Need an opinion on new reel

[Elk riverrat]

Nautilus FWX

[billyspey]

Originally Posted by Elk riverrat

Nautilus FWX

foot to big doesn't fit reel seat

[kentuckytroutbum]

I agree with The Principle, in that mid-arbor size reels are great. Two years ago, when my wife & I were in Maine, we went to the LL.Bean main store, and I bought a Double L mid arbor, and I have been happy with it. Its been stepped on,dropped, soaked, frozen and it always worked. The drag is infinitely adjustable. The mid arbors will retrieve line faster that the "normal" size. Also, the weight of mid arbor balances my 9 ft, 6 wt. rod right at where I grip the rod, so it feels "lighter" to me.

Any future reel will be a mid-arbor size.

Bill

[Stonefly]

Originally Posted by The Principal

I like the Orvis Mid Arbor Reels, but I read somewhere that Orvis is discontinuing them. Has anyone else heard this? I also read that they are discontinuing the Batten Kill Bar Stock trout reels.

What I read was that Orvis is discontinuing those models and replacing them with lighter reels.

I have several of the BBS and Mid Arbors, and one Large Arbor. The LA is lighter than a corresponding MA. I like the MA's but they're surprisingly heavy.

Steve

[ChemEAngler]

Originally Posted by Stonefly

What I read was that Orvis is discontinuing those models and replacing them with lighter reels.

I have several of the BBS and Mid Arbors, and one Large Arbor. The LA is lighter than a corresponding MA. I like the MA's but they're surprisingly heavy.

Steve

Stonefly,

I agree, the MA's are surprisingly heavy. I have two MA's and three BBS reels, and actually recently bought a BBS for my new 8 wt because the MA's were so heavy. Although, I have never really had any major problems out of my reels, I do wish I would have spent a little more money and bought a Lamson or Ross. I did get some grit into my drag system one time, and had to give the reel a good cleaning and lubrication afterward. A similar sized Ross or Lamson is probably 33% lighter than the MA, and they have a much better sealed drag system.

[ChemEAngler]

Just got my 2011 Orvis Catalog in the mail. The new Access Mid Arbor reels and rods are in there. It appears that Orvis made a few minor tweaks to the old MA reel drag system, and they just drilled out the housing to make it lighter. Now the weight appears to be comparable to other manufacturers, and the price point did not change by more than $10.