Following on from another thread on rod reel balance,I noted the reel is a 7/9 and the rod a 9ft 6in.

Speaking for myself,I use a 5/6 reel for most of my fishing with 7 wt lines and a 9ft 6in rod.I feel it is perfect for me,it holds the line and enough backing to cover all my situations within fishing anywhere.Even with 8 wt lines they are fine also.

Many lines recommend using 75 yds of backing and in some cases I have seen upto 100yds which if we are honest is totally uneeded,how many times do you get right down or near to the reel knot with a fish( note trout,or boneys etc)Its down to choice I suppose but many do follow the number on the fly line box,when really they could be happier with smaller.

My main reason for using the 5/6 reel is I dont like the larger ones as they look and feel bulky for me.

Do you really need the larger reel and if so what for,?Im not on about salmon fishing mainly trout fishing here.

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Kevin

I went for a 5/6 reel on my 10 foot 6/7 rod . I have a 7# line on the reel and all is fine . The reason i went for a smaller reel was i didnt see i would ever need the 100+ yards of backing ( 50 more than enough ) Also a smaller reel keeps the weight of the whole setup down .

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Your fish ----> ><((((º> My fish ----> ><(((((((((º>
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Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

It's all down to personal preference. Say you put a battenkill 3 large arbour on your 9'6'' It just holds enough line but is large in size.
Or put a loop runner reel on my 10'-8# single handed rod it looks gigantic but it is just big enough in capacity.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

I agree Jim, I have a Battenkill 11 and I think it is rated at 3/4/5 and I have a #5 on it and only about 30 yds of micro backing.
I understand what you are sying Kevin, and I much prefer smaller reels, but manufacturers differ so much in spool capacity.
Another example is the Wychwood Ionica, sadly no longer made, I have a 3/4/5 and could easily put a #7 on it.
Horses for courses.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

For me, a larger reel with larger arbor loaded with plenty of backing reduces line memory, as well as time and effort when I need to get line back on the reel.

The Pirate.

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates - No pressure, just pleasure! Pip pip!

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http://www.flyforums.co.uk/fly-lines...unkistbob.html

I agree with what has been said but it can be confusing for those starting out and they are advised to go for the larger reels when really they would be better with the smaller ones,down to choice I accept,
Another thing which cropped into mee heed when reading through this was about large arbor reels.Bulky bulky things and designed to reduce memory in the fly line,But Do they actually do it?
Do they do it more than any other non arbor reels?.Personally with modern fly lines memory is low anyway on them so is it another gimmick to sell a product.
This is a genuine question with no other motive but could help people who choose reels.Having never gone down the arbor reel route myself is another reason for my question and those who have used both could help with an answer .

Jim and Mr trout you pair have too much money lol.

Fair point PP and I understand you mut have been typing same as me. cheers PP

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Kevin

But Stewart I thought memory wasn't a problem with your lines

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Me .I'm just good at spotting a bargain

Jim
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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

OK slightly off the track we are on ( but does have to do with the memory issue of line on some reels ) I dont use a large arbor reel so i find that as more line comes off the reel it has more memory , tighter coils . I find a way to get shot of this is to run all the line out behind my boat and open up the outboard , this gives the line a little stretch and takes its memory out.
Not much use to people that bank fish i know

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Your fish ----> ><((((º> My fish ----> ><(((((((((º>
__________________

Cheers Danny

Co-Founder of S.S.F.D 2010

Us poor retired folk have to be, eh Jim.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.