Anti Reverse Fly Reels- Any downside?

AlwaysAbu

I am thinking of buying a 12 Wt fly reel, and the Billy pate runs $565 or so, but so does reels like the Galvan or even more for others. So is there any downside to a anti reverse fly reel like the Pate? From a distance it would seem you get more reel for your money??

Carl Blackledge

Hey always,

The anti-reverse sounds really cool on paper, however in real life they are pretty well worthless.

My biggest complaint is you can't stay in touch, with your hooked fish. As you are reeling in, or think your reeling in the fish, the fish is actually pulling out line, go with a direct reel and be on your game....anti-reverse is a joke

Anti-reverse reels make up less then 1% of the market share and for the most part have a lot less resale value.

Good luck

Carl Blackledge

lemaymiami

Pretty much what Carl said -although some offshore bluewater guys like those old "slip clutch" reels. They also used to be called doctor reels since you don't have that reel handle chewing up your fingernails, etc.

If you like the Pate (and they were the standard for many, many years) just go to E-Bay and enter "Billy Pate reel". You'll always find one or two Tarpon model direct drive reels for sale there - and they'll be a lot less money than a new one (they're also darned near indestructible....).

The one you won't see is the one I own- my son can have it one of these days when I no longer have use for it (or anything else).

For brand new and state of the art buy Nautilus, for old, relieable and pretty much bullet-proof the Billy Pate...

Ol'DirtyCaster

Alot of moving parts on an AR reel. Henschel makes a nice one, silent incoming like an NV. By design they're just not all that practical. You could go with a dual mode and have the best of both worlds but Henschel and Seamaster are the only ones making dual modes that I know of, and they both weigh a ton and cost a small fortune. They're a novelty, pretty sure everyone who's spent a few decades on the water has owned one at one point in time. The sound of a pate is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me, it has this "death rattle" that makes the hair on my neck stand up.

AlwaysAbu

Thanks to all for the feedback!

clampman

In addition to what's already been said, the drag knob on the Pate is on the "wrong" side of the reel if you are used to one on the side opposite the crank like all the direct drive reels. It is also harder to adjust quickly with the crank handle there too.

lemaymiami

For those that don't like the line clicker on the Pate reels... remember that clicker isn't there for the angler -it's there for the guide. Most days with a big tarpon hooked up, your guide can't tell whether you're gaining or losing line when the fish is directly in front of the bow since you're blocking any view of what's actually happening with that reel. The only way I can tell if my angler is gaining or losing is that clicker, and it's really nice if I can know exactly what's happening, particularly up a small river where you just don't have much room for error. Out on the flats or in big open bays it's not nearly as important.

clampman

I'm certianly with you on that Bob. My trout fishing buddies from up north decend on me every spring, and do not cast well enough to have much hope during the day, so we fish the outgoing in the dark.

As soon as they hook up they tend to just "hang on" instead of retrieving line and pressuring the fish, and they get lock jaw besides.

Usually the best spot is a twisty channel that a strong outgoing abruptly shortcuts across too-shallow flats in several places, which is not so easy to navigate by Q beam as sunlight. They get the rod with the Gulfstream, and the one with the Nautilus remains out of sight. Then, too long a period of silence will result in some encouragement (or questions) from me.

Carl Blackledge

lemaymiami wrote: »

For those that don't like the line clicker on the Pate reels... remember that clicker isn't there for the angler -it's there for the guide. Most days with a big tarpon hooked up, your guide can't tell whether you're gaining or losing line when the fish is directly in front of the bow since you're blocking any view of what's actually happening with that reel. The only way I can tell if my angler is gaining or losing is that clicker, and it's really nice if I can know exactly what's happening, particularly up a small river where you just don't have much room for error. Out on the flats or in big open bays it's not nearly as important.

Hey Bob,

One of the biggest aspects for me of fly fishing or just fishing for that matter is the grab, then that first pull, then it's that screaming reel and the line cutting through the water and anticipating those jumps......If somebody took any part of that away....it would lessen the rush, I love a screaming reel.

Carl Blackledge

P.clifford

I had a AR Pate bonefish and got rid of it. Nice workmanship but the AR is a real pain. For anything other than billfish, just get direct drive.


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Carl Blackledge

Sir,

I fish for Billfish for 30 days straight every year. I wouldn't own a AR reel, and I don't know of anybody who has ever fished for Billfish twice that owns one. Perhaps some new guy might show up once in a while with one.

Maybe a good tool for your wife, or a little kid, so they don't get there knuckles busted...not the tool for serious fly guys...just my 2 cents



Carl Blackledge