You can also add a further personal touch to your Tibor Signature by choosing one of Tibor’s exclusive engraved game fish designs or your own personal logo at an extra cost. We don’t blame them for it, we only wish the price reflected it. The main downside is that the Super 4N isn’t a quick-change reel. 1.  try to avoid submerging your reel in water, especially saltwater. In other designs some other sort of friction device is used that will help your drag knob retain its set position. There are many things about the RX reels that exhibit perfection, but at the top of the list is the incredible smoothness of its sealed drag. The Orvis Access Mid-Arbor is machined from top quality aircraft aluminum (6061 bar stock) in China. The best reels in our Shootout had a range of adjustment of at least one full revolution of the drag knob. Machined reel seat – can never come loose, might get dented if dropped however, which means replacing a new frame instead of reel seat. The handle is longer than the CFO and the LRH, but it tapers down instead of swelling out. Retrieval resistance refers to the tension one feels when reeling in. This is a high quality reel that is going to last for generations. They are also partnered with Trout Unlimited, Casting for Recovery, and Stripers Forever. Even the text Hatch uses looks sharp. Also, since it is metal it will never split or break like wood or plastic. Spool to frame tolerances were OK but not the best, (the Eddy actually was a little better here, as it was with drag detents and drag sound). If your style of fishing requires a very tough reel and you can’t afford an Abel or Tibor, the Aspen 325 LA is a great option. Although there is a way to make the drag stronger or weaker by turning the rectangular piece inside the reel, the drag resistance doesn’t change much. We hear rumors that all the classic style reels will be made in England again, starting in 2017. The arbor could be larger for faster line retrieval but we like how it is ported to help your backing dry quickly. It’s one thing to set your drag to a preferred resistance level before you start fishing, but an entirely different situation arises during the heat of battle. Range of Drag Adjustment – 20 points available. Helping you find a reel with the most positives is the goal of this shootout. Some of the click reels are “click and pawl” styles which sound terrific and are the most classic. This wide range of adjustment allows precise tuning of the drag to the desired pressure. If your reel does not have a totally sealed drag, you’ll want to use a minimal amount of oil, like 3 and 1 oil, to lubricate the arbor. The one thing we really don’t care for on the LRH is the tiny, straight handle. Aspen Reels – $0 (including repair costs and return shipping). In the process we would rip some line off the reel and judge the drag sound. Pick one up and it exudes quality and wonderful craftsmanship. Scoring exactly the same amount of points in 15 out of 18 categories, the Lamson Speedster and Lightspeed are very similar reels. range, Handle:  Thicker than the Cimarron, good size but no flare, #20 Ross Animas  5/6    $250 – reel,  $150  x/spool. Sometimes you need to make a quick and precise drag adjustment. Retrieval Sound:  Muted rubber on metal sound, Outgoing drag sound:  Sounds a tiny bit louder going out, Spool Release: No Spool cap, No quick change – 4 tiny screws to get the spool off, a major project in the shop, much less out on the stream. But when we added the figures up, it simply didn’t do as well as the other click style reels. It has a nice large arbor design, creating a 12% increase in line retrieval from the previous Hydros. Rarely do people use reel cases when fishing, even in drift boats. The plastic spool cap can be difficult to get off, but at least it can’t come completely off and get lost. The Orvis Battenkill III received perfect scores in 4 categories; price, start up inertia, ease of spool removal, and weight. The Lamson Liquid is the reel that we picked to go with our beginner fly fishing outfit for this very reason. Overall the Bozeman SC 325 isn’t a high scoring (or performing) reel, but it does look amazing and a lot of attention to detail is evident. When you do get the line on the reel, you’ll want to palm the reel rather than relying on the Click’s drag strength. The max drag on the 325 MA tested slightly higher than the 350 LA but was, for all practical purposes, the same. Who else is making a 5-weight reel that weighs 3 ounces and costs only $89.00? The Access Mid Arbor has better sound (louder and more pleasant) than the new Hydros. Plus reels come in four standard colors: black, champagne (bronze), clear, and red. If the fish runs back at you very quickly and you cannot keep up by reeling, then you have to start stripping and repeat the process of getting the fish on the reel again. The elegant rosewood handle has a great shape and swell, (although it could be slightly larger as on the Super 6N or 7/8N). We know how easily these reels