What reel

The Other Reels forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
RobertTreeve
Stickleback
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2019 2:10 pm
4

What reel

Post by RobertTreeve »

I have one old spilt cane fly rod and intend getting a couple more, but would like to ask what is the best way to match a reel to rod, the modern way is wt line which matches reel rod and line, but this does not work with older rods so any ideas.

User avatar
Nigel Rainton
Rainbow Trout
Posts: 3337
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:07 pm
11
Location: Dartmoor
Contact:

Re: What reel

Post by Nigel Rainton »

With the weight of a cane rod the reel size and weight is not that important. The rod weight will overshadow the reel. Just get a reel to hold whatever line you are going to use. I would recommend a Hardy Marquis, an old from eBay, not a modern one.

User avatar
Liphook
Barbel
Posts: 4701
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2018 6:21 pm
5

Re: What reel

Post by Liphook »

Also take a look at the offerings from JWYoung's, Sharpes, Grice&Young and Orvis. 'Ballancing' a rod and reel is a personal choice and so opinions vary, but provided you have enough capacity for your chosen line and sufficient backing to prevent your fly line 'pig tailing' then that's about right. Some like me prefer a slightly oversized reel both for 'ballance' and for speed of line recovery, provided it's not overly heavy. What length of rod and weight of line are you looking at?

User avatar
Olly
Wild Carp
Posts: 9086
Joined: Sat Dec 15, 2012 12:58 pm
11
Location: Hants/Surrey/Berks borders.

Re: What reel

Post by Olly »

An old Allcocks catalogue has the rods line weight and the matching reel for each rod!

User avatar
Penninelad
Arctic Char
Posts: 1537
Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2013 5:12 pm
10
Location: Sheffield

Re: What reel

Post by Penninelad »

In my opinion modern lightweight big arbour fly reels are not suitable for split cane fly rods.You can buy top quality Youngs Fly reels which are ideal.To assist with your Casting you need a bit of weight at the butt end.I use Pridex's and Condex's for my general trout fishing and sea trout fishing and the bigger Beudex for salmon fishing(I have failed to catch one this season!).They can be purchased cheaply from a well known internet site and they are strong and robust and well engineered.
Mark Davies

User avatar
Marc
Sea Trout
Posts: 4006
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 11:14 am
11
Location: Co Durham, land of the prince bishops

Re: What reel

Post by Marc »

Condex every time. I prefer a narrow spool and 3 and a half inch reel all day long.
Marc. (Prince of Durham)

“A life that partakes even a little of friendship, love, irony, humor, parenthood, literature, and music, and the chance to take part in battles for the liberation of others cannot be called 'meaningless'...”

User avatar
Bobby Marlene
Arctic Char
Posts: 1517
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2013 7:21 pm
10
Location: Houston, TX

Re: What reel

Post by Bobby Marlene »

As Liphook said, opinions vary and you have to try some combinations as it´s a personal choice and depends very much on the rod you are using (length, line weight, taper). I always try to get the lightest reel that looks good with the rod and has the correct line capacity. You can always add weight with lead coil but you cannot make a too heavy reel lighter. Orvis CFO are nice reels for cane rods but unfortunately very expensive. Hardy LRH is a less expensive alternative. I like the CFO better because it is not a cage reel and you can use your thumb or palm to break at the rim of the spool (should that be necessary which is not often the case for me :Hahaha: ).
Here some pictures of a CFO with a Dickerson 8013 taper made by Gary Marshall and a LRH with a 7 foot 4 weight rod that I made myself:
Image
Image
Image
Good luck with your choice, Bobby

Post Reply

Return to “Other Reels”