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.
This +1If the fish is coming at you just stick the rod tip in the water to keep slack out and avoid getting tip wrapped.
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.you’d spend about 520 dollars and gain 1 inch of line per turn
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.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.
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).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.