bend if dropped since we’ve owned a few ourselves and have also sent a few back for our customers. Then we peeled off the line and got figures on the range of drag adjustment, smoothness, start up inertia, and max. He reported that the 3-Tand reels appeared to perform exceptionally well for the price and that they might be worth considering. As long as you always remove the spool in a safe place, (either on the shore or low to the bottom of the boat) you won’t lose the cap even if you drop it. It remains one of the best click and pawl style reels available. We also like how well the arbor is ported, which will really help with drying backing more quickly. The drag sounds great, and this is one of those reels that is a real pleasure to fish. How much backing do you need on a 5/6-weight trout reel? People are never going to use that much drag pressure for trout fishing so while the bragging rights count, they don’t count for much. Bozeman Reels – $0 for cleaning and relubrication, (does not include shipping and handling charges). Even if you are able to turn the screws, it’s going to be especially difficult not to scratch the beautiful black plate. Should your line, and especially the tippet on your leader, accidentally slip behind your spool, or through one of the spool to frame tolerance spaces, (or if you get junk or sand stuck in your reel), you are going to need to remove your spool, fix the problem, and replace the spool. The max drag is plenty strong for trout fishing and we like the shape of the handle’s swell (although it could be a tiny bit bigger for a perfect handle score). The sound just echoes off the solid back of the frame and is sure to please nearly everyone who fishes one. Sure, it might sound like you’re cranking up your boat at the boat ramp, or whirling around a New Year’s eve noise maker but who cares? For the money, the Redington Zero is a great reel, as long as you don’t mind palming it to add extra resistance for fighting larger fish. The idea is to set your drag lightly enough so that if you hook a hot fish that burns out on 6X, you don’t get broken off on that first run. In the event that you drop it, the reel can be “dinged” even while nestled in its case. Perhaps the biggest downside to the Classic 46 is the weight. Retrieval Sound:  Silent sound reeling in, Outgoing drag sound:  Silent sound going out (poacher’s special), Spool Release:  Cap easy to grab, good grooves however cap can come off and get lost, Drag knob:  not as easy to turn as some due to thin knob, Max Drag:   Palming required – 1.4 pounds, Handle: Very good, with built in rubber for better grip, Full frame adds extra rigidity, no apparent line gap, Might as well port whole spool instead of part of it, #14 Orvis Access Mid -Arbor II $159 – reel,   $85  x/spool. The range of drag adjustment isn’t very good (although at least it is adjustable). The Animas comes in three standard colors:  Stealth Black with Moss hardware, Stealth Black with Bronze hardware and Granite with Bronze hardware. The Hydros SL II also comes with a maintenance free sealed drag. Last but not least, the Behemoth is a little on the heavy side. Extra 325 spools retail for $195. While each model Lamson reel may have the same basic style of drag (a conical rather than disk-shaped drag) they differ, both in terms of range of drag and maximum drag. Retrieval Sound:  Metallic sound on both retrieval and outgoing, Outgoing drag sound: Slightly louder metallic sound going out. We found in general that durability in the new reels very good but it is still a compromise. We have laid out all the objective measurements in the shootout that follows, and our own views of what we prefer. If you want a fast rate of retrieval go with the Speedster. The Zero also lost points under drag adjustment and range of drag (since there is no adjustment). Precision machined in Ashland, Oregon, the RX reels are made from aerospace bar stock aluminum and stainless steel for maximum strength and corrosion resistance. Strangely enough the range of drag adjustment on the Remix wasn’t nearly as good as the Liquid. Like most all of the click style reels, the Battenkill III has a very weak maximum drag, (.25 pounds), so it’s another reel you’ll have to palm should you hook up with a hot fish. The spool release cap comes completely off, so be careful where you remove your spool. Outgoing drag sound: plasticky and nothing like the Argus, Counterbalance: Good, solid and smooth feel, Spool Release:  Cap easy to grab, can’t come off although not really fat finger friendly, Drag Knob:  Good, but not easy to turn as some, (thin knob), Drag Detents:  Not easily knocked off by accident – good detents, Handle: Better than Argus but still no flare or swell, Reel could be bigger, and for a spinner style reel it could spin more, #11 (tie) 3-Tand TF50    $199.00 – reel,  $119.95   x/spool. With plenty of stopping power for trout (not to mention the reel is easily palmed at the edge of the spool) the 2.5 pound max drag strength will not be