What reel would you have kept?

skyriver

skyriver

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Hi guys,
I usually avoid this forum because I already buy too many old reels. 😁 I do appreciate all the tips and info in this forum though. Truly, thank you.

So I figured I better contribute a bit.

I've bought and sold the following reels over the years. Many of them in the last 5 years. I have a couple I'd like back.

Which ones was I dumb for selling? Don't worry, I can take the heat.

Cortland Crown 3/4 + extra spool
Orvis Battenkill 8/9 + 2 extra spools
G Loomis Venture 7
Orvis LA VI
Thames 400
Thames 200
Hardy Flyweight (mint condition)
Pflueger Progress 1774
Redington Behemoth 7/8 (brand new)
Redington Behemoth 11/12
Olympic 4340 St Aidan clone
Roddy 34 St Aidan clone
Olympic 4340 Peacock edition St Aidan clone (near mint condition)
Alford 6078 St Aidan clone
Alford 3078 St Aidan clone
Eagle Claw EC LRH clone
Eagle Claw EC-11 LRH clone
Compac 330 Princess clone
Daiwa 720 Princess clone
Berkley 530 Featherweight clone
Cabelas Cahill 1 Princess clone
Sharpes for Farlow Grenaby style (post war) 4" probably a clone
 
The G Loomis Venture 7 was the first expensive(LOL) fly reeI bought, still have it and still love it, such a great $100 reel!
 
Hardy LRH with the two screw line guard and a spare spool. In really, really good condition. It kills me every time I see one. I sold 'em because they wouldn't hold a 6 wt and backing... Dude! It's for a 4-5 wt... I was an idiot...
 
Which one do YOU regret most?

Personally I'm partial to a more JW Young style reel, so I'd go with the Farlow (possibly even made by Young, I dunno). Then again, I've personally never been a huge fan of Hardys even though they seem to be all the rage for many bamboo folks. I also am not a reel collector...more of a reel user & abuser.
 
I have 3 of the Daiwa 720 in use now. Don't think I'd ever give them up..
 
Paige said:
The G Loomis Venture 7 was the first expensive(LOL) fly reeI bought, still have it and still love it, such a great $100 reel!
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That was a great reel for the price. The only thing that bugged me about that reel is it would literally reel in line just casting. The free-spin retrieve was a little too free. It was nice when you wanted to get all your slack line in though!
 
Dragon Mo said:
Hardy LRH with the two screw line guard and a spare spool. In really, really good condition. It kills me every time I see one. I sold 'em because they wouldn't hold a 6 wt and backing... Dude! It's for a 4-5 wt... I was an idiot...
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I love my LRH. Sorry man, hope you got something good for it!
 
clarkman said:
Which one do YOU regret most?

Personally I'm partial to a more JW Young style reel, so I'd go with the Farlow (possibly even made by Young, I dunno). Then again, I've personally never been a huge fan of Hardys even though they seem to be all the rage for many bamboo folks. I also am not a reel collector...more of a reel user & abuser.
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Without a doubt, the Olympic 4340 Peacock edition St Aidan clone. That thing was cool and had some good steelhead mojo.

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Randy, you would probably like the Thames reels. They were JW Young reels made for Thames Fishing Tackle Ltd. Sponsored by Muclin Brand? Not sure what the relationship was there, but they were cool. I'm just not a big fan and wanted something different. I find them a bit heavy for what they are.

The 200 Click Pawl-
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The 400 with drag. The cool thing was the spools were interchangeable.

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Wetswinger said:
I have 3 of the Daiwa 720 in use now. Don't think I'd ever give them up..
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I enjoyed mine. btw, you can put Hardy springs and pawls in them to make them even nicer for not much money. My 720 didn't have much spring strength left so was a terrible over-spinner. I put Hardy parts in it and it was a great streamer reel.
 
I have a JW Young that looks identical to that 400 reel. The difference is, mine is a multiplier reel. It reels in the line real fast. It is a bit heavy but is great as a trolling reel. You can get them on reel fast without the stripping mayhem..love them old school reels...
 
back in the day, JW Young made reels for a lot of other companies...wouldn't surprise me at all if they made something for LL Bean that was basically a solid workmanlike reel.
 
JW Young also made the 106M and 108M Sage reels. They made a ton of those styles for several tackle companies.
 
Hmmm...I have had lots of reels including many of those in the original list. No reel will be perfect in all aspects. Find one that is 'close enough'.

Once I found the Lamson LP series, not in your list, I have not bought any other reel ---> just more of them (both reels and spools).
 
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RCF said:
Hmmm...I have had lots of reels including many of those in the original list. No reel will be perfect in all aspects. Find one that is 'close enough'.

Once I found the Lamson LP series, not in your list, I have not bought any other reel ---> just more of them (both reels and spools).
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That's actually where I'm at with Danielsson. Just about everything is getting replaced outside of a couple of Medalists and a JW Young Beaudex.
 
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