Reel of Dreams

[Steve L.]

OK, the holidays are behind us as are most of our budgets :grin:. Also, all the catalogs are starting to fill the mailboxes. So, it's time to play Reel of Dreams !

If you could own any reel what would it be and why. Pick one for trout, one for steelhead/salmon and one other for those of you into really big game.

If you've already progressed in this game to the point of reel/rod combo go ahead and list them as well.

[Stew]

I love threads like this :grin: My dream reels are all Hardy of England

This Hardy Cascapedia would be my first choice for single hand steelhead

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/reel_cascapedia.jpg

Here is my choice for spey Hardy Perfect Salmon

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/salmonperf1.jpg

and then trout....Hardy St.George

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/st_george.jpg

I do own one Hardy :dance:

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/perfect1.jpg

Although I love Hardy reels I wouldn't turn down this Saracione reel that were made here in Oregon.
:hearton:

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/saracione.jpg

[derbyshc]

For trout: I'd have to go with my Orvis Battenkill 7/8. Plenty of room for my Teeny nymph and floating lines, allowing me to fish tiny creeks to lakes, and even my local smallmouth and shad stream to boot. I guess I don't see the need to get all super latest corrosion resistant alloy and fastest heat dissipating drag system for the quarry I seek, weighing in at less than five pounds.

For steelhead/salmon: Now here's where I change my mind. I would go for any Abel or Tibor in the appropriate size. They have super drags, are made in the USA, require little to no maintenance, and when I get near the ocean, I don't have to worry about forgetting to wash it with freshwater after fishing for the day. They're spendy, but definitely something I can pass down to my future grandkids.

For spey: My current reel, Tibor Gulfstream. Loads of room for my Windcutter system and when I switch that out for my shooting head system. Same reasons as above. They've been thoroughly tested worldwide with superb results. One reel for one lifetime.

[john montana]

i love my hardy bougle mk iv...perfect fit on my 4 wt. other than that, i'm partial to really simple reels. i own several pflueger medalists that i use for carp fishing...solid real that can take a beating. also partial to the gloomis adventure for steelhead/salmon...

[Johnny Utah]

It is sure hard to beat the Ross Evolution. Match it up with a Sage xp 10' 4 weight and you have the ultimate Deschutes river trout setup.

[Steve L.]

Since money is no object my choices would be:

Trout - http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/saracione1.jpg
Saracione Mark II

Steelhead - http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/olson_salmon2.jpg
Olson Salmon 2

Salmon - http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/nautilus.jpg
Nautilus CCF

Why different reels for steelies and salmon, because since I'm dreaming I can :laugh:

[deefly]

I was able to come up with a couple I really like:
3" Hardy Bougle Mk IV and a 1930s Foster Bros (St George lookalike)3" brass guided pawl reel for cutts. Real nice on Bamboo. http://www.geocities.com/victorianflies/hardyfav.jpg http://www.geocities.com/victorianflies/fosterfav.jpg :wave:

BOTH LEFT HAND WIND :smash:

[Ryan Pultz]

I fell in love with the Hardy Angel a wile back and I will own one some day. rp
http://www.hardyfishing.com/imagesproduct/reel_angel.jpg

The hardy angel TE looks mighty awsome to.
http://www.hardyfishing.com/imagesproduct/reel_angel_te.jpg


some day rp

[Mark Vickers]

I'll admit, I've long been a fan of the looks of the Loop reels. I've just chosen not to spend that kind of money on several highly machined pieces of metal to hold my fly line.

Last year, Loop was bought out by Danielsson. They jury is still out on whether this was a good thing or not, but the aquisition did manage to virtually eliminate the availability of Loop reels here in the US.

If money wasn't a object for me, I would most certainly buy one of the new Danielsson LW's (http://www.loopusa.com/LWtechnical.html) which are essentially identical to the old Loop Evotec. What I would be concerned about is that the new reels are much less costly than the old ones even though they look the same.

[Steve L.]

Mark - I had heard that the reels are now build off shore. That may explain the pricing.

[SSPey]

some very nice reel choices above! if you're going Perfect, go pre-war and skip the enamel finish.

