What size reel to match up with 8wt switch rod

[Terry C]

Just purchased an 8th wt TFO switch rod and trying  to figure out what size large arbor reel I should put on it.  Maybe some of our spey guys can chime in.  thanks in advance

[Richard Farino]

Plan on upsizing 2 line sizes as far as capacity.  Look for a 10wt reel-capable reel.

 

 

R

 

 

Richard Farino

Urban Angler VA | 108 N. Washington Street  2nd Floor | Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 527-2524 | fax: (703) 527-3313 | ric...@urbanangler.com

--
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/-/D58vtgivp_0J.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
 
 

[Eric Y.]

This is good advice, if not possible on the lower end, depending on the reel you're talking about. I put 6wt switch line on a somewhat recent (5 years old or so) Orvis BBS IV (7-9wt) I had laying around. Before I broke down and bought a bigger reel, I was having to wind the line juuuuuuust so to get it all to fit.

 

On Friday, March 22, 2013 3:42:50 PM UTC-4, Richard Farino wrote:

Plan on upsizing 2 line sizes as far as capacity.  Look for a 10wt reel-capable reel.

 

 

R

 

 

Richard Farino

Urban Angler VA | 108 N. Washington Street  2nd Floor | Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 527-2524 | fax: (703) 527-3313 | ric...@urbanangler.com

 

From: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com [mailto:tidal-potomac-fly-rod...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Terry C
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2013 3:13 PM
To: tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} What size reel to match up with 8wt switch rod

 

Just purchased an 8th wt TFO switch rod and trying  to figure out what size large arbor reel I should put on it.  Maybe some of our spey guys can chime in.  thanks in advance

--
http://www.tpfr.org
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders" group.

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-rodders+unsub...@googlegroups.com.

[Daniel Davala]

I go the opposite route and keep the reel as small and light as possible for a switch rod.  The whole point of a shorter/lighter two-handed rod for me is to keep it, well, lighter.  Especially since the balance point on a two-handed rod is most likely toward the top of the upper cork, so a lighter reel will balance it nicely.  For example, I use a Mirage #3 on my 11' 7-weight and the balance is perfect. 

 

To make up for the lack of capacity, I back the reel with Gel Spun (GSP) backing.  I don't prefer the super-thin stuff in the 30# range, so I use a rounder braid in the 50# class, which is still a bit thinner than 20# Dacron. 

 

For comparison's sake, the Mirage #3 is 3.5" in diameter and only 4.8oz., and it's rated for single-hand lines in the 5-7 weight class with approx. 125 yards of 20# Dacron.  On it, I can fit 100yds of 50# Gsp, 100' of .024 RIO Powerflex running line, a 24' 450 grain Skagit head, 10'-12' tip, and 3' of leader.  That's 146 yards from arbor to fly, which is a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG WAY!!!!!  Capacities increase even more if you opt for a mono running/shooting line, but I don't prefer them. 

 

I know we all like to think we need a minimum of 150 yards of backing, but in 99.9% of the occasions we'll encounter with a #7 or #8 switch rod we simply don't.  In the other .1%, it is not likely that 250yards would have sufficed.  Sometimes, you just won't win. 

Regardless of shop or brand preferences, I recommend you visit a few local shops with your rod and hang a few reels on it to find the feel and balance YOU like.  We're all happy to help! 

 

Enjoy the hunt for the perfect reel,

 

Dan Davala 

 

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tidal-potomac-fly-...@googlegroups.com.

To post to this group, send email to tidal-potoma...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/-/nRmuwqyarPMJ.