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Post 22 May 2014, 14:08 • #1 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/24/06
Posts: 1507
Location: Beautiful View, WA
I bought the little 5'6" 1/2 wt Steffen from Marty that was listed in the classifieds, and now I have a problem: Finding a light enough reel to put on it. I have enough experience with such light and short rods to know that I want the reel to be under 3 ounces. I'm thinking one of the following or similar: Forbes Avon 2.5", Marryat Baby 1 (rare), Galvan Brookie 0/1 (light enough but slightly largish diameter at 2.7"). Anyone have one of those or comparable SUB-3 ounce reel? Or just suggestions? Thanks!

[This request in the Wanted section took on a life of its own, so it was moved to the Classic Fly Reels section. Tom]


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Post 22 May 2014, 14:35 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/30/11
Posts: 1231
Location: Fresno, CA
I'd go with a kineya cavous, it would match pretty good IMO. I'm using a cavous sliced (narrow version) on a 6'3" 1wt and it balances rather well.


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Post 22 May 2014, 15:32 • #3 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 05/30/07
Posts: 2342
Location: Arlington, TX
If you don't mind a modern yet affordable offering see the TFO BVK 0 clicker 2.1ounces and large arbor makes it one of the best choices out there at $160.00 retail.
http://www.tforods.com/fly-fishing/reel ... 35eXlIU_IU

Les


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Post 22 May 2014, 15:35 • #4 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/24/06
Posts: 1507
Location: Beautiful View, WA
Thanks for those two suggestions. I had forgotten about the Cavous. I had no idea there was such a TFO reel. I thought of two other options: Hardy Flyweight (duh, should've thought of that right away) and this little thing from Bass Pro: http://www.basspro.com/White-River-Fly- ... 290501111/


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Post 22 May 2014, 15:38 • #5 
Sport
Joined: 11/20/08
Posts: 80
Location: US-PA
How about an Orvis CFO II click pawl reel, 2 9/16", 2 oz.


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Post 22 May 2014, 16:10 • #6 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/24/06
Posts: 1507
Location: Beautiful View, WA
Ray, the II is that small in diameter? How little is the I? Or is this another case where the CFO changed size over the decades and it depends on which era reel we're talking about?


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Post 22 May 2014, 16:49 • #7 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/19/08
Posts: 2462
Location: Seattle, WA
A Forbes Magnesium is 2.5" and 2.2oz. Not too pricey either.


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Post 22 May 2014, 17:28 • #8 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/26/12
Posts: 1188
Location: Fairfax, Virginia
Hi Lugan ... I have several Orvis CFO I's ... they are 2 3/4 inches. The CFO I's were made after they stopped making the CFO II's.

Pecos


Last edited by pecosjuan on 22 May 2014, 18:57, edited 1 time in total.

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Post 22 May 2014, 18:25 • #9 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/30/11
Posts: 1231
Location: Fresno, CA
That little bass pro one doesn't look to bad actually, and I usually don't care about the BP fly gear.


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Post 22 May 2014, 19:02 • #10 
Sport
Joined: 11/20/08
Posts: 80
Location: US-PA
I was refering to the early CFO II reel with click pawl (ca. 1980's) which was the smallest size made in England by Hardy not the later CFO disc drag reel or the latest CFOs made in the U.S.
I listed one a few days ago in the for sale section with pictures.


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Post 23 May 2014, 17:18 • #11 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/24/12
Posts: 493
Location: Portland, Oregon
Consider a Martin MG3. Light, pretty, not too expensive and the clicker just makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Love them! Just my two cents.

David


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Post 23 May 2014, 18:21 • #12 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/19/08
Posts: 2462
Location: Seattle, WA
The MG3 reel is a great little reel but it has a 3" diameter and aesthetically it'll look too big on a 5.5ft rod. A little rod like that begs for a 2.5" reel.


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Post 23 May 2014, 18:21 • #13 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/19/08
Posts: 2462
Location: Seattle, WA
The MG3 reel is a great little reel but it has a 3" diameter and aesthetically it'll look too big on a 5.5ft rod. A little rod like that begs for a 2.5" reel.


