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High Pickup Rate Reels 8wt/9wt

11K views 59 replies 35 participants last post by  Kingfisher67  
#1 ·
I'm looking for a recommendation for a reel that balances well with an 8/9wt with adequate line capacity and a high retrieval rate. Current reels' arbors (Orvis Hydros) just isn't big enough once into the backing.
 
#4 ·
The new Hardy Fortuna Regent would fit the bill. I have an 8000 and have fished the 12000 as well and both are really nice.

If you're wanting ridiculous line pickup on a 9wt I'd do the 10000 and load it with a little extra 30lb backing. If it's going on an 8 i'd stick with the 8000.

We reviewed the reel on our youtube channel you can see Here.

If you want to grab one from us use this Link

If you have any questions about it feel free to give me a shout.
 
#6 ·
I'm a diehard Tibor guy and fish an everglades on my 8wts and riptide on my 9's. I'd look at the spool diameter and anything with a large diameter than what you have will pick up line faster. Using gelspun or a hollow braid backing with a smaller diameter that what you currently have will also help. I'm guessing you're bonefishing or chasing bull reds and never had an issue with either with my tibors. If the fish is coming at you just stick the rod tip in the water to keep slack out and avoid getting tip wrapped.
 
#10 ·
If the fish is coming at you just stick the rod tip in the water to keep slack out and avoid getting tip wrapped.
This +1

I do this often as I use barbless hooks and often the "hooked" fish will run with the school which is coming straight at you. I loose the odd one but this techniques helps. The one's I loose is because I forget to do this move.
 
#9 ·
So the larger the diameter the quicker the pick up. All you have to do is look at diameter of reels and reference it weight of reel. Imo it doesn't matter what weights a reel is rated for, just find the weight and diameter that suits your needs. I got larger diameter reels fir my 11 wts and now use my abel sds 11/12 on my 9&10wts.
 
#11 ·
I looked up the specs on the Hydros and wouldn’t say it looks inadequate by the numbers.

I fish Tibor’s and the old school Abel BG series. The Tibor’s are my favorite, but the old school Abels free-spool like nobody’s business. Idk what fish is the culprit but the Abel 4N with the super or rapid retrieve spool is the permit reel for me.
 
#12 ·
Regardless… all fly reels are 1:1 ratios…so your orvis hydros sl IV has a diameter of 4 inches, while a loop opti speedrunner has a diameter of 5.15 inches(going off an 8wt spec here)….so if you sold your reel and bought brand new Loop Opti Speedrunner… you’d spend about 520 dollars and gain 1 inch of line per turn of the handle… and thats on a full spool. So down to your backing id assume the difference would be highly negligible

i feel like in a size range, fly reels are too similar in size for one to have a sizable retrieve difference over any other in like an 8/9 size reel category
 
#13 ·
you’d spend about 520 dollars and gain 1 inch of line per turn
This is incorrect. You are not wrapping line around the diameter of the arbor, in which case you would pick up an extra ~2" since you make a round trip. You are wrapping line around the circumference.

The circumference a circle is Diameter * Pi (using 3.14 here), so using the arbors above, a 4" arbor picks up 12.56" of line per revolution. Increasing the diameter of the arbor to 5.15" means you will pick up 16.171" per revolution, an difference of 3.611".

Total pick up also increases as backing is loaded on to the arbor so you actually gain even more because of the ratio between the starting diameters. Every four revolutions of the 5.15" arbor reel picks up almost 14 1/2" more than a 4" arbor.
 
#14 ·
You want high speed? This is your reel…..bonefish won’t have a chance. I have an 8 & a 10. Both paired on Scott Sectors and both 8’9” rods. The line pick up on these reels is really something.

 
#17 ·
The largest arbor 8wt reel is a Loop opti speed runner.
they are very smooth reels that take literally no maintenance. You can also customize the drag settings. I’ve been using them for 9 years, and love ‘em.
How are the drags on the Loop's? I have no problem putting a 10wt reel on a 8wt rod as long as it doesn't effect the balance or throw off the casting.
 