[Whiskey Dick]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/steelheadr99/2006-01-12HardyReels001.jpg

some of my Hardys :cool:

[Steve L.]

OMG, those are beautiful !! :passout: :cheers:
Whatever you do, don't let Stew find out where you live or you'll have a new best friend :laugh: :laugh:
Ryan might not be far behind either :laugh:

[Snap-T]

Mark, I wouldn't be scared to buy a Danielsson. They were the ones making the Loop reels forever. Loop had nothing to do with it but stamping on their name.

Call Ron Larson in Roseburg. He is the distributer in the US. Danielesson still does reel repair for Loop and still produces the originals and evotecs, just under the appropriate name. The only difference is they are now only availiable online. Danielssen took out the middle man because they disagreed with the cost of fly reels today.......and so do I, too much mark-up.

Loop was not bought out. Danielssen simply took his patterns and left to start his own company. Danielsson reels are made in Sweeden where loop reels used to be made (are you seeing the light) now Loop has gone over seas with their production.

Nowdays, If I was you I would buy a Danilesson before a Loop. This is coming from a guy with no Danielssons and I have a Loop 3W that I am looking at right now......(thank God it was made before the split "oh, I guess I am looking at a Danielsson then.))


Reels of Dreams
Spey- Saracione Deluxe, Bogdan or Original Cascapedia
Trout - Bellinger/Saracione
Salt - Tibor QC/ Saracione Monarch

Shelf - HL Leonard Raised Pillar Hard Rubber Zebra finish

[Ryan Pultz]

OMG, those are beautiful !! :passout: :cheers:
Whatever you do, don't let Stew find out where you live or you'll have a new best friend :laugh: :laugh:
Ryan might not be far behind either :laugh:


:yeahthat:

You Got that right Whiskey Dick that is an impresive colection of reels I see quite a few in there I would love just to fish with let alone own. wow rp

[Mark Vickers]

Excellent information Snap-T! Thank you.

[HazMatt]

When I got my spey set up, I ended up getting sold on an Old Florida Nautilus 12. Made here in Florida, Awesome folks there - called to get some schematics of the drag system (bomb proof), and their engineer didn't have anything he could fax, so he hand wrote out some drawings for me and sent them out. Smoothest reel I have EVER used...And the drag is absolutely incredible. All of my reels in the future will likely come from this company.
This, I believe, is my dream reel come to life! Those Angels look just heavenly, though.

[srogers]

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Loop either - I am a Ross man myself (go Gunnison!), but a good friend is obsessive about his Loop reels.

He's eyeing this model for his Spey rod:

http://www.looptackle.se/eng/index.htm

scott

[Whiskey Dick]

OMG, those are beautiful !! :passout: :cheers:
Whatever you do, don't let Stew find out where you live or you'll have a new best friend :laugh: :laugh:
Ryan might not be far behind either :laugh:


:yeahthat:

You Got that right Whiskey Dick that is an impresive colection of reels I see quite a few in there I would love just to fish with let alone own. wow rp



Ryan, they all get used :cool:, the reel at front left is a Hardy Viscount and the first Hardy i ever bought 34 years ago and still works great :smile:, one of the Marquis #3 (back row middle) was bought 27 years ago for a Salmon fishing trip to Ireland, 2 days after buying the reel i was offered a job in Germany but had to start within 3 days so the fishing trip went away and the reel was forgotten about, I found it this last summer in a box i was cleaning out, It takes a Grand Spey or XLT spey line and 150yds of 30lb backing very nicely :wink:, You know what they say Happiness is a Deschutes river Redside or Steelhead and a screaming Hardy Reel :cool: tight lines,brian

[Chas]

Salmon: Bogdan 0 Salmon 3.25",
Steelhead BC Style: Hardy 3.5" MK IV wide or Bogdan steelhead 3 1/4,
For sound and effect, Hardy is King
For Trout: Hardy St. George Jr. or Narrow St. George or Perfect.
For Bones: Fin-Nor.
Nothing like the sound of a Hardy after a steelie slams a dry.
For control of a fish Stan made the Model 21 of fly reels.
For Spey: 4" and 4.5" Hardy wide perfect.

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"My Birthday began with the water"
Dylan Thomas