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Post 23 May 2014, 18:59 • #14 
Emeritus
Joined: 12/19/12
Posts: 610
Location: Thunder Bay River Watershed
Featherlight, I'm surprised at you - are you dissin' a tuna can??? (insert stupid emoticon here...)

I don't know, I fish an MG-3 on my FF 605 (only 6" longer) and don't think it looks too big. Those little Martins (e.g. the entire tuna can frame family) look smaller than their actual diameter to my eye.

Of course, you don't need anywhere near the backing capacity of the MG-3 if you're actually going to fish a 2 weight on it.

Nick


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Post 23 May 2014, 19:10 • #15 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/19/08
Posts: 2462
Location: Seattle, WA
There was no dissin' on my beloved Tuna Cans. You'll give me a bad reputation with that kind of talk there Nick. ;) But I think when you go sub-6', a sub-3" reel looks best (to me at least).


Last edited by Featherlight on 23 May 2014, 23:24, edited 1 time in total.

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Post 23 May 2014, 19:12 • #16 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 07/05/10
Posts: 5229
Location: Mid Hudson Valley of New York
Maybe a Ryobi 255mg? A JA Forbes magnesium?


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Post 23 May 2014, 19:51 • #17 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
It's worth re-viewing
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=44127

I like the Marryat mr7 and LP 1 (disk version) both are a bit larger but light.
and while a bit bigger physically, a symploreel would work well and look really good.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17436


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Post 23 May 2014, 19:58 • #18 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/24/06
Posts: 1507
Location: Beautiful View, WA
I just got an Avon 2.5" in black. Thanks all for your input.


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Post 24 May 2014, 16:21 • #19 
Guide
Joined: 03/08/14
Posts: 243
Location: US-MO
Damn, was just starting to like this thread and it ended. FYI, I was just at Bass Pro and they had no UL Classics in stock, the guy behind the counter replied, "those little reels sale out as fast as we can get em".


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Post 25 May 2014, 10:28 • #20 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/30/08
Posts: 659
Location: Lincoln,CA
I looked at the little Bass Pro clickers also and they looked like a nice reel for the money. Orvis BBS1 is about as small as I care to use, would have been a good choice, too bad they discontinued them.

Mike


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Post 25 May 2014, 10:56 • #21 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 09/18/09
Posts: 5561
Location: Relocated to the Drought Stricken West.
Thanks to this thread, I started to look at Marryat's and there is still some MR7 and MR7.5s

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/auc- ... /10000404/
They were 50% off.

Shipping for me was about $30 and I bought two reels and two spools. I will let everyone know how it turns out.


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Post 25 May 2014, 13:25 • #22 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 10/26/12
Posts: 1188
Location: Fairfax, Virginia
Amazing that you can still get some Marryats ! They originally came onto the market like a fire storm ... with super smooth drags ... then fell out of favor almost as quickly ...

Pecos


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Post 25 May 2014, 13:33 • #23 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/30/11
Posts: 1231
Location: Fresno, CA
Pecos, now that you mention it you're right I remember my fly magazines had Marryat add every other page...

I'm wondering why they seemed to have just disappeared?


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Post 25 May 2014, 20:35 • #24 
Sport
Joined: 04/13/12
Posts: 86
Location: US-NC
My friend has one of these fly reels and likes it a lot on his 6' bamboo rod.
Ant king ALS1/2 fly reel with 2 1BB bearings 50mm.
I think they are a little tough to find though.


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Post 07 Jun 2014, 10:40 • #25 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 11/24/06
Posts: 1507
Location: Beautiful View, WA
Hey Folks - Thanks again for all your advice. I could've gone a few directions here, but here's the Forbes Avon 2.5" mounted on the rod in question. It balances well, looks good (IMO...YOMV), and of course those Avons function well. Such nice and simple reels, and a bargain at the going Ebay rate.

I took the rod out to the lawn for a little spin last night. I used a Rio LT WF-2 and it was "good". These little rods (again, it's a 5'6" 1/2 Steffen) must be so tricky to design. It was good with that line from 15'-25'. I might try a 2wt line with a little more weight near the tip like a Rio Gold. I think that will help the rod load a little. Even with the LT line, this will be a hoot on some of the puny little trickles in my area chasing 6" cutthroats (WA Cascades).

Image


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