Fly Reel for Salt

[Finslap]

I was reading Gilly tonight and read a part on sea fishing Cutties, that the author says to make sure you get a saltwater reel. I'm thinking that this would include brackish water as well. I plan on fishing a trib that flows right out to the chuck for Chinooks, coho and cutties and would hate to ruin my sage 2550 (6wt) but my 8wt Redington, no prob as I plan replacing it anyways.

Your experiences and recommendations?

Thanks

[tbar24]

i had a sage 1880 and i liked it a first but then it started to rust from the inside out for the screws even tho it was supposed to be adaonized. i just got a snowbee xs for my switch and have used it once in the salt and no complaints, i will give you a long term report in a while, but im sure it'll be good

[Maverick]

my father has a gloomis venture 5 that was i dunno 100 120ish i believe, and i a plfeuger trion for 180 and both have had many days in the salt with no issue. patches on the site uses those greys grxi series and they come with 4 spools in total for 100bucks!!. awesome deal. and he really likes them and uses them in salt 2 with no issues. and looking at the site they say 7.99 for spools but alas i dont know in what countreys coin but nontheless your looking at 20 bucks or less fro extra spools. im thinking of switching.

[Islander]

I picked up a couple Amundson reels from Ideal Tackle just after the bridge on the Campbell River for $100 tax included. Had them for two years lots of salt time and I can honestly say that I haven' taken very good care of them but they still work great no signs of rust or corrosion.
Very happy with them, check them out.

[btree]

As usual, I'll shamelessly promote the Snowbee line of reels. I'm cheap, so I've gone for the XSD model which is black, but they have classy metalic ones as well for a few more dollars.

The drag on each is the same - solid, smooth and easy to crank up to stop big fish.

Oh ya, and it does well in the salt!

[ThaSandman]

Hey Mav

I just picked up a Grey's mrx-whatever reel (freshwater), and the four spools is awesome. The drag is JUST adequate - if you catch something bigger, it may light on fire (just being dramatic ). But I am kicking myself, because I wasn't thinking ahead at the time, and I didn't know I could have gotten the saltwater version for the same price - now I need a saltwater reel!

BUT - if I buy the saltwater version, I can use the spools for my freshwater in it as well, which is huge versatility. Unfortunately, they don't sell the cage by itself, or I would just buy that.....oh well....

[11th Warrior]

Hey Mav

I just picked up a Grey's mrx-whatever reel

Do you mean GRX, not mrx?

[SalaR]

My thoughts on reels is that of practicality and function...not so much with respect to "BLING!" For those with bearings in their reels ,maintenance is certainly needed on a regular basis in both Salt and Fresh waters. Bearings will crash and need to be replaced.Keep an eye on them... The Snowbee reels use a Disc Drag system without bearings,and have spent the $$ on the guts and not on the bling. The drag system is twice as powerful as a bearing system,more direct and less need for maintenance.Simple is good
All reels should be rinced after use..!

[Len]

I use a Ross Evolution, no corrosion issues yet, but I do wash it after each outing.

[ThaSandman]

Do you mean GRX, not mrx?

Yeah, that's the one. It's not the GRX-i though, which is apparently a bit better ($$).