[Alligator]

I am about to buy an 8 wt. rod and reel for a wide variety of purposes. In the short run, it'll be for bass here in the Upper Midwest, but I hope the long run includes bonefish and other saltwater angling. Perhaps Alaska.

I've decided on the Sage Z-axis 890. I love my Z690. I can cast the Z-axis where I usually struggle with anything labeled "fast."

But what reel? There are so many. I'm looking in the $300 neighborhood. It must be good for salt water. It must have a very good drag to accommidate any future use. It must be light to match the rod. Ideally, its spools will be reasonably priced. Also ideally, it should withstand moderate abuse.

Any nominations?

[Frank Whiton]

Hi Bart,

I had all kinds of suggestions until I saw the $300 price limit. With that price and fishing saltwater I think your best choice may be the Teton reel. The Teton Specialist in size eight fits your parameters. I don't know any reel that gives as much bang for the buck. They are Bar Stock machined reels with full cage frames.

Frank

[Joe D]

Alligator,

Check out the new Large Arbor Battenkill.

[mark schafer]

Switch to a TFO or Beulah rod instead of the Sage and spend the difference on a Ross or Nautilus.
Sorry for the breach of protocol, not doing a newbie post.
Mark

[Alligator]

Thanks to all for responses!

Frank, If I had said price was not a consideration as long as value was high, what would you have recommended?

Mark, I'll check out those rods if a local shop carries them.

Bart

[wfosborn]

Hi Alligator,

I'd have to recommend the Nautilus NV if price isn't a problem. A little more than the price you were looking at, but they are great reels. I just put one on my #6, and I'll be replacing my #8 reel with one as soon as I can afford it. Fully sealed drag, impervious to just about everything and pretty light. The drag on them is very impressive, I've been using my #6 for catching salmon and the reels been great for them. I've also put mine through some pretty good abuse in the short time I've owned it and it's not showing any sign of it yet.

--W

[Frank Whiton]

Hi Alligator,

Well wfosborn beat me to it but the Nautilus NV is a really good reel. The Ross Momentum, the Tibor Everglades and the Bauer MacKenzie Extreme are all good choices. I should also include the Abel. Based on performance and price you would not be disappointed with the Nautilus NV. I recommended it to wfosborn and you can see he likes his.

Frank

Nautilus NV


Ross Momentum


Tibor Everglades


Bauer MacKenzie Xtreme

[mark schafer]

Originally Posted by Alligator

Thanks to all for responses!

Frank, If I had said price was not a consideration as long as value was high, what would you have recommended?

Bart

Tibor,Hatch,Loop,Nautilus,Ross,Harris(older),Bauer ...oh yea Hardy.

MS

[Pocono]

For saltwater and 8 wt., I'm a big fan of Lamson's Litespeed 3.5. I used it on my 9' 8 wt. Redington CPS for bonefish this spring in the Yucatan and it performed flawlessly for 5 days. The drag is very good and very steady and the reel, in my opinion, can handle all the salt water that you can throw at it. I also changed spools several times while standing in the water; fishing for different species. It's not a reel that's in the rarified atmosphere of some of the others that have been mentioned by other posters; all of which are fine reels, but, again in my opinion, it's a solid reel that will perform well on an 8 wt. (and on a 9 wt. as well / I used their 4.0 for my 10 wt. rod - again, with very good results - with the drag set very high, it stopped a 5' barracuda dead in it's tracks after a big aerial strike while trolling). It will also keep you in your $300 bracket and the spools are reasonably priced.

Big Cliff recommended the Litespeed to me back in the early spring and I haven't been disappointed in it, not even a little bit.

[BlueDun]

Also, check out the Bauer Rogue. Light weight, bar stock aluminum, sealed disc drag, and lifetime guarantee.