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Automatic Fly Reels - Question

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B52 bugger

Automatic Fly Reels - Question

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Posts: 203

07/22/08 09:17:30

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I think I'm getting better at fly casting with age. Fishing in a 12 ft canoe, fish slow glass and fast graphite rods, I find myself casting tight loops and over shooting my targets. Therefore the need of weedless bugs. They land in the tree, on piers, in lily pads and weeds. I like they way they drop in the water and the hungry bass is on the bug. I don't have big spool reels. I did have an automatic reel when I was young but people convinced me they were no good especially if you got a big bass saying they would be fighting the drag of the spring. So 95 % I am fighting with the fish with the line and not spooling on the reel.

I'm thinking of going back to automatic reel just to get the line off the floor of the canoe. What are you thoughts? Do you use an automatic Reel and what are your experiences???? Thanks AJ

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pearow

#1

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Posts: 438

07/22/08 13:06:20

Master Guide

excellent idea; especially with the old glass rods that are traditionally tip heavy; the old automatics balance the outfit and you you get less arm fatigue, even though the weight is 8-10 ounces more; I think when they made the automatics they had poppin bug fishermen in mind. We use to "scull" our boat with one hand and cast with the other, thus making line management almost impossible without an automatic. I fished with my Dad when I was a young lad and this was how he fished; scull paddle in his left hand rod in his right, sitting on the very front of an old wooden flatbottom; he could do this all day long-p-

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Cornmuse

#2

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Posts: 272

07/24/08 03:24:03

Registered Member

I fish an automatic quite a bit.� I have a Garcia 710 that mates with a Garcia 8' 6wt and bb taper line.� Perfect for smallies, panfish and small largemouth.� I also recently purchased a new Pflueger automatic for $29 at Bass Pro.� I highly recommend this reel for glass rods in the 7 to 9 wt 8' to 9' range.� It's heavy enough to balance, easily holds the line and a little backing (that you'll never see on a fish) and is very, very well made for the money.�

FWIW, I'd fish an automatic for even the largest largemouth, especially if I'm fishing from a canoe and it a lake with lot's of cover (perhaps not so much for deep, clear western reservoirs).� A bass, even a 10lb fish, will never run out 100' of fly line.� The automatic reel poses no real handicap and the ability to take up the line quickly with one hand is very useful.� For $30 its worth playing around with.� I'll be doing an article on automatics later this summer.�

Automatic in action...

Joe C.

"Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit,
and resign yourself to the influences of each."

- Henry David Thoreau

Visit www.flyfishohio.com for great fly fishing and fly tying articles, the "Adventures in Fly Tying" monthly video podcast and the "Adventures in Fly Fishing" monthly audio podcast. The Midwest isn't a place you fly over to get to good fishing - it's right here in our own backyards. Think globally - fish locally.

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dave potts

Automatic Fly Reels

#3

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Posts: 44

07/24/08 11:37:15

Registered Member

Nice outfit. Nice bass. Nice video. Takes me back to fond memories of the 1960's.

Dave

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B52 bugger

#4

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Posts: 203

07/24/08 13:00:15

Registered Member

Thanks for sharing - now I need an automatic reel. Amen

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JeffSod

#5

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Posts: 650

07/24/08 14:49:31

Registered Member

I haven't used mine this season but I have a Martin automatic that has worked pretty well for me. The Mitchell Garcia is one I would like to try sometime.

Last Edited By: JeffSod 07/25/08 10:30:37. Edited 1 time.

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BassYakker

#6

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Posts: 287

07/24/08 15:34:16

Registered Member

IMHO, automatics are unfairly treated for reasons unknown to me. And in a canoe or kayak, one hand operation is a good thing.

But, I have to admit that I put fish on the reel (I guess it is a carry over from saltwater fishing) and prefer single action reels. But I have no qualms about hitting the water with an automatic either.

Last Edited By: BassYakker 07/24/08 15:50:18. Edited 1 time.

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bill0215

#7

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Posts: 451

07/28/08 17:13:29

Master Guide

can be picked up on e bay but usually cost more than a brand new I'm a big fan of the pflueger 1199. It is a work horse, strong enough for Carp, bass and pike. The pflueger holds 30 yards of 20 lb backing with 8 WF line. I've fished the Garcia Mitchell 710, my opinion is that it is not as durable as the 1199. Although the 710 allows for spool changes. The 7101199. A fun reel if you can get it is the Bronson Royal matic. Occasionally it appears on e bay & it holds more backing but is not able to take abuse from power fish like carp.
Bill

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pearow

#8

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Posts: 438

07/29/08 03:42:44

Master Guide

I have several of the South Bend Orenomatics(1130) and a shakespeare(1837). How does the pflueger, the garcia and the Ocean city compare weight-wise to the shakespeare and the south bend? I am looking for a lighter automatic. The ones i have generally balance an 8'6" to 9 foot rod, but theyre too heavy to balance an 8 foot rod-p-

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waynebh.fiberglassflyro...

