[plland]

I just got my Sage 00wt TXL this week and for a reel, I got an Okuma Magnitude. I did this mainly because I wanted a lightweight, inexpensive reel with a disc drag. I realize that there are lighter options, some with better drag systems, but I was able to find an Okuma Magnitude for $40 on ebay and after plopping down the $$$ on the TXL, I didn't have a lot left over for a reel. I figured, just like Frank said, even if the drag sucks it's still a lightweight reel, and I could use it on my 3wt TFO Finesse if I ever "grow out of it," or decide that it doesn't balance a sub-2 ounce rod very well.

I was pleasantly surprised with the Okuma, though. It weighs about an ounce less (lined up) than my Lamson Velocity, and cost me less than half of what it would have cost to buy an extra spool for the Lamson. It doesn't have as wide of a range of drag as the Lamson has, but the drag seems fairly decent, and easily adjustible, although I did have to do a little tinkering with it. At first I noticed that when I pulled line out, it wasn't smooth. The reel clicks, and with each click, the reel spool would jerk forward a little. This is not what I was looking for in a "disc drag" system and I could just imagine something like this as being a 6x-tippet-killer. I removed the clicker (simply done with a screw driver) and just as I predicted, the drag was much smoother without it--so smooth, as a matter of fact that I had to compare it again against the Lamson (the Lamson has a wider range of drag, but for what it has, the Okuma's drag ain't too shabby). However, removing the clicker also took away this reel's mechanism for preventing line from unspooling when drag is set to zero. So I made a little modification to the spring that holds the tension against the clicker. I bent it a little so it would hold the clicker more loosely against the teeth of the reel mechanism. The result is that it still clicks when I unwind the line, but the click no longer affects the performance of the drag (as far as I can tell).

Overall, it looks like a good reel, though I still need to get this baby on the water.

[tlcrep]

Originally Posted by Curtis

Teton makes one of the sweetest little reels I have ever seen for this size rod. Seems it is the size of a quarter (slight exageration) and smoother then any reel I have ever used. Not sure price point but worth checking out. I think in fishing super light rods which means super fine tippets, the smoother the reel the better. Drag is not a factor though this reel is disc drag.

I have one, and it is NOT SO SWEET. The tioga, the drag drives me insane!! The tension reeling in is matched by the tension that the drag is set on. Wasnt always like this, but didnt take long before it happened. And I have had my magnum spool fall off into the river like 5 times!! Have heard numerous other people say the same thing. One time it was waste deep in a major steelhead streem, what a drag!! Ended up falling in, almost drowning, and losing 2 system x boxes with about $400 worth of flies. Teton's magnum reels just arent worth it. As far as my Tioga, I guess it just needs to be sent in for servicing.

[ezamora]

just a quick note. teton also is tioga, but the tioga series is their cheaper models.

eric
fresno, ca.