an issue. They are perfectly balanced and buttery smooth, bringing a high quality feel that is synonymous with luxury cars, fine wine, and expensive shotguns. Some of these reels, like the Ross Colorado LT, Orvis Battenkill III, Redington Zero, and Bozeman Reels SC have no drag adjustment at all, meaning the angler is going to have to apply his or her own stopping pressure by palming or finger palming the reel. At this point extra spools are not currently offered. Galvan has done a great job at finding the perfect strength-weight ratio. If the fish happens to follow the fly all the way to the shore and eats it close to the bank the Cheeky Boost would be my number one pick to spin up the 50 feet of line as quickly as possible. The Ross Eddy replaces the Ross Fly Start, (which was like an inexpensive CLA that retailed for $65 in the 5/6 size). Extra TF50 spools retail for $119.95. With your support, we can continue to give you more shootouts and comparisons on tackle and equipment in the future. Spool removal is a piece of cake thanks to the quick release button (which can never get lost unlike a “star drag” knob). Max Drag: Very weak, have to palm – .25 pounds, Reel could be bigger, and for a spinner could spin more, Feels a bit heavy  (due to heavy drag mechanism), Handle – nice shape and size (good swell), #4 Hardy Lightweight LRH   $249.95 – reel,   $99  x/spool. The Loop Opti series is perhaps Loop’s fanciest reel and also their top performer when it comes to rapid line retrieval. Fully loaded the 4+ weighs 6.8 ounces, which is on the heavy side for sure, but still much lighter than the 5+ at 8.1 ounces. Add the Lightspeed’s drag and we’d be looking at a 19/20 which would make it a fantastic all around reel. 192, 50735 Köln). This is never easy to fix, even in the shop, much less on the stream. The fact that it does this enables an angler to reel in quickly, despite the fact that the Evolution doesn’t have a significantly large arbor (like the new Sage Click or Loop Dryfly). Everything about it looks refined and dignified, from the classic “S” handle to the beautifully contrasting jet black plates. Turnaround time is up to 2 weeks max, (including shipping). ), which unfortunately makes the reel much heavier than it needs to be when fully loaded. Drag Detents:  No detents but the drag knob is stiff so it won’t get knocked off its setting easily, Range of Drag:  Good for a click and pawl reel, but weak compared to others, Handle:  Too short and no swell, although rosewood looks nice, #7 Loop Classic 46    $679  – reel, (extra spools not available). The metal handle is large and easy to grab with a pleasing shape, and is more fall-proof compared to wood handles that can crack and split if you fall directly on them. But accidents happen. All of Einarsson’s reels are beautifully machined in Ísafjörður, Iceland from aircraft grade 6061 T6 aluminum. Nautilus has been on a real hot streak lately, with the NV G 8/9 winning our 8-weight reel shootout and the X reel winning best of show in both fresh and saltwater categories at the 2015 ICAST. Pflueger Medalist – $0, (includes shipping). And on the rougher drags it could easily be felt in hand as line peeled off the reel. We used a range of .25 lb. Extra FW 3/5 spools retail for $199. Reels like the Loop Classic 46 or Bozeman Reel SC that require the removal of several tiny screws lost even more points. There isn’t a single reel in the shootout that can come close to reeling in line as fast as I can strip line in. We first heard about 3-Tand reels from one of our saltwater friends, Captain Bill Blanton. Spool Release:  Easy but Spool cap comes off and can get lost. Keep in mind that if you set your reel to give you one pound of straight pull drag, once you put a big bend in the rod, this increases the drag substantially while you are playing fish. It feels great in your hands with a very easy-to-grab handle shape. The Cimarron II is a true “spinner” type reel that can pick up a ton of excess line quickly. For not much extra weight (only .3 ounces more fully loaded) we think the 350 LA is the better performing reel as it will bring in line faster. of drag. There’s not much need to reduce the weight since the reel already feels light enough AND it’s durable. (Some of these chipped off later, leaving a little silver mark where the extra metal was once attached). The Tibor Light Series comes in two standard colors:  Jet Black and Satin Gold. We’re hoping that this is just a coincidence. Extra 4/5 spools retail for $177. Today, almost all of the new reels have tiny plastic clickers or sound making devices that emit very little noise. It comes in three standard colors:  Black, Platinum, and Light Olive. Is the whole package deal worth the expensive price tag. Most of the time they are not. For 75% of my trout fishing I don’t  need a drag, I just need something to store my line and allow me to pull line from it to cast further or mend more line to keep up a dead drift. The Sage 4250 could use a little wider range of