Cheap reel for my cheap Spey set-up

[caberguy]

Looking for a reel to go with my $40 on sale Cabelas TLr 13' 8wt rod. Going to be used mostly on the Milwaukee and Root rivers during the fall run (for now anyway). I'm thinking of picking up either a Okuma SLV or Integrity 10/11... leaning towards the Integrity at the moment. I've got the SLV on my single handed 8wt and like it well enough (other than a slight paranoia that I'll lose the drag adjustment knob). Any compelling reason to choose one over the other? Anything else I should be considering... keeping in mind that I can get either of them for less then $50.

Also wondering if there's a really compelling reason to use #30 or #35 backing rather than the #20 that I have a bunch of. I figure even with #20 the tippet is still going to be the weakest link by a fair bit.

 

[Kerry Pitt]

Unless you are fishing for very large fish there is no reason not to use 20lb. backing. The heavier stuff has a larger diameter so it takes less to fill in the spool.

 

[caseywise]

yeah, 20 lb. backing should be fine for your area.
as far as a cheap reel, whats your budget"
your gonna want something with some weight to it.
an old system 2 10/11 comes to mind

casey

 

[caberguy]

I guess my budget is pretty much as cheap as possible to get the job done at the moment. Since I pretty much bought the rod on a whim I don't want to spend too much to get it up and running. I'm also not in a particular hurry. I can get either of those Okumas for about $45... I'll watch ebay to see what comes up... System 2s, J.W. Youngs and maybe a few other things.

 

[tex]

Problem isn't the reel, its the spey line itself. $150 for the Rio Skagit setup with the MOW tips...ouch!

 

[fredaevans]

Problem isn't the reel, its the spey line itself. $150 for the Rio Skagit setup with the MOW tips...ouch!

Exactly.

"Also wondering if there's a really compelling reason to use #30 or #35 backing rather than the #20 that I have a bunch of. I figure even with #20 the tippet is still going to be the weakest link by a fair bit. "

Wrong call on the 20# backing! The internal of an 8wt line will usually be right at 25 to 30#'s so you need backing that's at least as heavy. You've got no bit deal if you hang up your leader, but you do have a very big deal if you hang up any part of your fly line.

 

[Rip Tide]

I bought a second hand but unused Medalist 1598 with an extra spool for $20
I think that you'll find quite a few of them around even though they're no longer made.
The SA System 2 reels aren't made any longer either but even still they're a little more pricy. My 10/11 was $100.

Don't confuse "cheap" with "inexpensive". "Cheap" is not going to hold up.

 

[caberguy]

Right, that's part of the "as cheap as possible to get the job done," obviously a piece of junk that won't work and doesn't have a decent drag won't get the job done.

 

[caberguy]

Well, I got a line. SA Mastery Skagit Extreme integrated 600gr, that'll get me going. Now I just need something to wrap it around.

 

[caseywise]

+1 on the 1598.
solid reels!


casey

 

[Rip Tide]

+1 on the 1598.
solid reels!

There's 3 for sale now, "you know where"
A 1498DA, a 1498CJ, and a 1598RC.
Surprisingly the 1598 currently has the highest bid

 

[caberguy]

I searched for 1598s last night and this morning and didn't see any... is a 1498 likely big enough?

---------- Post added at 09:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 AM ----------

Also, I strapped my biggest real on there last night (my Okuma 7/8) and added weight until it felt reasonably balanced, that seemed to come at a total weight of about 14.75 oz. Are any of these things going to be anywhere near that heavy when rigged up?

 

[Rip Tide]

The 1498 and the 1598 are basically the same except the 1500 series have an exposed rim. The spools are interchangeable.
I use my 1598 for my 11wt lines....

That 1598 that's for sale "over there" is mistakenly called a 1498 in the ad. You'd have to look to know the difference.
I like traditional look of the 1400s better anyway and if you modify the reel like I did to a couple of mine, the rim control isn't missed. :teef:

---------- Post added at 12:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 AM ----------

There's a mistake on the CJ too
The ad says its a 1498..... it's really a 1494

 

[lake flyer]

I use the 1498's and a 1496. I bought most of them for around $30.00 and sometimes they had extra spools. They work just fine for my spey rods but they are a little on the light side for balancing my rods. I have had no problems with the drags either. All of my single hand rods I use left hand wind reels but most of my Pfluegers are right hand wind. That took a little getting used to, but now I have no problem reeling with either hand. I use 30# backing, Varivas AIRS 36# running line, and Skagit flights up to 600gr. Here in the Great lakes the fish just don't have enough room to run real far.

 

[Rip Tide]

most of my Pfluegers are right hand wind. That took a little getting used to, but now I have no problem reeling with either hand.

With only a little effort, it's easy to switch from left to right or vice versa with all of the Medalist reels except the 1492 and the 1492 1/2 models
I could help if you want...... I have no problem with either hand myself... either

 

[mudbug]

I'm in the same boat and considering an Okuma Sierra 10/11.

I know the Okuma Sierra has a good reputation, but any ideas if it's heavy enough to balance the rod? Listed weight is 6 oz.

 

[caberguy]

I'm still hemming and hawwing a bit... I've seen the Sierra listed at only 6.0 oz for the 10/11 while the Integrity is listed at 8.5 and the SLV is listed at 9.7 oz.

 

[bigjim5589]

I'm still hemming and hawwing a bit... I've seen the Sierra listed at only 6.0 oz for the 10/11 while the Integrity is listed at 8.5 and the SLV is listed at 9.7 oz.

Don't know if it makes any difference to you or not, but both the Integrity & SLV are large arbor reels, while the Sierra is not.

I own several Integrity & Sierra reels, and IMO, for the price they're very good reels. I don't have any experience with the SLV's however.

 

[randyflycaster]

Okuma Cascade, a large arbor, and the extra spools are only 10 bucks.

Randy

 

[roadkill1948]

I've picked up some South Bend 1155's very cheap on ebay. They seem to balance well on my TLR, Echo and Deer Creek