mdk77 wrote:

On Aug 18, 2:03 pm, wrote:

On Sat, 18 Aug 2007 18:15:27 -0000, mdk77
wrote:




By next season I'm planning on adding an 8wt rod & reel to the 6wt I
already have. I'm going to build the rod over the winter (something
to keep me from losing my mind over the long winter months of
Illinois). This outfit will be for Bass & Musky. Also, this year I
fished Atlantic Canada for trout in an area that had good sea trout
and salmon fishing. I'd like to go after them with this 8wt the next
time I'm up there (I only fished for trout this year with my 6wt).

Between now and spring I'm going to keep my eyes open for a great deal
on a used 8wt reel. I'm on a limited budget so I'm going to take my
time and wait for a really good deal to come my way. My question is;
what brand/models of reels would be on a "short list" to look for?
Something that could handle Musky and Salmon.

I'm hoping to get a reel that will last me a lifetime, at a price of ~
$100 used. I could go a bit higher if I had to. This is a reel I'd
fish with 90% of the time (and I fish a LOT.....I even fish over my
lunch hour at work at a nearby lake..........and I fish two spring-fed
lakes that are short walking distance from my home (they're my "home
away from home" places)

Thanks for any help.

How old are you and when do you plan on dying? About the only
widely-available reel that has absolutely proven to last "a lifetime" -
assuming "a lifetime" to mean 30-plus years - and is readily available
for under $100USD is the US-made Medalist. Are there newer reels that
are shaping up to fit into a "last a lifetime" criteria? Yep, and in
about 20 years or so, we'll know for sure. OTOH, if you only plan on
living a year or two, any number of reels will fit, new and used, esp.
for freshwater-only usage. What you might luck into, or what you mean
by "a bit higher," could make a huge difference.

My favorite "modern" readily-available reel is the Tibor/Billy Pate, but
you'll really need to luck into one OR "a bit higher" will have to mean
"at least double" to fit your stated criteria. OTOH and IMO, a
reasonably well-maintained BP would last "a lifetime," even if you are
10 years old and plan on living to about 128.

TC,
R


I'm hoping I can get a decent price on a used reel if I take my time
over the winter and look. I'm hoping to find one for closer to $100,
but definitely less than $200. BTW, I'm 54 years old, so hopefully
I'll "last" a good bit longer......40+ more years of fishing would be
nice :-)

Here are some reels I've considered, but they need to be in the 8wt
I'm looking for. Is there a good place to look online other than Ebay
for used reels?

Here are some reels I've noticed that might be in my price range used
(if I can find one in an 8wt):
Scientific Anglers System-2 Series
Ross Gunnison G2
Orvis Battenkill Mid Arbor
Orvis Mach Large Arbor
Ross Cimarron Large Arbor (and the
I see Lamson reels on Ebay that are sometimes in my range (the
Lightspeed in particular)
Redington RS2
There's an Abel Big Game on Ebay now for $127

Or are all of these decent reels that if I can get one at a decent
price, would be a good deal?

A few comments on your list. If that Abel Big Game stays at that
price(ebay), most likely there's something wrong with the reel, or it's
a scam.

I've heard of problems with the initial Orvis Mach reels. I believe
there was an issue with the drag. I heard they fixed the problem. If you
go that route, make sure you get the updated model.

I'd stay away from the RS2. It's heavy, and like the Mach, it had an
issue with the drag. I think a bearing needed replacing/upgrading. It
has been discontinued for a while now, so service might be an issue.

I own a couple Litespeeds. Light, rugged, smooth drag, and reliable. I
did have an issue of some corrosion in the sealed drag area. Lamson
quickly fixed it, and for free. They recently updated the reel, so you
can find some good deals on the older versions. IMO, the "Guide finish"
is much more durable than the black/blue finish.

brians