drag adjustment. They are also partnered with Trout Unlimited, the International Federation of Fly Fishers, the International Game Fish Association, and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. Nautilus – Generally $45, (including shipping). If you are fishing with a 5-weight we recommend the 4/5. Their Teflon and graphite impregnated cork drag disc is especially smooth, and the reel sounds amazing with two very distinctive incoming and outgoing sounds. range. What does count, are the unique and stylish Behemoth looks. The Abel SD 5/6 is identical to the 4/5, just a little bigger with more backing capacity. Craftsmanship, durability, start up inertia, drag detents, and reel case design (a fancy and expensive looking leather case) were all solid 10’s. If line is running through your fingers, simply tighten your fingers or grip on the line. Finally, set at 2 lbs., it increased to 3.0 lbs. Some reels definitely sound better than others but as you’ll see, we gave most reels in the standard reel category a score of 7 or 8. Turnaround time is typically less than two weeks. Our question to both Redington and Ross is WHY? We’ve all bought inexpensive products, only to have the cheap stuff fail, and to realize we’d have been happier with something better. Otherwise you will break off the next fish, ruin your line, or both. The Hatch Finatic series has been dominating the big screen of fly-fishing for years. Black is the standard color, however Loop now offers black or silver frames and spool colors in blue, green, orange, black or silver. All and all the RX is a very well thought out reel with purpose and elegance; lightweight, durable, and ready to perform. In order to judge the perfect backing capacity, we load the fly line onto the reel first, (starting with the leader end), and then add the exact amount of backing we feel is correct. Ross tells us that 90% of their reel repairs are due to over lubrication! Either way, both the Aspen Reels are bulletproof. With fly reels, durability can be a big factor. Spin: Not much but pretty good for a click style reel (1 rev)? Once you get this reel in your hand you know right away it is special. If anyone gave me the choice between a free Abel SD and Galvan Rush, I think I’d take the SD in a heartbeat, despite the fact that it didn’t acquire as many points. Over time you should remove the spool and clean out all the junk inside. By nature, the click reels have a very weak maximum drag setting and have a very narrow range of drag adjustment. Plan on reeling in the traditional way. Perhaps this isn’t a huge deal since most anglers will leave the drag setting relatively low and override the drag by palming if they need to. One thing’s for sure – this reel is durable! That being said, if you are traveling half way around the world on a trip and to a destination where there is no fly shop, it’s a good idea to take along a reel that is going to be tough, durable, and reliable, or at least, bring two of the light weight reels. Although the handle isn’t large enough, we do like the rubberized grip which helps when the handle is wet. Counterbalance:  Good – no counter weight extra material balances the spool, Max Drag:  Strong enough, although you may have to palm larger fish – 2.5 pounds, Handle:  OK – not as good as others – no flare, Spool is cast, frame is cast (overseas) and “assembled” in the USA, Cheap feel in hand but still has decent performance. Reel seat has rivets instead of screws (shouldn’t loosen)? When you consider the price however, the Battenkill III looks even more attractive – it costs $180 less than the Sage Click, and $176 less than the Ross Colorado LT; a significant savings for comparable performance. Retrieval Sound:  Plasticky but pleasantly loud sound reeling in, Outgoing drag sound: Even louder out going plastic but pleasant sound. What this does is allow you to fine-tune your drag to get it exactly where you want it. From our experience once water gets through it will make the drag shudder and the reel will become much less smooth. At a glance the color coded range instantly lets you know where your drag is set. This helps with backing capacity but also makes it easy to reel up your line without micromanaging it (to make sure the line doesn’t all end up in the same spot, which could jam if not reeled on evenly). Spool to frame tolerance is perfect. While the Cheeky brand certainly appeals to a younger crowd, (with the two tone look and ski industry like marketing), I think older anglers would appreciate these reels if they give them a try. Your drag can back off to zero, causing your reel to freespool or backlash, or worse  add more drag pressure and break off a nice fish. Their bronze bearings are designed to self lubricate themselves with impregnated oil. Dried we have found that it is long and easy to find and adjust slightly louder metallic on. Cost a little more, it simply didn ’ t the best in performance or both “ palm ” Force. 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