really need that quality of fly reel.

Most tell me they have never seen their backing.

I think for big wild fast gamefish it is a good thing.

.

[Jed Peters]

I would say that over 90% of the fly fishers don't really need that quality of fly reel.

Most tell me they have never seen their backing.

I think for big wild fast gamefish it is a good thing.

.

Interesting story, Bill.

I bought a new Abel (customized color) Switch reel from you guys in the shop not too long ago. Took it fishing with Jason and Aaron and promptly hooked into a nice chrome steelie. The reel failed (pawls flipped) and the reel began to free spool.

I found out that:

1. Not only did I not need a 450 dollar reel; but
2. I could land a steelhead just fine without any click, just by using my hand.

Ha!

(now, hooking into a 7 pound bonefish with no click, that's a recipe for losing your fly line!)

[Adam Grace]

I have a couple Lamson-Waterworks and I LOVE them.

I also agree with Bill, the majority of freshwater fishing doesn't require a bulletproof drag system UNLESS you are fighting big strong fish like Steelhead, Salmon, or big Stripers that can pull out line when playing fish on the reel. However when fishing saltwater you will greatly NEED a bulletproof reel! Saltwater fishing will test every piece of your equipment.

[mems]

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a371/mems15/050.jpg
Aloha Guys, the reel I have been using in the Cheeky stealth. It has a sealed drag, is designed for 4/5 wt trout rods, but I put it on this BFK 6wt and landed this nice 8lb bne over in Kona. It has a sealed drag for minimal upkeep, and kept this bad boy out of the coral heads. Adam, I hope you guys can bring in the Cheeky reels, they are pretty sweet for the money. I will be using the mojo and the dozer in Christmas Island in a couple of weeks. I will let you know how they hold up. Hatch and Lamson and TFO are also making the trip, thanks for the comparison chart, Don.

[Adam Grace]

Don, we will check out the Cheeky reels, thanks for the suggestion.

Does anyone else on the board have a Cheeky reel? If so what are your thoughts on Cheeky reels?

[David Lee]

..... However when fishing saltwater you will greatly NEED a bulletproof reel! Saltwater fishing will test every piece of your equipment.

Very , very good point , Adam .

In some situations , a great drag is not enough - durability becomes an issue . I meet a lot of people who ask me the same question about fly gear in saltwater surf , "What should I use" .... my answer is always the same . Your gear needs to be disposable , or it needs to be TOTALLY bombproof . On my 'toy' rods (6 and 7 wts.) , I use pretty good reels , but on 8 wt. and above .... reels need to be able to handle horrible fish and even worse conditions . I use the old , discontinued TFO Terry Hayden reels -they have type 3 anodizing , huge Cork drags , few holes for Sand to enter , etc.. It's really a shame that the public at large thought they were too heavy ....

D.~

[Jed Peters]

If so what are your thoughts on Cheeky reels?

I have seen a few of them up close and they look like the Fly Shop/Allen Reel/other Chinese made knock off reel, just with better marketing.

Not to say there is anything wrong with them (I have cheap Chinese made equipment as well) but they appear to be out of the same factory as everything else.