Spey Reels - Cross posted from Main Board

[Joshw]

I am finally getting around to finishing up a forecast 11'6" 6/7 speyrod that I was building for Washington but in between starting and finishing the rod I somehow convinced my wife to move and found myself in Bozeman...so now the rod will be shifted to chasing the annual brown trout run up the Lower Madison and a few of the larger rivers around the area. I am taking a spey casting class next saturday through one of the flyshops here in town and they are going to have some reels/line setup to let me try on the new rod. My question is what are some good "inexpensive" reels to take a look at for this rod. I have a hard time buying a reel that is 3 to 4 times more expensive then the rod was to build. I currently have an okuma integrity 7/8 on my single handed eight weight that is collecting dust. I was thinking of using this reel and just picking up a new spool. I will start with a floating line and then possibly supplement it w/ tips further on down the line if I find the need. I searched throught the archives and found some recommendations in some previous threads about "inexpensive" reels for lightweight speyrods and the following reels were recommended:

Redington CD
Teton Tioga Magnum
Pfleuger President

I currently have both a redington and a teton reel and like them both. Never had a pfleuger but they seem to have a great following here on the board.

Thanks, Josh

[Banzai]

My personal choice would be the Pfleuger (I like the Medalists), but also own and use the Trion model mid arbor, and an Okuma Sierra 10/11 with multiple spools for my big spey rods. Inexpensive and dependable.

[Riane]

Josh, I built this same rod earlier this summer. I am currently using a Pfleuger Trion 1990 (9-10 wt) and casting a 7/8 SA short head as a floater. This line barely fits on the reel (but I like a lot of backing), but its a good, functional, inexpensive reel. I'm going to get a larger reel, either the Teton Tioga 12 or a Pflueger Trion 1912 (I don't have cash for expensive reels). This will probably overbalance the rod a bit, but right now I think overbalancing will help my cast, and I'd like more backing on the reel. But if your just chasing trout you might not need all that backing so maybe a 10 wt would work... Your Okuma Integrity 7/8 will not balance that rod or have the capacity to hold even a short head line, so I wouldn't even try. I would definitely reccomend the Pflueger or Tioga reels. If you want a really inexpensive way just to get going perhaps I could sell you my 1990 since I'm going larger?? But you probably want to try some reels to see what balances well for you.

As for lines there are a lot of people on this site that have built this rod, so try a search. I know the line I have is being used by others, as is the Rio Skagit 450. I'm a crappy caster; I can cast the 7/8 SA for a passable fishing cast about 70-80 feet which is all I need for now. I just picked up a Rio Skagit 450 that will be my line for throwing sink tips, but I haven't cast it yet.

Good luck!
Brian

[Joshw]

Thanks for the responses. I won't be buying any line for the rod until after I take the class and then I will have a better idea of what I will be looking for as far as line weights and different types of setups. Which will also help me decide on how large of a reel I will need.

Brain - I will probably get back in touch with you on the Trion if you are still thinking about offloading and upsizing.

Thanks, Josh