Suggestions for Lake Erie Steelhead Reel

[ezpickins]

My dad's looking to buy a reel for Great Lakes Steelheading - he asked what I would suggest. I wasn't sure.

I have a Pflueger Summit that I've been using for steelheading - it's okay but the drag adjustment knob is slippery and hard to use when it gets wet (or icy). So I really wouldn't recommend it.

The price range would be say up to about $150.

Thanks

 

[David]

g loomis Ventue reel for 'bout $100...
great reel for the price. great quality, good looking, love how it sings!

 

[albatross]

I have a graphite/plastic reel on my 7 wt steelhead rig right now and I've been kicking around the idea of upgrading the reel for next fall. I've spent some time considering the options, and if I were buying right now I would buy an Okuma Helios. You can get one from e-bay with shipping for right around $150.

Check that, $135 with free shipping. link

Mfgs. site

 

[StudentofTheStream]

If you're looking for a fantastic reel for less than $100 that is light with a great drag I'd do some internet searching for an Okuma Integrity 7/8. New they go for 80-90 bucks I think but you can find them on ebay for much less. Poor Richards in Erie also had them in their case for 65-75 the last time I was there.

Also check out ebay for the discontinued Lamson Velocity Hard Alox. I picked up one for my 10 wt for $160 but I've seen the 7/8 model (3 or 3.5 for 8/9) for about $130.

Also the Teton Tioga reels are very nice with a good drag system in that price range.

Those are my suggestions for you. Good luck and remember ebay can really be your friend for higher priced reels.

 

[PennsCreek]

I second the Okuma integrity. I got that this year with my first steelhead setup and it performed great on my first trip.

 

[Blackfly]

I have a Ross Rhythm. I have a few Ross reels (really like them). Some of them can be a bit high in price. The low end up to the high end reels - they are all nice reels.

 

[ErnieBall]

i have the okuma helios and it does just fine for me

 

[AlwaysWading]

I love my Cabelas SLA, I have it in three different sizes. We hit the Lake Erie tribs for steel head four times a year and we average 20 fish per day per person on most trips, so that reel takes a beating. Even on not so good trips we still will bring no less than five fish per person to the net.

 

[jayL]

Loomis venture on my 9wt, and I'm going to pair my 11.5' 6wt with a cabelas prestige plus II. I'm pretty sure that the prestige plus will be ok when coupled with the longer rod.

As for the loomis, it's been great. david's dead on.

 

[FishOnCamp]

I have a Lamson Velocity on my 7wt and my brother fishes a Lamson Radius on his. Both are nice reels with a great drag system. Lamson seems to make some kind of change to their reels each year so you can find good deals if you don't mind a year old model.