Saltwater fly fishing reels

[PNWGATOR]

Where do you buy danielssons from?

You may have to purchase them directly from Danielsson in Sweden as I’m not certain there is a dealer in the States any longer.

 

[Fitzwho]

I use Waterworks Lamson reels in the past, but I am currently using Cheeky reels.

I just got back from fishing Hawaii and Christmas Island, Caught bonefish to 7lbs, triggerfish, and small Trevally all on my Cheeky reels.

 

[finner]

I've got a couple Hatches, but have a Vosseler on my 8wt that I love. Great reels if you can find them. Everyone should have a couple Redington Behemoths to beat up as well. They're cheaper than a tank of gas and they do fine in salt. I know a group that took two Hatches and two Behemoths to Christmas a couple years ago. Every reel caught multiple GTs, and they burned up one Hatch and one Behemoth. Heard great things about Nautilus but haven't fished them

My experience says stay away from Lamson, Cheeky, Ross and Abel.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I've got a couple Hatches, but have a Vosseler on my 8wt that I love. Great reels if you can find them. Everyone should have a couple Redington Behemoths to beat up as well. They're cheaper than a tank of gas and they do fine in salt. I know a group that took two Hatches and two Behemoths to Christmas a couple years ago. Every reel caught multiple GTs, and they burned up one Hatch and one Behemoth. Heard great things about Nautilus but haven't fished them

My experience says stay away from Lamson, Cheeky, Ross and Abel.

I have a redington behemoth on my pike rod, it’s actually a pretty decent reel, I suppose it would make a good backup to take on a trip.

 

[canyonhunter47]

I’ve gravitated virtually all of my saltwater reels to Danielsson for the majority of my saltwater arsenal. Designed, engineered and manufactured brilliantly. Incredible sealed drags. Simply perform. Wish they were louder!

Which models do you use? Looking to upgrade for an 8 weight that will see salt at least a couple times a year

 

[PNWGATOR]

Which models do you use? Looking to upgrade for an 8 weight that will see salt at least a couple times a year

HD11fourteen, LW8twelve and LW4seven

 

[Shinebox]

I ordered up a tibor everglades reel, now I need another one so my dad can take his pick.

Good choice...
Two weeks ago I had my Everglades sitting in the cockpit with the line stacked up while I made a short run between spots and it somehow ended up overboard. After I found it and I got home, I opened it up, sprayed it off with some fresh water and made sure everything was still greased up. Good to go. Tibor is all I ever fish between 8-12wts.

 

[Q child]

All big fly reels are crappy, in my opinion. Having said that, my recommendation is probably Hatch or Nautilus CCFX2. I prefer the CCFX reel over the NVG reel.
I wrote more of my thoughts about this in post #18 on this thread:

Newish Fly Reels

I’m looking for anyone that has had their hands on any of these newish fly reels preferably if they’ve been fished. I’m planning on picking up two reels from the list each with a extra spool. They will going on fast action 9ft single handled Rods TBD, 7wt and 8wt. Mostly being used to for...

rokslide.com

 

[Russp]

I have gone to all Nautilus reels. Hard to beat the CCF reels for the money vs some other reels out there. They aren't cheap but compared to a lot of high end reels they are quite a bit less.


I have fished them from Alaska, Hawaii, Christmas Island, Mexico to Louisiana without issue.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I have gone to all Nautilus reels. Hard to beat the CCF reels for the money vs some other reels out there. They aren't cheap but compared to a lot of high end reels they are quite a bit less.


I have fished them from Alaska, Hawaii, Christmas Island, Mexico to Louisiana without issue.

One of the reels I took on that trip ended up being a nautilus CCF x2 6/8. I fished it with a sage maverick 8wt and caught a bunch of bonefish with it. When I got back to AK I set it up for like fishing and caught quite a few fish with it. The drag knob is sort of annoying, it’s got like 7-8 full turns in it.

I also took a tibor Everglades for my Scott 9wt rod and landed a couple permit with it and I borrowed a hardy marksman x 10wt with a hardy fortune reel, that was the tarpon setup.

I’m planning on going on another trip this summer and just got an 11wt rod for tarpon, I need another reel, I’m thinking a tibor gulf stream or an Abel sds.

