I Have a Fly Rod & Reel question?

[mesofluk]

I have a #6 LINE 9'0" 3 7/16 OZ 4'pc Fly Rod, What kind of reel would i get for it? Should i be looking for a 6wt? I am manly after trout, bass. What would be a good recommendation?

[TrollGRG]

If you are going to be fishing for bass you can put any kind of reel you want cause you aren't going to get any - no bass in Alberta.

Seriously, you should always try to match your line, rod and reel. Besides holding the line, the reel is designed to help you fight the fish so you should have a reel with a drag system that matches the rest of your setup and what you expect to catch.

Personally, I prefer to "palm" the reel because I am not going for 30 pound lakers. I find that with the smaller fish e.g. trout, I can do quite well not relying on the drag from the reel. I have found that even pike won't run too far with just a little resistance.

This is just my opinion - I am sure that you will soon get a response saying how "stupid" I am and that you should spend $500 on a reel. My suggestion is to check a few of the responders before you believe everything they say. I am sure guys like "Doc" will respond with info that you can take to the bank.

[Albertafisher]

Go with the same reel weight as your rod like Troll said previously. As for good reels, Lamson makes amazing reels and plus they have a lifetime warranty and are all great. I would recommend the Konic if you want something a bit cheaper. That reel is running for about $120.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by TrollGRG

I am sure guys like "Doc" will respond with info that you can take to the bank.

Not sure how bank worthy my response will be but thanks for the vote of confidense there Gerry.

Gerry is pretty much bang on with his reply. A 6wt reel is made to put a 6wt line on it with enough backing to make sure you don't get spooled and still not crowd the reel.

As far as which reel to buy, that's completely up to you. In all reality, the reel is just there to hold your line for you. That doesn't mean you have to spend $20 on crappy reel though. Think about how you'll use it and where you'll use it more. Will it just be going from the car to the boat? If so an inexpensive cast aluminum reel should do you well. If you're a little harder on your reels or plan to fish in places with a good chance of dropping your equipment then a bar stock reel is a better choice. To some folks, looks are just as important as functionality and yet others just want something that holds the line. Determine what's important to you and spend your money appropriately.

Now as far as a drag system, I always want a decent drag system. Doesn't have to stop a freight train as I too palm the reel when fighting fish. What I do want however is the ability to set the drag so when I or a fish pull line off the reel I don't get any backlash that leads to nesting. When I quit pulling line off the reel I want the reel and line to stop.

For recommendations:

Cast aluminum = Ross Worldwide
Machined entry level = Orvis Mid Arbor, Pflueger Trion, Allen Trout Series

Hope this helps,
Doc

[mikeym]

Go with the same reel weight as your rod like Troll said previously. As for good reels, Lamson makes amazing reels and plus they have a lifetime warranty and are all great. I would recommend the Konic if you want something a bit cheaper. That reel is running for about $120.

i'll second the Lamson reel. best reel i have owned and very reasonably priced.

i will add tho, don't cheap out on the line. spend the extra money for good quality line as it makes a big difference in how it casts and how long it lasts.

rgds
Mike