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Put me on that list as well. 😎👍🏼

Buying American is nice when it works, but it’s very tough. I bought a Dodge truck to stay American, opened the hood & it said “made in Mexico”. Had to buy a Toyota to get an American truck 😂

Another reel I have on my light saltwater rod that impresses me is an Okuma. I think this one was made in Korea, but I think they can be made in several countries. Not fancy finish, but very smooth and smooth drag.

All sorts of good stuff available. It doesn’t have to be expensive to work, a reel only holds the line and it doesn’t take much to do that.

As far as drag goes, you really don’t need it on trout rivers. Applying pressure on the fish with the rod and guides, will give you most of the drag you will need.

Abel makes a fantastic click pawl l reel, although they’re expensive.

Agreed. I’ve fished from s. FL to Alaska for many years & can count the times I’ve needed a drag on my fingers. On tarpon & redfish & once a big bass.
I want a reel to be light, smooth & look good. And there are tons of reels meeting those specs for good prices.

I might at the very least try one once……LOL.

If one wants to put a complicated reel to a true test, take it out steelheading on an icy 15° morning. Lots of drag systems totally lock up if any moisture works its way in.

Or tarpon fishing. A fight can last over an hour, and salt water does funny things to equipment.

I use Tibors down here in the saltwater but If I ever got into trout I wouldn't need anything like those. I bought quite a few of them when I was setting up back in 2003-2006. Still using them and they will likely last me my lifetime unless I run over one with my truck. Redfish , snook ,Tarpon and big Jacks will test your reel but seatrout aren't bad. Bluefish down here are smaller. I dont get into many Bonita where I am at.
Biggest detriment to your equipment here is the salt , sun and ceiling fans……

For big fish I have a Fin Nor that was my Grandfathers. He used it up in Alaska for Kings and I've used it for Stripers a couple times but doubt unless I go to Alaska again I have much use for it.

Hatch reels. Made in Vista, CA. Never had a issue while using them.

A nice fly reel is kind of like engraving on a shotgun. It doesn't do much functionally but sure is nice to look at.

yep. I have 2 lamsons over 20 years old I fish a lot in salt water

A lot of reel for the money

Nice drag on a fly reel isn't necessary, until it is.

Lots of lightly used reels like Ross and Galvan still perform at a much lower price point.

Yes, a line holder for our typical trout. When things get up to a dozen lbs or so in big rivers, a drag can come into play.

Down side: A wet drag in freezing temps may lock up and the big one gets away.

A huge number of posters here have fished with my gear here in AK... We need drags.

Sealed drags are absolutely needed in salt... a real good idea everywhere.

Very few upper end reels are not to be found in my kit. Riley thought it was child abuse to be forced to fish with a Hardy reel. Too loud, tough on knuckles, and uncool

Ross, including the newest are jokes, IME&O. Burned out drags on the first run on a lightly used reel.

TFO has been a huge, positive surprise. The BVK series (four examples) has been beaten brutally and came out grinning.

Sage, SA, some Hardy are good.

Lamson reels use the same drag, top to bottom models, and they work!

Bauer is a proven reel, period! Hatch is also a solid choice.

And then there was Lee Wulff who cast a fly to, and boated, a game fish (Marlin I think) - without a reel, or a rod. Silenced a lot of sceptics.

I agree...buy the one that balances your rod. I've rarely picked up someone's rod that was balanced properly, with the reel usually being too light. I fish mostly 5-7 wt rods with Ross Gunnisons on them, and typically use a G-4 on the 6 and 7 weights for balance, not line capacity. The 5 weights have G-3 reels. I've been happy with the drag on Gunnison reels and they are used regularly where I fish, with browns and rainbows into the 20 inch plus range on a meadow stream with lots of willows where they can run and disappear if they aren't slowed down. Tippets are in the 1-3x fluoro range depending on fly size.

As usual, it has now frozen over until April.

I like collecting orvis, hardy and older reels but never thought for trout fishing it was all that important.still have the Pluger and martin reels from 50 years ago when I started and yes they still work fine.

Have to agree with others that fishing for a smaller fish a drag is not needed but. Catching something over 10lbs you really need that drag unless you just want to play tug of war.

I got Martins, Bronson, Plueger, as well, had some for 60 years, (american made) still working K's of trout later.I also have expensive reels , as well as a cheap chinese reel , for trout fishing it just don't matter.