If you had to choose one.

[klamathfish]

I am new to fly fishing and considering purchasing the Orvis Battenkill Bar stock or the Orivis Battenkill Mid Arbor reel? What are the benefits to an arbor style and which would you choose.

[gimmeumpqua]

I'm assuming you are fishing for trout or steelhead. Large arbors have the advantage of quicker line retrieve and less memory coiling, and are more important for steelheading as you are likely to have more line off the reel. The advantage of a quicker retrieve with a large arbor reel is lost at shorter distances with a standard arbor as the line itself, while coiled on the reel acts as an effective large arbor. Standard reels can be smaller and hold larger amounts of backing, so if balance and weight are a factor for a smaller rod, a standard arbor may be your best bet. I like large arbor reels because if and when I do strip alot of line off, the coiling memory is less apparent.

I have chosen my reels as large arbor, as per above, but most importantly, I like a reel that doesn't succumb to grit and grime...hence precision fittings and dirt resistant gears and drags. I also like hardness that will not result in blemishes as I slide down the riverbank on my butt.

Kurt

[Subtlety]

You can always put some braided dacron on a regular arbor reel to take up extra backing space if you dont want to use it but you cant ever put more line on large arbor reels.

I would rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.