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Newbie question: Reel to pair with a 4WT 8' Rod? Discussion
Feb 23, 2021 18:51:22   #
FS Digest
 
I am interested in getting into fly fishing. A friend of mine is upgrading and offering me his old rod. It's an ECHO Base 4WT 8.' I plan on using it almost exclusively for Northern MN stream trout and maybe bluegill or two. What's the best reel to pair with this rod for these purposes? I want to stay under $125 and have limited setup knowledge, so something ready to fish may help. Thanks for the help.

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by Boognishmn82

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Feb 23, 2021 19:12:36   #
Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA
 
I always tell folks whether they're starting out or experienced, the Orvis Battenkill is a great reel for smaller fish and lighter weight rods and lines. Your reel is mostly there to hold your line and the Battenkill is an extremely well built reel with a click and pawl drag that will get the job done for years and years. And you can get one for right around 100 dollars. I have one paired with a St. Croix 3wt. Perfect for Sierra trout.

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Feb 23, 2021 20:36:29   #
flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!
 
FS Digest wrote:
I am interested in getting into fly fishing. A friend of mine is upgrading and offering me his old rod. It's an ECHO Base 4WT 8.' I plan on using it almost exclusively for Northern MN stream trout and maybe bluegill or two. What's the best reel to pair with this rod for these purposes? I want to stay under $125 and have limited setup knowledge, so something ready to fish may help. Thanks for the help.

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by Boognishmn82


Welcome to the Forum, Boog. A fly reel is simply a storage area in which to hold your fly line while you are not using it. So, it really doesn't matter what you put on the butt of that fly rod.

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Feb 24, 2021 18:19:21   #
fishinphil
 
any real fly fishemen here use an auto wind flyreel?

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Feb 24, 2021 19:10:46   #
Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA
 
fishinphil wrote:
any real fly fishemen here use an auto wind flyreel?


I've got one around here somewhere Phil, but no I never use it. Don't know why not, it probably picks up the line and stores it on the spool just fine.

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Feb 24, 2021 19:15:32   #
fishinphil
 
i sorta remember when i was a youngster that i had a fly fishing outfit and the reel was spring wound to pick up the line. I caught a mess of sunnys with that set up and have it somewhere in the basement today.

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Feb 24, 2021 19:34:46   #
MtFlyTyer74 Loc: NW Montana
 
fishinphil wrote:
any real fly fishemen here use an auto wind flyreel?


I'm not sure I qualify as a "real" fly fisherman...I'm 75 years old and have ben
fly fishing for the past 65 years -- so at least I can say I am "experienced".

I have, and use on really small streams, a Pflueger President auto-reel...it works well
when casting short distances, or tight line nymphing. It (and most) auto-reels are
heavy, and impact the balance of the rod too much. At one time they were the
"cat's pajamas", now not to much. All my other reels are single action Orvis,
Redington, or Martin. As a previous poster stated...the reel is for line storage,
so chose what you wish.

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Feb 24, 2021 19:39:39   #
fishinphil
 
i meant the word to have spelled"reel" fisherman...but you give an insightful answer.

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Feb 24, 2021 19:48:34   #
TerryB Loc: Florida
 
Look for an old Heddon 320, or Pflueger Medalist 1495

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