What Fly Reel?

[Elton]

Posted on behalf of Billy. Please add all replies to this thread:

hi,

back to angling after a 30yr lapse, always fancied fly fishing the smaller rivers and streams in my part of scotland.(FIFE).

purchased a purists vintage 7ft cane rod,need advice on which reel to match rod, which line to match reel.

cheers billy.

[chuby]

Posted on behalf of Billy. Please add all replies to this thread:

Assume you know the aftm rating of the rod.Plenty of reasonably priced reels out there,need not be a fancy afair.However it might be worth trawling ebay for an older reel,which might be nice as the rod is vintage.

[kai dog]

Hi There, I find Okuma Reels to be very reliable and a good price, try the smaller integrity for the cheaper models or the helios for a more expensive reel (and looks very smart).

[Kent Trotter]

Posted on behalf of Billy. Please add all replies to this thread:

 

Well if you are looking for a purist reel then probably the Orvis BBS Disc Drag is the one. For a 7' I'd guess the number 1 for #2DT, #3WF.

 

You can also get pure silk lines, not sure from where. Otherwise pick up a line from Pitsford Pirate at a c=very reasonable rate. Google him. Other than that Sportfish's own brand are very good.

[Worms]

Posted on behalf of Billy. Please add all replies to this thread:

I hope this is not too late to help!

 

Any old JW Youngs reel of about 3-31/4" would do. An older reel would balance the rod better as they are slightly heavier than modern reels.

 

As for lines, use silk! The casting action of a cane rod is perfectly complemented by silk and I feel short casts are much easier to perform accurately with silk than modern lines. Also, a light silk line is easier to cast into a wind than a modern line (with a short rod) due to the flexibility of the silk and the smaller diameter allowing tighter loops and less wind resistance. I use a couple of 7' rods on my local streams and rivers (Herefordshire) and prefer to use level lines of an 'F' rating this is approximately equivalent to an AFTMA 4. These measure approximately 0.035" in diameter (0.89mm in new money).

 

Just in case you think I'm a cane/silk purist with no regard for new-fangled gizmos let me assure you I love my Greys 7'6" 3wt carbon rod with matching reel and modern line but for short casting under bushes and willows and on days when the wind is whipping the water up, cane and silk is unbeatable.

 

If you struggle to find a suitable line I may have a spare somewhere tightlines!

[Newt]

Worms - a good reply is never too late.

 

The original poster may be long gone but these topics are read by quite a few who never post and who may not even be registered but simply find the topic via a google search.

[Vagabond]

You can also get pure silk lines, not sure from where.

 

Here ya go !

http://www.phoenixclassics.com/

they are not cheap though........

 

..and that is some very good advice from Worms - Nice to know I am no longer a lone voice.....

[klonker]

Two reels come to mind, one from Orvis and one at the site mentioned above.

1. Orvis CFO
   
2. Peerless Traditional Trout Reel
   

Otherwise old Hardy Marquis are relatively easy to get hold of and reasonably priced. Small shops like Walkers of Trowell, Nottingham, carry second hand and vintage tackle:

 

 

If you can stomach eBay then you may find some deals there. Or, try putting a Wanted Ad in the classifieds here (assuming AnglersNet has classifieds?) and at Fly Fishing Forums or UKFlyDressing.