Since I was talking a bit about reels, I figure I should let you know what I actually am throwing out there…
My primary bonefishing reel is the TFO LA 375. It is a good, solid reel with a composite disk drag. I used this on my last trip to the Bahamas (Jan. 2010) and had no complaints (and only compliments) on that reel. It retails for about $290.
I also have a Ross CLA that I tend to have my 9 wt. line on. I have not hooked that many fish on this reel and haven’t really given it a real test in the salt. It retails for about $230.
If I’m going lighter, I tend toward my Okuma Helios. It is the least expensive of the group and cost me about $173.
I’ve had two spectacular reel meltdowns… the first was a Redington, I don’t even know the model number. I was on Kauai and the drag just… well… stopped working and I couldn’t figure out why. I didn’t even send it back. This was bought about 8 years ago and wasn’t even a large arbor reel. I recall it doing well on the Babine River for big steelhead, but after 2 days in the salt it just crapped out.
The other reel implosion was a Cabela’s large arbor something-or-other that chunked out on me down in Mexico with a decent jack on the line. I landed the jack and tossed the reel. It was TOAST.
Recently I got to play with a Nautilus NV and Orvis Mirage down in Belize and both are just fantastic pieces of fishing art.
There are so many reels on my wish-list… that Nautilus was just damn sexy. My friend Shane loves is Galvan Torque 8.
The number one reel I’d like is probably a Zane Ti from Hardy… since it sells for $8,000. I’d like it so I can sell it and buy a Nautilus and a Galvan, a Sage Xi3 and Orvis Hydros and have enough left over to head to Andros South for a week (and leave a big tip).
- If you liked the story above, check out these stories below
- Okuma Helios Review (0.420)
Tags: flyfishing reels, Galvan, Nautilus, Okuma, Ross Reels, TFO, Zane Ti
$8,000 ??? Wow. I have been fishing Ross Canyons, 5, 6 and 12.
The 5 has a high pitch metal on metal sound when I have a larger fish running out a lot of line. Need to get back to Ross and have them look it over. There is a lot of great stuff in the past 10 years that is affordable in the TFO line…..rods, reels,……..I was part of a guide program so there was a real (pun) discount on the Ross reels…..and offer I could not refuse….
merry christmas to you and your family.
Cheer Chris, and you you and yours.
Eight large is a bit crazy, but I bet they don’t sell many of those… feels like a proof of concept kind of thing. There are a lot of affordable reels out there these days, for sure. I have to remind folks that people used to catch bones on Pfleugers.
My favorite bonefish reel remains my Galvan Torque 8’s. They remain as solid as the day I bought them. The purr of the drag is one of the sweetest sounds ever. I also use Okuma Helios 8-9, and though not the same solid feel as the Galvan, it nonetheless served me well for bonesfish as well as stripers, bonito, barracuda, etc. It is a LOT of reel for the price. I think that is what attracted me to it in the first place; a super lightweight design, quality drag, and awesome looks for less than $200.
I also use on ocassion G. Loomis East Fork 7-8 reels for 6-7# line but they don’t retrieve as much line per crank as I would have preferred plus that tiny wood handle is uncomfortable. Super smooth drag but not quite the reel I hoped for. I have the 9-10 but it is too big / heavy for bones. I suspect an 8-9 would have been perfect!
Happy Holidays all,
Glenn