yeah, but I haven't found a click pawl under 4oz for 5wt line...

how about a 4wt reel on a 5wt rod?

You could put a 5 weight line on a 4 weight reel, you just wouldn't be able to use as much backing.

I suppose click-pawl may be inherently a lighter design than a disc-drag, but there are plenty of reels out there with a disc-drag under 5 ounces. Personally I think a disc drag is better. (Even though it isn't needed much with the fishing I do, and the fishing it sounds like you are planning to do) If I had two reels of exactly the same specifications and one was disc-drag and the other click-pawl I would take the disc-drag any day. I fish a click-pawl though, just because I never ever use the drag so what do I care. The large arbor thing will kinda limit your choices a bit, but if you must have a reel under 5oz I think if you open yourself up to disc-drags you may find a few more that are out there...I spent $30 on my reel (After owning much more $$ ones) and have never looked back....It works just as good at storing line as a $400 reel :) It is about 2oz heavier though, and not a large arbor.

Edited by Cloudveil9 on 05/08/2009 12:18:53 MDT.

Ahhh, I see you want a reel under 4oz, not 5oz. Oh well...I will change my statement to say if you are willing to accept something 5oz or less, and accept either a disc-drag or click-pawl, you will find quite a bit out there.

I'm just torn, the majority of the fishing I'll be doing with this particular setup is medium to small rivers in the back country and alpine lakes. So between 6 to 16 inch trout on average. Maybe a few larger on the rare occasion. Since this will be mainly a pack rod I was trying to go as light as possible for the reel, but I am also really torn about the idea of spending 300+ dollars on a click pawl reel... I'm still looking, but if I can find a sub 4oz reel that's a 3 - 4 wt reel... I think I could live with that and just stick it on my 5 wt rod and rock some 4wt wf line... If it comes to it I'll be looking for a sub 5oz reel with a disc drag, Any ideas? I found a Ross Flyrise for $100 witha 4.8oz weight.

I'd prefer to save the extra cash that I would be saving by not buying the purist and buy a good reel for salmon fishing later this year. I can switch to a smaller shelter and bivy to compensate the extra couple ounces on fishing trips. I was going to be doing that anyhow.

First off, not sure I can suggest using a 4 weight line with a 5 weight rod. It will not "Load" the rod properly for any type of short casting. I wouldn't like it. If you must buy a 4 weight reel, put a 5 weight line on it and use less backing...

I have not researched every reel out there but check it out -

Scientific Anglers System 1 - ~$60 3.9oz
Click pawl, great for line storage, used it for many years. Drag isn't really good at all but...You probably won't need it...And if you do get "Caught" by a big fish use the palming rim. Not large arbor though but you'll live.

Scientific Angler System 2 - ~$100 4.1oz
Disc drag (And a nice one) Again no large arbor.

Orvis Battenkill BarStock II - ~$120 3.5oz
Same as above.

Orvis Battenkill Large Arbor - ~$200 4.1oz
Large arbor good drag $$$



System 1 and call it a day? :P

I'm sure there are a lot of others out there but these are just some off the top of my head.

Edited by Cloudveil9 on 05/08/2009 15:43:35 MDT.

sub 4 ounce, $60, I think I can deal with that just fine. Savings of $260 and add an ounce, pretty much what I need. I've been looking and most the cheaper reels I've seen were all above 5oz.

Edited by rooinater on 05/08/2009 16:48:16 MDT.

Well I ordered the Scientific Anglers System 1, @ 3.9 oz and $60 I couldn't resist for what I'll be using it for. Now I need to decide on a line brand... I know I'm getting 5wt WF,I just don't know which color/brand. Probably a more drab color than bright. Thanks for all the great info so far!

Edited by rooinater on 05/08/2009 22:06:49 MDT.

fly pole and reel are taken care of. (Cabela's 5 piece 8' 6" fly rod and Scientific Anglers System 1 reel) Still trying to find a suitable tube. The poster kits at Micheal's weren't carried at the store near here. I'll try another place or 2.

Edited by rooinater on 05/11/2009 12:03:30 MDT.

Bummer about the poster tube. About 2 years ago I picked up a couple of pack tubes at Joes (Outdoors) at one of their tent sales. They're even lighter than the one I got at Michaels. Since they are going out of business, you might try them. I'm guessing that since you are in WA you might be near one or two.

Fly pole? Shudder. :)

Earlier in this thread Michael Davis was kind enough to post a link to a thread on rod tubes. In that thread is a link to US Plastics. I just ordered some material from them to check it out. I made a 27" long tube out of the 1/16" thick product that weighs 6oz with end caps. It's nearly indestructable. (I can stand on it and it does not bottom out, though it bends a little) I am also pondering the 1/32" thick product to save half the weight...But it hasn't arrived yet. I'm not sure if it will be strong enough though, we'll see. By comparison the factory supplied tube weighs 12oz for a 4 piece rod.

Edited by Cloudveil9 on 05/11/2009 08:07:08 MDT.

I caught the initial link but missed the second one in the other thread. Generally I'm surfing mid day on my windows mobile phone which takes longer to load and read through link after link let alone html errors that happen to come along with windows mobile. I would like a case mainly to protect the eye loops while the pole is in the outside mesh pocket of the backpack or in transport to the trail head or in storage. I won't be planning on stepping on it, and plan on taking as much care of it as the rest of my lightweight gear. So I'll try the 1/32" tube since I really only need protection from slight bumps and scrapes since the tube will be on the outside of the pack. Thanks, for re-mentioning the previous post.