#9

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Posts: 39

07/29/08 11:40:45

I find the automatics ideal for balancing heavier fiberglass rods and as other have stated they work great in a canoe or kayak for keeping the line in control.
I have Garcia 1430, Bronson Royalmatic, and a Heddon Daisy. I'd rate the Bronson king in beauty and capacity then the Daisy with the Garcia bringing up the rear on looks and capacity. The Bronson will hold a wf10 without backing, the Daisy and Garcia maybe an wf8, I've got wf7 on both right now to match the rods I use them on.

I fish exclusivley from a kayak and I find them very helpfull on line control especially once it gets dark.

Waynebh

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B52 bugger

Got the reels, hope to test tonight

#10

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Posts: 203

08/04/08 06:41:36

Registered Member

I got a Shakespeare and Perrine, feel like fun reels. Putting them on 8 1/2 ft Shakespeare rod. Say a prayer for no thundering and lighting and light or no breeze. Amen

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bill0215

four automatics - pflugeher 1199, perrine 81, bronson royalmatic & garcia mitchell 710

#11

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Posts: 451

08/04/08 09:30:38

Master Guide

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Wee Hooker

#12

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Posts: 404

08/04/08 11:26:26

Guide

My experience ( although it was a long time ago) with automatic reels has not been good. I always found tha they either jamed 1/2 way through the line intake or didn't have enough spring tension to get all the line spooled. Mine also had ZERO room for backign and coiled teh tail end of my fly line badly. Maybe I had a bad one who knows.
However, I feel your pain. Based on some experimentation (and a tip from a Dave Whitlock Video) I've made my "go to" bass reel" has been a 3;1 multiplyer. It behaves like a normal reel but only requires a 1/2 dozen cranks on the handle to get the line spooled and the fish on the reel ASAP. The reel I use ( Martin MG72) is inexpensive , a bit heavy ( a god thing on a buggig rod) and has a GREAT salmon fishery inspired disk drag ( which occasionally gets teested once the fish is on the reel) and allows for fast spool changes on teh ocasions i want to fish a sinking /sink tip line. . There are other multiplyer reels out there at varing costs that are worth a look IMHO. ( BTW: The Martin 10 is basicly the same as the 72 minus the disk drag. Those go drit cheap on Ebay.) hth

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Cornmuse

#13

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Posts: 272

08/29/08 08:12:06

Registered Member

How does the pflueger, the garcia and the Ocean city compare weight-wise to the shakespeare and the south bend?

The 1837 Shakespeare is a perfect match with my 7' 9" 1380T - both in color and weight. This is a great 6/7wt outfit. The Pflueger 1199 is heavier and very well built for a reel I paid $30 for brand new at Cabela's just this spring. An excellent reel that is a very good match to 8'6" or 9' glass like my Garcia 2404. The 710 Garcia is a nice reel, I like the spool change capability. I'm not as crazy about the reel and for the $60 to $70 they sell for on eBay I think they're overpriced. But I got mine for $20 with a spare spool, so I'm not complaining.

I'd not consider using an auto for any fish that might show me backing. Backing on these reels is to make the connection to the arbor only - the spring simply won't allow a large fish to run that much line without binding or slipping. If it slips (the 710 is designed to do this) then you need to wind it up to continue to retrieve line - a real feat if you have a good fish on. That said, when was the last time a largemouth took you to the backing

Automatics are really good for warmwater bass bugging, so good I'm surprised they've fallen so far out of favor.

Joe C.

"Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit,
and resign yourself to the influences of each."

- Henry David Thoreau

Visit www.flyfishohio.com for great fly fishing and fly tying articles, the "Adventures in Fly Tying" monthly video podcast and the "Adventures in Fly Fishing" monthly audio podcast. The Midwest isn't a place you fly over to get to good fishing - it's right here in our own backyards. Think globally - fish locally.

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Rockthief

#14

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Posts: 24

11/15/08 19:50:43

I have a Shakespeare Truart I think it is called. Anyone wants it let me know. I will gladly pay the postage. It is just sitting in a drawer. Works okay far as I can tell.

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Rockthief

#15

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Posts: 24

11/18/08 18:16:39

Rockthief wrote:
I have a Shakespeare Truart I think it is called. Anyone wants it let me know. I will gladly pay the postage. It is just sitting in a drawer. Works okay far as I can tell.

mailed it to a new home today.

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