Heading To The Dark Side

[DonAndersen]

Folks,

 

Need some advice. Looking for a reel for a 9 wt. Graphite rod that I will be using for some pike fishing.

As pike rarely pull any length of line, a long backing is not needed. I intend to use a 9 wt. pike taper on te rod.

Looking to spend <> $200 or less. Need a reel where I can acquire a spare spool.

Any suggestions?

 

catch ya'

 

 

Don

[SilverDoctor]

Oh Don you break my heart, please say it isn't so!!!! No Bamboo?

TFO would be a good bet for that price point. Piking on the fly can be fun.

[bcubed]

Lamson Konic.

[Muffin]

Pike on a fly, hmmm sounds interesting.

[Current]

I second the Konic at that price point.

[DonAndersen]

Guys,

 

Thank for the advice. Will look into both the TFO and Lamson.

 

&

 

Silver Doc

No fear about the bamboo use. They are still the preferred weapon for trout. The graphites shine for pike, suckers and loading my outboard.

 

Regards,

 

 

Don

[FlyFishingEMT]

It may be the dark side but it sure can be fun. I hooked a pike on a perch imitation popper I got at the fishin hole a couple years ago. On the first take the pike scared me so bad my hook set was a little too aggressive and I missed him so I quickly roll casted the popper back to where the pike rose and he grabbed it again then broke me off a short while later. Until that day I had never been a fan of fly fishing for pike or fishing for pike in general. I used to always tell people a guy can go out and catch 10 trout and go home without smelling like fish but if you catch 1 bloody pike you smell like fish for a week! Now my views have changed and I figure its ok to smell like fish every now and then.

[darrinhurst]

Also look at the Orvis reels. Both the Access and the Hydros are in and around that $200 point. Hydros a bit above and Access a bit below. I have the Access reel on both my 5wt and my 6wt and have had 0 issues with either.

[SilverDoctor]

Piking with a fly rod is a gas, Way too much fun.

[screaminreel]

Sage 1880 is a good one. $139 and sealed drag. Also a Teton 8LA or 10LA. Have to go to Ebay for those though.

[Gaffer]

Hardy Ultralight. I have owned these and some TFO reels, including the BVK reel and the Ultralight outshines them by a mile in my opinion.

 

A

[DonAndersen]

Folks,

 

My thanks for all your help. I put the list together below. Lots of great suggestions

I was surprised that Allen or Okuma didn't make the list.

 

Regards,

 

Don

 

 

TFO, Lamson Konic, Orvis - Access & Hydro, Sage 1880, Teton 8LA @ 10 LA, Hardy Ultralight