I’m looking to replace my fly reel which came as part of a kit. I’m looking at spending £50ish so the Greys GX500 would fall into that category. I will be using it for still waters but I would also like the reel for river use. The rivers I will be fishing are only small and I would probably need to get a 4 or 5wt rod aswell.
Here is my question: the GX500 spools are 4/5/6 or 6/7/8. Is it possible to put a #5 line on a 6/7/8 spool, alternatively is it possible to put a #7 line on a 4/5/6 spool? What are the problems with this?

Sorry for asking a very simple question but I’m still getting to grips with the basics.

Thanks

The answer is no. You must only load spools with the designated fly line. The spools are designed to take backing and the line and this will fill the spool. Try to get a 7# line on a 5# spool and it overfills the spool and coils off.
If you put a 5#line on a 7# spool it will underfill it which is unsatisfactory.

Thanks. Thought as much but wanted to be sure, guess thats two separate reels i will need to buy then.

Some reels are tight, some aren't.

Might be worth asking the shop to load one of your lines on to try it. Most shops I use would let you do this to see if it would fit.

As an example, I have a Greys GTX No.2 reel, designated as a #5/6.

I have comfortably loaded a PP #8 wf line on it with plenty of backing.

Smilarly, I have an #8 Barrio floater on a Caimore ascent #5/6 reel, albeit with not a huge amount of backing, but it's perfectly usable.

If it's trout you're after, you will rarely need a lot of backing.

__________________
Cheers
Don

A perfect solution to your problem.
I've used this reel and spools for lines between #5 and #7.

System 2 7/8M + 3 SPARE SPOOLS

Concentrate on what you have for a loch kit, I use 5/6 Okuma SLV reel with a 7wt forward and about 50 yards of braided (fireline in my case) line and can't fault them (usually about £40 or so each, spools about £20 each).

For a river kit, will probably be better dropping down to a 3wt rod (try a Shakespeare Odyssey Xt 7 ft 3 wt (£26 from John Norris) or Fladen Vantage 7ft 3wt, (£20 ebay) with a smaller reel (I use the 2/3 SLV for my 'medium weight' river kit.

__________________
Just My Tuppenceworth!!

Get two okuma airframe reels ? 4/6 and 7/9 great cheap reels

Thanks all. I have noticed the Shakespeare Odyssey Xt rods mentioned a few times on here as a good budget rod. Think i will loook into to one of those as well.

does anyone know any reels that i could buy for my sharpes of aberdeen gordan 2 7 wt

i want a reel that looks well and preforms at the same time
and will balance up my rod i reckon anywhere from 170grams to 190 grams will do fine!
i will be spending up to £100

Chaps, apart from IBM's System 2's which are such brilliant reels.

You are welcome to try one of the Cassette reels I sell which are designated as 6/7 size but I fish #7 and #8 lines and these are all I use.

£50 gets you a machined barstock reel and 3 spools with extra spools at £3 a pop.

Sorry, but no other cassette style reel I know of is as light and made from machined barstock aluminium and costs £50 posted!

I dont usually tag onto people's posts advertising my stuff but if you want a superb cassette reel that will do the job and do it well then give me a shout and I will be happy to help.


bests


Benjamin

__________________


**The SKB Website**


Tackle Essentials - Pliers, Snips, Pimps etc

Utterly Pimping Reel Porn


MrTrout's Furled Leaders


Help our Heroes



*Proud Sponsor of the EYFA and Pitsford Pirates*