I’m sort of taking the tibor riptide off the list, I think it would be too tight with 11wt line and 175-300yds of backing.

 

[Shinebox]

One of the reels I took on that trip ended up being a nautilus CCF x2 6/8. I fished it with a sage maverick 8wt and caught a bunch of bonefish with it. When I got back to AK I set it up for like fishing and caught quite a few fish with it. The drag knob is sort of annoying, it’s got like 7-8 full turns in it.

I also took a tibor Everglades for my Scott 9wt rod and landed a couple permit with it and I borrowed a hardy marksman x 10wt with a hardy fortune reel, that was the tarpon setup.

I’m planning on going on another trip this summer and just got an 11wt rod for tarpon, I need another reel, I’m thinking a tibor gulf stream or an Abel sds.

I’m sort of taking the tibor riptide off the list, I think it would be too tight with 11wt line and 175-300yds of backing.

For a while I was running Pacifics on a 12wt for tarpon, which were nice for cranking down the drag towards the end to wear them out quick. I’ve since gone back down to Riptides and Gulfstreams on a couple rods. The weight savings is nice if the beach fish are being a PITA and I decide to go cast at rollers in deeper water. Depending on where you’re fishing you’re going to be chasing them down majority of the time anyways, but a Gulfstream will get it done on an 11wt no problem.

 

[Dos Perros]

Even the cheaper Lamsons have the same drag as their old Litespeeds. Damn fine reel for like $180. Maybe the salt versions are more. I have a Sage on my bonefish rod. I don't think reels are that important for bonefish.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Even the cheaper Lamsons have the same drag as their old Litespeeds. Damn fine reel for like $180. Maybe the salt versions are more. I have a Sage on my bonefish rod. I don't think reels are that important for bonefish.

I agree.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

For a while I was running Pacifics on a 12wt for tarpon, which were nice for cranking down the drag towards the end to wear them out quick. I’ve since gone back down to Riptides and Gulfstreams on a couple rods. The weight savings is nice if the beach fish are being a PITA and I decide to go cast at rollers in deeper water. Depending on where you’re fishing you’re going to be chasing them down majority of the time anyways, but a Gulfstream will get it done on an 11wt no problem.

Have you used a riptide with 11wt line? was it too tight? My everglades is about maxed out with 200yds of 30lb Dacron and a 9wt SA grand slam line.

 

[Snowwolfe]

I been using 9-10 wt rods and reels from Maxcatch for the last 2 years in Alaska.
Highly impressed. Inexpensive and durable.
Yes, made in China and shipped from overseas.

Fly Reels - MaxCatchFishing

www.maxcatchfishing.com

 

[Shinebox]

Have you used a riptide with 11wt line? was it too tight? My everglades is about maxed out with 200yds of 30lb Dacron and a 9wt SA grand slam line.

Not personally, no. I use my Riptides for 9 and 10 wt lines. Gulfstream takes care of 11 and 12 wt.
Riptide on a 10wt NRX is super fun when you hook a bigger fish than expected.

 

[307]

I been using 9-10 wt rods and reels from Maxcatch for the last 2 years in Alaska.
Highly impressed. Inexpensive and durable.
Yes, made in China and shipped from overseas.

Fly Reels - MaxCatchFishing

www.maxcatchfishing.com

Well that's something I didn't know. Makes me want to set up a cheap system to compare with my absurdly expensive combination.

Maybe I don't want to know.

 

[Ashy Larry]

I consider Tibor and cork drag Abel to be like revolvers….guaranteed to work. The super ported lightweight hot rods are more like the souped up glocks. When they’re working they’re great but they’re a little finicky and require some work sometimes.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Not personally, no. I use my Riptides for 9 and 10 wt lines. Gulfstream takes care of 11 and 12 wt.
Riptide on a 10wt NRX is super fun when you hook a bigger fish than expected.

I caught permit with my Everglades reel, it worked well. The tarpon I caught were on a hardy 10wt setup.

 

[Hunt_Jefferson]

I use a Lamson Remix 9 that I got off Sierra on closeout for my saltwater reel. Came with 2 extra spools for under $200. Same sealed conical drag as the lightspeed like someone else mentioned but I have yet to catch something really big to test it out. I do try to rinse it off after each time out but it's been dunked and in the sand with no issues so far.