FishingBanter - View Single Post - Best reel under $100? Best reel under $50?

**daytripper** · December 26th, 2007, 03:11 AM posted to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly

On Tue, 25 Dec 2007 18:52:29 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

Also meant to ask: any opinions on either the G. Loomis Venture ($100,
with $60 spools) or the Orvis Battenkill Disk Drag ($85, but the
spools are only $35, which is nice)?

I have a couple of bar stock Battenkills with the disk drag (a II and a III)
and have used them enough to feel they represent pretty good value.

At the price you listed, you were likely looking at the cast metal versions. I
suspect they'd use the same drag system as their bar stock siblings, and the
construction would be pretty similar to my collection of cast CFOs, of which
I've always been quite pleased for their lightness.

Otoh, I've rarely subjected any of my reels to the Frank Reid Accelerated
Durability Test Suite, so if you're looking for value *and* extreme
durability, go with what works for Frank ;-)

/daytripper (but try not to do what Frank seems inclined to do ;-)