New Rod! Need help with a matching Reel!

[Terry Thomas]

As much as we all love to place our rod and reel in the water next to that beautiful steelhead, this is can lead to drag failures and reel handle problems down the the road. Yes, I know many companies claim their drags are "fully sealed." Stuff happens!! I talked to Bill Archelata not long ago and his advice was....never put your reels in the water.

[hwchubb]

Bill's not bhinking about repeat business, clearly...

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Hardy Marquis Salmon No 2 is very popular with a click-n-pawl drag and rim drag.

The Waterworks LiteSpeed 4 would have a real drag for very large fish.

With a bigger reel you can also get lots of 30# Dacron backing on it.

Bigger diameter reels have a faster line pick up too.

.

[FlyFishingNewb]

thanks for the wonderful advice everyone!

[DAVID95670]

What do you guys think of lamson lite speed 3.5?

i have the hard anodized litespeed 3.5 and it handle Salmon over 30# and Steelhead to #17. love it, love the open reel so that you can palm it and leave the drag lite when swinging ... lets the fish grab and turn then palm or tighten drag with a finger love it....fished the Hardy Bougle IV Salmon ... do not like the enclosed reel ...hard to palm especially since the hardy has such a light drag to begin with .... i am sold on Lamson litespeed

[FlyFishingNewb]

Got a reel coming and another one soon. will update. thanks everyone for the advice!