best saltwater 8wt reel less than $400
just starting out, buddy has one and it looked pretty fun.i guess i want a once and done combo i know theres some junk out there, so please recommend brands and gimme some feedback on some.positive or negative is a plus.Gonna use it on reds so needs a good sealed drag.Thanks Rob
Replies
I have a couple Ross Momentum LT's #4 that are close to $400 online. Good reels but the used Tibor would be better. The other Ross ones are good too, but don't have a ton of drag. Drags are not sealed, but I actually prefer that myself, it's easy to clean them out.
I wade a lot and treat my gear very harshly and have never seen the need for a sealed drag on a fly reel, even on the beach in sand. Just pop the spool off and wash it out in the water if needed.
Also, when checking out the Tibors, check out the Billy Pate reels as well. They are made by Tibor, but if memory serves me (doubtful these days) the Pate has a little better backing capacity and this might make your outfit a little more "universal" for the future. For example, in the Summer, I use an 8 wt. for all my permit fishing. Let's just say that a permit over 20 lbs. can take some serious backing during that first run. I don't think you'd be spooled by using either reel (or any of the reels mentioned) but the more backing you have, the larger the diameter of the spool will be and the faster you can get it back. In addition, drag increases as spool diameter decreases, so the larger your spool stays in diameter (because of more backing), the less your drag will increase. Large arbor reels address these problems very well, but have their own liabilities. It's up to you.
Now it's the FWX a little lighter weight. Customer is excellent as well.
I don't think you can go wrong with any decent fly reel made nowadays.
They occupy a niche in pricing, too. Not fly-off-the-shelves cheap, but not the ultra expensive category either.
In truth, unless your dealing with big bulls, reds don't demand much from a drag.
I'll go with other posters, don't limit yourself to just sealed drag models.
As mentioned, the older Abels can be found at great prices.
My first thought would be to find a reel that balances out your rig. Hanging 8oz of aluminum on a 3oz rod seems a llittle excessive to me. I can't think of a manufacturer off the top of my head that doesn't have a lifetime warranty, so once and done is pretty much a given no matter what you decide to go with.
I have my Galvan T-8 on my Scott STS 8wt and it is a fine performer as well..
I have a TFO BVK 8wt. that I may be selling soon, fi your interested. Great rod, but I have too many rods right now.
All my reels now are machined except one which used have two spools and it rarely gets used.
By your budget you stated it should be easy to find a quality machined reel.
@shadowcastflyfishing
Sales Rep - Ankona Boats, Salt Marsh Skiffs, Tavernier Skiff Company
And just to add to your point, don't forget that during the infancy of blue water fly fishing, species such as marlin, sailfish, tuna were taken with the old Pflueger reels...and while I have upgraded to both a Nautilus NV G7 and an old standby Abel Big Game 2 (standard arbor), I have caught fish such as false albacore, big (as in 15 lb) bluefish, 40" striped bass on my old pflueger reel...but with that said, having something with a large arbor and a top quality sealed drag is a nice luxury. I fish from the beach and while I don't dunk anything intentionally, I am clumsy and I buy my gear with that in mind
I am a thread necro myself at times. lol
I have a warn out clicky drag on my 6wt that a bluegill can rip line off of and if I am not careful I will get a backlash. I can afford a nicer reel but I am too much of a cheap ***. lol I would rather spend the money on rods and get a cheapo real from Cabelas.
100% made in Oregon from billet aluminum if I'm not mistaken; not just assembled in USA. When Yellowstone Angler tested the other Bauer model in thier shootout this year, there were no negative comments except for the star drag. If they had tested the Rogue instead I am confident it would tested much higher.
The best possible deal you can get is a used Abel or Tibor in the proper size for your endeavors. perhaps go into your local fly shop and decide what size you will need, then go on ebay and buy it for half price of new.
If you fish long enough you will end up with quality Abel or Tibor reels anyway, why not just cry once and buy the best. You want a cork drag, not some BS disk. now after that being said The Mako has a disk drag, however it's in a class by it's self and cost twice as much as Abel or Tibor. by the way you will wait 6-8 months to get the reel serviced, cause you won't have a clue how to even tear it down and service it yourself.......go with cork...my 2 cents
Carl
Great point.
I personally haven't ever - ever heard nothing but sweet sounds from my Abel reels. If I did get a pebble in my reel I could pop the spool and flick it out in a matter of seconds, Try that with a sealed drag.
Carl