New Reel

[tire guy]

The search for a new reel has begun for the right reasons, big fish. I had a great day on the Clinch yesterday! I caught several fish with the smallest in the 16" range and multiple 20+ inch fish. The problem is my Sage 3500 reel relys on the personal touch for a drag, while it was loads of fun I eventually decided it would be more fun if I was not the drag cause with my sharkskin line I now have raw fingers. But very proud to have them. With this said I am considering a Lampson Lite speed or a Ross Evoloution reel. How about some feedback or other sugestions. Going on 5 wt 9' Sage z axis.

[Troutman]

Are you sure its a Sage 3500 reel? That's for a 9/10 wt rod and don't all the sage 3000 series reels have a sealed disk drag?

[tire guy]

You are correct it isn't a 3500 I made a mistake, it is a 3300. But there is no drag, I would love to be wrong, it would save me several dollars.

[silvercreek]

I just cup my hand and put my fingers on the reel rim for drag. Don't think I want a sharkskin line. Your about the third report I've heard of raw fingers.

[Carolina Boy]

Stripper fingers! 5 bucks @ LRO no cut fingers. I have 2 Lampsons and they withstood blistering runs from Bonefish, permit, seatrout, redfish, I think they can handle clinch river trout.

[ttas67]

I've owned the evolution and the litespeed. They're both nice, but I'd go with the litespeed.

[BuckeyeRick]

Definitely get the stripping fingers, whether you get the new reel or not. I just switched to Sharkskin and they should add a set with every reel of line.

Check out the reels offered by Elkhorn. I have the T-1 and the T-2 and find them to be outstanding reels at a decent price. The customer service was also excellent.

http://www.elkhornflyrodandreel.com/index.cfm

[gverholek]

I'm a Lamson devotee. I have four Velocities and a LP-3.5. They can take all the punishment and keep working smoothly. With the introduction of the new 2009 Velocity designs, the old models are going for great prices. Check them out.

[tire guy]

Thanks for the ideas. The stripper fingers sound like a good idea, cause I will not use another line. The sharkskin line has preformed better than any other line I hjave used, so I will be a candy with soft fingers and adapt with the stripper fingers. I am anxious to get down to LRO next week to feel the drag on the various reels.

[Lumber_Jack]

I have the new lamson velocity, they just redesigned them. I love it and have fought many 20"+ hogs in Montana with it. It has the same drag system as the litespeed, however if you can afford the extra cash the litespeed is lighter.