You can find good deals on Lamson Velocity and Litespeeds right now for less than a new Guru. Looks like new versions are coming out soon so they are discounted.
Great question, and I can tell you I owned them both. First I will be fair and say that you are dealing with apples and oranges. One reel costs 100.00 bucks and the other well over 250.00. With that said, I did not like the Echo Ion for reasons that the drag squealed badly, and was very annoying. Whenever you would strip line you would get squeak squeak squeak. When I jumped up to the Guru, I was very impressed, at the craftsman ship, click volume, and drag. However, I doubled my cost to get there. The ION will surely land fish for you too.
I have fished Ion, Guru and Velocity and liked them all. I started with the Ion and moved up to the Guru, only reason was I found one cheap also the same reason that I went from the Guru to the Velocity. I was fonder of Lamson only because they felt like more of a reel but to tell you the truth all reels landed fish without problems. I wish I stopped with lamson and never fished a Hardy
x2. Classic reel. Have heard positive comments about the new (Korean) models as well. May in fact be better machined than the English models. Blasphemy I know.
Echo Ion can't be beat for the price. Also, you might look at Allen's large reel offerings. They have really cleaned up the issues that presented when they first came out. I would purchase either with confidence.
Another vote for any of the Lamson models. I have a couple Gurus and some of the older Konics and have caught Steelhead on both. Id check out the Lamson Velocity right now and pick one up on Clearance, cant beat getting that for 40-50% off!!
Lamson..........they are great reels, made in the NW. They are great to deal with and great warranty. The clutch/bearing is easy to switch lhw to rhw. Also you can carry an extra for trips as that is about the only thing that goes wrong with the reel.
See, and I'm opposite. I prefer to NOT use a reel's drag and it seems inconsistent and cause the rod tip to jump which can break tippets. Even if a reel has a great drag, I prefer to use my palm to control runs. My hand hasn't let me down yet. (don't read into that sickos!)
I think all my steelhead reels are Hardys. They must work pretty well. Been using them for 40 years. I do have a few others, but they've never gotten much use. Except for the custom Shamburg I've been using the last couple years. But it's not a rational choice.
I use several reels for steelies and on none of them do I set the drag any tighter that just to prevent over-run. This year, I'm fishing primarily with a Young Beaudex. Great reel...I'm really starting to enjoy reels without a rim control more and more. IMO, it helps me feel more connected to the fish (a combination of shorter glass rods plus that Beaudex). I also recently picked up a Valentine 95 (basically a Medalist on steroids) for both steelhead and any saltwater stuff that a 8/9wt is required. The one other reel that I really enjoy is a Hardy St. Aiden clone...there are multiple companies that put these out, mine is a Daiwa. Great reel and one of the loudest that I've ever heard. Last year I used a Hardy Marquis but ended up selling it off as it was redundant and I liked the other reels better (yes, even the Daiwa).
I use several reels for steelies and on none of them do I set the drag any tighter that just to prevent over-run. This year, I'm fishing primarily with a Young Beaudex. Great reel...I'm really starting to enjoy reels without a rim control more and more. IMO, it helps me feel more connected to the fish (a combination of shorter glass rods plus that Beaudex). I also recently picked up a Valentine 95 (basically a Medalist on steroids) for both steelhead and any saltwater stuff that a 8/9wt is required. The one other reel that I really enjoy is a Hardy St. Aiden clone...there are multiple companies that put these out, mine is a Daiwa. Great reel and one of the loudest that I've ever heard. Last year I used a Hardy Marquis but ended up selling it off as it was redundant and I liked the other reels better (yes, even the Daiwa).
Cool. I have been considering fishing a glass one hander. My shoulder have really improved recently and the idea of fishing one handed more is appealing. I can't see giving up the double to fish tips in the winter too much, but really need to do it for dry line fish. There is a smaller stream that I'd like to fish with glass for summer fish. Additionally, I could see using it on a couple of the smaller streams I fish in the fall.
My shoulders have been bad for so longI have essentially given up trout fishing etc. I could see using it on smaller peices to ease myself back into casting single handers. You gotta love how you can feel a glass rod load. Landing fish is also a joy, as I recall.
What other things do you like about steelheading with a single hand glass rod? What parts do you dislike?
Thanks Randall. I need to build the glass blank that I have for next fall.
Last year I fished with a couple of Canadians who were atlantic salmon fishermen and had only fished steelhead a bit. They fished singles w/ JW Youngs where everyone was swinging double handers. They did quite well. It looked like a hoot.
Do you have a fighting but on your glass road to 2-hand easier. I've thought it may be easier to teach 2-handed casting to my daughters than single, but maybe I could do both w/ a 9 foot 8 wt glass w/ a butt.
It sure is nice to have a flyfishing conversation here .
You'll notice that there is a wrap of tape above the cork. I got impatient waiting for my cork to drop-ship from Portugal and put a temporary handle, on because I wanted to fish it.
That fish took about half my backing. Oh yeah--getting the thread back on track. The reel was a St Aiden knock off (3 3/4''). I have another reel same size that fits a 400gr Skagit and 150 yds. of backing.
X2, at these prices they're cheaper than a Konic or Guru; though I prefer the 3.5 for sub-12' rod. Have 8 or 9 Lamsons and all dead-ass sturdy and service is the best. Hardys are nice but way too much $$$$ for what they are, the old Young, Beadrueax or similar click/pawls are much better value.
The other reel I use is a SpeyCo circle spey. Great reel and it is nice to know that a guy made it for me in his shop in Wisconsin. Those reels are tough and reasonable for what they are.
+1 for Speyco.
Handmade in Green Bay, WI by guy that has been swinging flies for 20 years. Click & pawl with a lifetime, transferable guarantee. Rock solid reels. Can't beat 'em. Many options are available for your customization. You will pay more than $150, however.
I just ordered a Skandi model in silver/black with the snake roll handle to pair up with my TCX 7112. It should be here in about a week.
I have a Ross CLA 5 for sale in the classifieds. Unused with backing and running line. The CLA is a solid, no frills reel with a legion of followers. Good bang for the buck.
I have the Daiwa (720, I believe) badged version of that. Solid reel for very little coin (I think I paid $40 for mine or something along those lines). It has a pretty large capacity with a very solid check.
I have an olympic and roddy badged verson. I think each one has been right around $40 shipped. I did have a pawl shatter on the roddy, after multiple LARGE Chinook ate my steelhead flies. I'd like to see if I can find some replcement guts from a st aiden.
second for speyco. made by one dude in the us of a. completely bulletproof.
disc drag reels for steelhead are kind of gay. i mean really, what are you going to do with your other hand anyway?
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