Saltwater reel

[turbineblade]

Hi - what is generally used for fly reels in SW fishing? All my stuff is FW at present, but I'd like to get into SW fishing this season.

I assume rods matter very little, just need a good rinsing in FW after use?

Reels though.....do people generally use SW specific reels, or just rinse out a FW reel? I have no idea. If so, any particular recommendation for a fairly reasonable SW reel for an 8 weight?

Thanks!

OH - and I have no intention of fishing for tuna or something offshore on a boat. This would be flats and "surf" fishing I guess you'd call it. Blues, bonefish, redfish, sea trout, etc.

[Rip Tide]

It helps a great deal if your reel is anodized, but I used a regular Pflueger Medalist in the salt water for many years and still use one occasionally
You just have to be diligent about keeping it clean and lubed.
I learned that the hard way of course, but it taught me well about taking care of my gear.

Sierra Trading Post has the SA System II 7/8 on sale. I have 3 of those reels and you wouldn't be disappointed.

A pair of my Medalists with custom drags

[Gerard]

Originally Posted by Rip Tide

It helps a great deal if your reel is anodized, but I used a regular Pflueger Medalist in the salt water for many years and still use one occasionally
You just have to be diligent about keeping it clean and lubed.
I learned that the hard way of course, but it taught me well about taking care of my gear.

A pair of my Medalists with custom drags

WOW! Bet that kept your finger nails short and tips polished!!!!

[mrfzx]

Many manufacturers label their reels for saltwater or not. As Rip said it is primarily a function of the finish. Some finishes will corrode very quickly when exposed to a salt environment. As far as drags, sealed is good, but not necessary as has been proven by decades of drag-bar style cork drags over the past decades.

No mater what reel you get, do not assume that a saltwater approved reel is maintenance free. Rinse after every use, and I have a personal policy of removing the line and backing for a good rinse after every 7 consecutive days of use, or 2 weeks, which ever comes first. A good line spooling-despooling set-up is indespensible IMO.

[ditz]

RipTide, you beat me to it. I have 3 Medalists that I have used in the salt and one of the Old SA reels that was made by Hardy. I prefer the Medalists and they will take the salt much better than the old "Hardy" too. I have not modified the 'drag' but one of these days I may regret it. 2 of the Medalists are the newer 1500 series models that have the exposed rim so the other drag modification is not really needed.

To answer the original posted question, I believe that many freshwater reels will work for intercoastal salt with proper maintaince. Salty models just need less care and some have better drags.

[pete a]

I carry a large spray bottle filled with a of 3:1 mixture of water & windshield washer fluid on every salt trip (regardless of tackle choice, fly or conventional).

After fishing we always remove the reels from the rods. Each guide & reel seat get a liberal spraying to remove any salt residue (seems so many worry about their reels and forget the rod).

The spools are removed so these and the inside frame of reel can be sprayed down. At home we strip all the fly line and run through clean water. Same for the rod & reel. Let all of this dry throughly.

All reels and reel seats are rubbed down with a old tee shirt soaked in CorrosionX. Use a old tooth brush with a bit of the CorrosionX to get in every crevice and around real seat. Bit of oil to the handle. EXTRA focus on your anti-reverse bearing, as NONE of these are Stainless Steel and are the first part to give you grief.

If you use extra effort on your gear suprisingly low end reels will work fine. During this time you can save for the the big $$ reels when you actually will fish for some of the real barn burners (tarpon & large pelagic fish).

Pete A.

[sweetandsalt]

What reel do you currently have on your #8? As above, any reel kept clean and lubed will work in light saltwater applications. However, a dedicated saltwater reel is not an up-sized trout reel as there is a fundamental difference in the way the drag is used. Trout reels are intended to protect light tippets and thus are focused on fine tunability and low inertial start-up of their drag whereas a saltwater reel utilizes a larger surface area drag design to put the screws to much stronger, faster, hard fighting fish. Sure the reel should be hard anodized but most reels are today.

[turbineblade]

Amazon.com: Okuma SLV Diecast Aluminum Fly Reel, 150/30, Light Silver: Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com: Okuma SLV Diecast Aluminum Fly Reel, 150/30, Light Silver: Sports & Outdoors

[sweetandsalt]

I know nothing about this brand other than the add says it is a casting rather than machined from bar stock construction. What is your budget for this 8-weight reel and what rod are you mounting it on?

[oarfish]

Originally Posted by Rip Tide

Sierra Trading Post has the SA System II 7/8 on sale. I have 3 of those reels and you wouldn't be disappointed

No you would not be disappointed with this reel and at a great price, I've got oly 2 of them.

As for the Okuma, they don't anodize cast reels, they apply some type of coating.