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Welcome back to the new NEFF. Take a break from Twitter and Facebook. You don't go to Dicks for your fly fishing gear, you go to your local fly fishing store. Enjoy!

New reel recommendation

Nautilus that I had did have plastic drag knob, guess it was an early model. Sage reels are machined in South Korea by an aerospace contractor who's technology is "slightly more advanced" than the local machine shop in the U.S. My cousin is a toolmaker in Erie, and they still use manual lathes, and it is his opinion that quality comes down to quality equipment used in manufacturing processes. Just what I have been told and that early Nautilus was a P.O.S.
 
Nautilus that I had did have plastic drag knob, guess it was an early model. Sage reels are machined in South Korea by an aerospace contractor who's technology is "slightly more advanced" than the local machine shop in the U.S. My cousin is a toolmaker in Erie, and they still use manual lathes, and it is his opinion that quality comes down to quality equipment used in manufacturing processes. Just what I have been told and that early Nautilus was a P.O.S.


Having worked in my grandfather's machine shop growing up, we were able to hold tolerances as tight as 1/10,000th of an inch on manual lathes and that was back in the early and mid 80s. Pretty sure 1/10,000th is tight enough to spin a reel ;)
 
Nautilus reels don't have plastic parts. Of the 3 models they make the FWX is the smallest and lightest and features a fully sealed drag and no plastic parts. For the price it's a great reel. I haven't met a guy yet who hasn't had an issue with a given reel. I had a hatch reel matched up with my Hardy zenith a couple of years ago. It's a great reel but it locked up a few times during the season. Easy enough to correct even though it was annoying. I have had more then a few people complain about sage reels. To each his own.
 
Nautilus reels don't have plastic parts. Of the 3 models they make the FWX is the smallest and lightest and features a fully sealed drag and no plastic parts. For the price it's a great reel. I haven't met a guy yet who hasn't had an issue with a given reel. I had a hatch reel matched up with my Hardy zenith a couple of years ago. It's a great reel but it locked up a few times during the season. Easy enough to correct even though it was annoying. I have had more then a few people complain about sage reels. To each his own.


For unknown reasons, Hatch seems to have taken over for Abel as the high end reel. It might be marketing because Hatch targets the millennials these days. But I wouldn't trade my Abel Big Game for any other reel out there.
 
For unknown reasons, Hatch seems to have taken over for Abel as the high end reel. It might be marketing because Hatch targets the millennials these days. But I wouldn't trade my Abel Big Game for any other reel out there.

Plus I got a nice Christmas Card from Hatch.
 
For unknown reasons, Hatch seems to have taken over for Abel as the high end reel. It might be marketing because Hatch targets the millennials these days. But I wouldn't trade my Abel Big Game for any other reel out there.

Hatch is big shit these days because everyone equates the whole reel being machined as a big deal, vs. everyone else bolting the foot of the reel on. Has anyone had their high-end reel fall off their rod because the foot got unbolted? Didn't think so. Hatch reels are nice, don't get me wrong, but I'm told by folks that have fished both extensively in the salt that the drag on the Nautilus is much better.
 
I have an Abel super 8 and bg3. It is dependable but is also the ONLY reel that I have to oil and fuss with before I use it. Comparing a Hatch and Nautilus is Bentley vs. Cadillac. Both nice but no comparison. Reels boil down to drag and quality of machining. Drag boils down to dead lift in pounds, fade due to heat, and startup inertia. Hatch is the smoothest reel I've ever used and Abel startup depends on when it was last oiled as does any simple cork drag. Stiction occurs when they sit around. As far as lifting power goes, galvan runs away with the current record for a fly reel and if you don't believe me ask the tournament IGFA billfish flyrod record chaser and consistent champion who fishes with me for steelhead.
 
I have an Abel super 8 and bg3. It is dependable but is also the ONLY reel that I have to oil and fuss with before I use it. Comparing a Hatch and Nautilus is Bentley vs. Cadillac. Both nice but no comparison. Reels boil down to drag and quality of machining. Drag boils down to dead lift in pounds, fade due to heat, and startup inertia. Hatch is the smoothest reel I've ever used and Abel startup depends on when it was last oiled as does any simple cork drag. Stiction occurs when they sit around. As far as lifting power goes, galvan runs away with the current record for a fly reel and if you don't believe me ask the tournament IGFA billfish flyrod record chaser and consistent champion who fishes with me for steelhead.


All those things are nice, but there's not a brown, brookie or bow on the planet that can't be landed with a Pflueger Medalist......the only reason I own an Abel is because I paid half price new at the time. Fast or very strong fish like steelhead and some of the saltwater species (tuna, bones, etc.) do require an excellent drag, but not the average trout.
 
Im suprised no one mentioned Bauer Reels.......smooth as silk....well built by Americanos.....

They make a great reel LU with a very solid drug system that is as you say very smooth. For trout fishing I think that that's what's really key. Really plenty of onions for folks these days and a price range to match your budget as well.
 
Rusty you are exactly right. Click and pall and palming rims are all you need for most trout. A trip to the Taylor River in Colorado, or the Beaverhead, where giant trout (10-25 lbs) on 6 and 7x tippets are the norm are the exception. Startup inertia becomes super important in said scenarios but almost nowhere else.
 
I own a Bauer MZ3 reel and Bauer Supreme skates. I was joking, but not about Bauer making hockey equipment. I've worn Bauer skates since I was 5 years old. I'm 60 now and still skate in them.

I too, have owned Bauer skates........They were spirits, and I bought them when I was 12 or 13...I wore them out and bought a set of Nike skates.....used them once in fifteen years......I also have a Bauer M(something) it's a 5 weight...I used it A LOT, but now I have become a snob an fish with Hardy Perfect, and St George...the click is the drug.......as two have said before, trout around these parts don't need drag, and the runs with a click and pawl are pretty awesome if you know what to do, don't freak out and snap your tippet.....
 
my skates are bauer but also nike?? sometimes i skate so fast that it melts the ice and i have to take them off quickly and barefoot waterski to shore before i lose speed. my dad has a pair of bauers that are this vintage and those are the skates I wear when I go home to visit mn..
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Maybe we can get DC to organize a pond hockey league for the NEFFers. No lifting, but checking is optional.
 
FYI I end up getting Galvan and Mirage. Both are fine reels but I wouldn't trade my Galvan for any other.
 
I just picked up a Galvan from Shannon's for steelheading. Havent had a chance to use it but it seems like a sweet reel..
 
I'm looking for a reel for a 7 wt switch rod I'm getting I have a limited budget and think I have it narrowed down to either an orvis hydros, a Lamson guru HD (with a full frame) or a galvan rush light which supposedly is the same reel as the torque just not as sexy. I've heard some people talk bad about Lamson but I'm also concerned they may be too light to balance an 11' rod even oversized. Any experiences/recommendations?
 
I'm looking for a reel for a 7 wt switch rod I'm getting I have a limited budget and think I have it narrowed down to either an orvis hydros, a Lamson guru HD (with a full frame) or a galvan rush light which supposedly is the same reel as the torque just not as sexy. I've heard some people talk bad about Lamson but I'm also concerned they may be too light to balance an 11' rod even oversized. Any experiences/recommendations?

I have a Guru 3.5 on a Beulah 7/8wt switch and it's perfectly balanced with that combo.
 
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