#19 ·
Part of the reason I'm asking is there are situations where throwing an 8wt/9wt will get more hookups than throwing an 10wt or 11wt. But the standard size 8wt/9wt reel is just too small to recover line as fast as I would like. If I am getting picky, having a "one turn" drag is also a plus.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.
 
#23 ·
I will even run a 9/10 Tibor signature on an 8wt at times.

I know many do not want to hear this but reel with your dominate hand… People freak out when they think of changing hands to reel, even though the fish is pulling drag and you can switch heads seamlessly… yet many of those same people have to change hands to adjust the drag because they only “tighten it enough not to free spool”. sigh
 
#24 ·
I am a big fan or the Nautilus in this range owning the CCF , X Max and NV . Never had a problem w speed and pick up for anything that swims in FL or the places I’ve traveled w the fly . I believe they are about to unveil a new reel which will be even better than the above - truthfully it can’t be anymore than an increment as these reels are all so very good .
 
#27 ·
If you are letting a fish on an 8wt take out 250yards of line you are fishing with the wrong equipment or the wrong technique for fighting a fish. That just doesn’t even make sense. You can’t go wrong with Nautills reels or any of the top fly reel companies but there are mulch cheaper choices that are good as well.
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#38 ·
If you are letting a fish on an 8wt take out 250yards of line you are fishing with the wrong equipment or the wrong technique for fighting a fish. That just doesn’t even make sense. You can’t go wrong with Nautills reels or any of the top fly reel companies but there are mulch cheaper choices that are good as well.
It is more a situation where the 8wt/9wt is the perfect 95% of the time, but then something big shows up and all hell breaks loose. You don't have time to switch to a heavier setup or you would miss the shot. I'm was just trying to find a solution that might work better in those situations (really, in all situations).

One example this year was fishing for 40-60 lbs. tarpon with a 9wt and then a 125+ shows up unexpectedly. Caught it on a 9wt--rod had enough backbone for the job--but the reel complicated things. I get that the any 8wt/9wt reel would be overmatched in that situation, so a big part of my question was recommendations for larger reels that balance well on 8wt/9wt rods. Similar issue sometimes with the big jacks when you are fishing in the summer for slot reds on an 8wt. Too much fun to pass them up. But who wants to throw a 10wt all day just in case something big shows up.

If the reel balances on the rod having the extra backing and pickup capacity (and potentially drag) will never be a bad thing. Or at least that was what I was thinking.
 
#29 ·
As mentioned the Lamson M8 is incredible,offering huge backing capacity and weighing only 5.5oz.
Also mentioned is the Ross 7/8 Evo Salt (albeit heavier at 7.5oz.) but it's identical and lighter sibling the Evo LTX (4.91oz.) is a viable alternative ..More importantly all of these reels have genuine sealed drags.If your pockets aren't that deep,consider the big value Taylor 7-9 Elemnt (4.75oz.) which also claims a sealed drag.Additionally all of these reels will accommodate 300yds.of 50lb.TufLine braid plus line.....and yes I have all these reels.No bad choices there IMHO.Good luck!
 
#33 ·
The retrieval rate is determined by the diameter of whatever amount of line is on the reel at the time. It varies from as small as the arbor diameter to as large as the useable spool diameter, which is smaller than the max spool diameter. The useable diameter is the fullest that the spool can be filled. This value is generally not listed in product literature. The Lamson Litespeed M8 has measured max spool diameter of 4.65, useable spool diameter of 4.40 and arbor diameter of 3.30. The Speedrunner has listed max spool diameter of 5.16 and arbor diameter of 3.50, but only 4# of max drag. The old Speedster 3.5 has measured max spool diameter of 4.40, useable spool diameter of 4.125 and arbor diameter of 2.77. Love the Speedster, but wish it had more max drag. The Litespeed has 12#, which is adequate for saltwater, and at only 5.7 oz, it has an impressive combination of impressive specs.