I'm after some advice / recommendations on a new fly reel. I've only been fishing for about 6 months and have been using a small Shakespeare reel which I think is responsible for the memory on my floating line when casting out. After reading through different catalogues etc, I've come to the assumption that I may need a reel with "a large arbor design". With a tight budget I'd say I'm only looking to spend about £40. Any ideas? Thanks, Spuggy

i use the vision koma reel, a bit higher than your budget at £60 but you get a spare spool with it. check on ebay you might get a second hand one at a decent price. it's a great reel with a decent drag on it the best reel in its price range imo.

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stevie

Have a look at the shire reels on sale here in the classifieds, from memory they are under £40 i have purchased 2 and would recommend them to anyone

Shire V-Spool Fly Reels

Best regards
Jim

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Tanta Stultitia Mortalium Est

Here's the reel I started with about 5-6 years ago and I sill use it as a backup.

OKUMA AIRFRAME LARGE ARBOUR FLY REEL #7/9 NEW | eBay

or with spare spools

OKUMA AIRFRAME FLY REEL #7/9 + 3 SPARE SPOOLS & CASE | eBay

or one that I use now, both good reliable reels

http://www.garryevans.co.uk/okuma-sl...eels-451-p.asp

Craig

Have a word with sunkistbob on this forum, he will put you right.
Alan

A large arbour reel will assist a little, but you'd be far better off spending your £40 on a good quality fly line with no memory.

I appreciate you haven't mentioned the make of your fly line, but I use a Scientific Angler's line on an Orvis Battenkill Bar Stock reel (which isn't "large arbour") and don't have any line memory at all.

Just my two cents worth.

I've learnt this the hard way. Get a reasonably CHEAP reel, and fill it with decent line. The reel is there just to hold the line.

I have 2 reels, and I really like the look of my expensive reel, but it holds the line just as well as the £9 cheepo reel I bought off ebay.

I also have no problems with line memory. My expensive reel is a large arbor design and the cheepo is not. I think the quality of the line is what matters.

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Theres nothing so gloomy, sad or drear. As to stand at the bar in a pub with no beer.

I disagree with carsick. The reel is not just there to hold line. When one jams on you when casting or playing a fish - you'll wish you had bought a reliable one.

I think that Shakespeare make great budget rods, but their budget reels are cr@p IMO. I have had several with problems with jamming and the drag breaking. They have cost me fish, time and several hanks of hair and very nearly my pb wild brownie.
I think that you are right to get rid asap but not, as trouttickler says, because of issues with memory. That's a problem with your line.

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

The BFR Modula 75 is a good reasonable priced reel .

My advise is to get yourself a large arbour reel. All these lines with no memory that people keep mentioning, and whatever they cost, tend to gain a fair bit of it when kept on standard arbour reels.