Honestly one of my favorite reels is an old tuna can Martin. Its got a big enough spool capacity to load 120 yards of 12# backing and either a WF1F or a DT1F. Just about what it takes to turn and tire a decent fighting fish in a confined area like a nice little stream or creek, or winter river low flows.
Heres one of my little favorites a little 61 tan tuna can Martin with an Orvis DT1F reel weighs just under 3 ounces
as you can see on this longer 7 1/2ft 1wt Orvis rod the balance point is at the tip of the grip. Although for me
personally a DT1F on this rod is a poor choice, this longer rod likes a WF2F much better, she's good for 40-50ft
precision sight casting with that combination.
Same rod with a little Medialist 1492 1/2 this is my favorite reel with that rod and shows almost perfect balance
fully loaded, the simple click drag allows me to control all the added resistance by fingering the line and the angle
of the rod producing the needed constant drag to turn and tire the fish.
Im fishing this combination with a 1-2 wt 5ft sinking furrled tapered leader and a 2 1/2ft 1# tippet
Next would be my shorty 2wt Orvis, this time its only 6 1/2ft, however coupled with a Ryobi 255 Magnesium
reel its really a perfect balance This rod likes the DT2F or WF3F lines in my hands
again great balance on this combo
This is a little Okuma SLV 23, balances nicely, with the added advantage of being able to adjust the drag by a finger
on the spool rim. This is a neat little rig the line is a WF3 F/S Orvis stripper (4ft sinking head) works perfect on this
combination for me with a 5ft 3-4wt sinking furrled tapered leader and again a 1# tippet. This is actually my favorite
combination with this rod.
Ok, heres another line I like with it an older Lee Wulff TT2I
Now comes my heavy artiliary, the 3wts.
My back pack rod, not expensive but works well, a Damon Royal 6ft 3wt 4 piece
Another little Ryobi 255 Magnesium, this time with a WF3F and a spider (skater) for some dry fly action
Finally my long gun a Sage DS2 386 at 8 1/2ft, coupled with a Redington CD 3/4 reel and a DT3F
This rod will cast way our and buck some winds, both with the DT3F and another of the Orvis mini Stripper lines
this time a WF4 F/S stripper with mini sinking tip
here are a few more of my spare reels that I put in the bag when I go out, first the vernable Orvis CFO II
And a couple of Orvis Large Arbor I's as well
Ive found that at least using the 1# tippets, that the lack of setting drag saves alot of broken tippets. So often
I will be fishing the little inexpensive Martin's or Medalist's however once I shift to heavier tippets I like the more
expensive reels with good adjustable drags and brakes.
However that leads right back to what are you fishing for and what's your tippet like?
Of all the ultra lights Ive owned or fished, one stands our as my all time favorite, the 2005 Sage TXL 00wt at 7ft 10 inches. I first handled one when our
local Sage Pro Shop here on the lake got one as a demo, set up with their line designed just for this rod and their 3100 click and pawl reel. After a couple of
hours fishing that demo I bought a whole outfit. Today both the rod and reel are discontinued. My son now has that sweet little combo as his one and only ultra
light outfit. But then if you can have just one, why not have the best one. Frankly its the first rod that Ive fished that was true to its line rating, while
its a special performace line designed by Sage just for the rod, never the less you can really let fly on a windless day.
Ive a bunch of other slightly heavier reels, but they are truely better suited for 4wt rods however all of the above will easily balance any of the rods you
see shown above.
Richard
