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Post 29 Jun 2022, 09:51 • #1 
New Member
Joined: 06/23/22
Posts: 3
I haven't fly fished in about 15 years. I pretty much taught myself from old Joe Brooks books with a Cabelas 3 forks fly rod and a vintage Medalist reel. I mostly fished in creeks and ponds for perch and bass even though I live 5 minutes from one of the best trout rivers in the country. I'm getting back into fly fishing and am going to target the trout more now. I broke my fly rod years ago and just started spin fishing more after that. Along the way, I've picked up some old used fly fishing equipment and that's how I ended up here. Some time in the last 15 years, I picked up a St. Croix double power fly fiberglass fly rod. Doesn't have any weight designations. I picked up another old Medalist reel and an Orvis Battenkill made in England. I just picked up a new Eagle Claw FL300, 8 ft 5 weight that has got me really wanting to start back fishing. I know it's a cheapo, but I really like it. Here is my question:

I'm really liking the Battenkill Fly reel and would like to know if it would pair up with the Eagle claw 5 wt? It is an old Orvis Battenkill Mark IV and most of the searches online say it is a 7 or 8 weight reel, however I have found some old literature online that says it is an "up to 7 weight line reel"? I'd like to add 5wt line to it and use it on my 8ft 5 wt Eagle claw. I don't think the reel weight would be an issue since it is magnesium, however, would I need to add more than 100 yards of backing with 5 weight line?
I have the rod and the reel, just haven't bought any backing and line for it yet? Thanks in advance.


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Post 29 Jun 2022, 10:43 • #2 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 07/11/14
Posts: 1784
Location: urban Colorado
backing is cheap.. yes, would need quite a bit of backing for a 5wt line on that reel. I have a Mark III which holds a 6WF line comfortably with 80yds or so of backing. Buy a 250yd spool of Dacron backing and put on what it needs.. as you say the reel is light enough to use with a 5wt rod and line, and it's not very large so won't look odd.


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Post 29 Jun 2022, 11:44 • #3 
New Member
Joined: 06/23/22
Posts: 3
Thanks!


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Post 30 Jun 2022, 20:57 • #4 
Master Guide
Joined: 07/21/21
Posts: 447
Location: Florida
Hi Jec,
Great choice on fly rods, I love that Eagle Claw but use a 7WT line with it, AirFlo Bass line. That rod is not a 5wt, in fact I have even used a Scientific Anglers Mastery Bass Bug 8wt with it and the rod was not overloaded. I’ve got a Pflueger Automatic paired with it and it is a great bass rod in these Florida Swamps that costs under $100 total and is a hoot to fish.


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Post 01 Jul 2022, 03:32 • #5 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/24/11
Posts: 1144
Location: Belgium
Yes, the eagle claws tend to be under rated - as in it's better to overline them. Battenkill is nice. It might be a little on the light side but that's never an issue as you always have the option to ballast it with a few turns of lead wire/ lead core.


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Post 14 Jul 2022, 19:14 • #6 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
I’m guessing you’ll be fine with a Mark IV in that rod. For the record, my old Orvis Far & Fine 5 weight outfit came with a Mark III. Since that 7’9” rod is probably quite a bit lighter than your 8’ glass rod, I’d guess the Mark IV would balance well with your rod.


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Post 15 Jul 2022, 21:34 • #7 
Master Guide
Joined: 03/20/07
Posts: 849
Location: US-TX
Sounds like a fun set up !

Welcome!


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Post 19 Jul 2022, 12:47 • #8 
New Member
Joined: 06/23/22
Posts: 3
Thanks!
Another quick question. I've noticed on the battenkill, the Spindle( think that is the proper term) is loose, and causes the spool so wobble some. Can this be tightened?


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Post 20 Jul 2022, 08:05 • #9 
Piscator
Joined: 08/10/05
Posts: 19078
Location: downtown Bulverde, Texas
Shame for such a great reel. I would contact Orvis and/or Bill Archuletta about possible repair.


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Post 22 Jul 2022, 04:57 • #10 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 12/05/06
Posts: 2089
Location: US-PA
Jec69 wrote:
...I'm really liking the Battenkill Fly reel...I don't think the reel weight would be an issue since it is magnesium, however, would I need to add more than 100 yards of backing with 5 weight line?

I have a couple of larger reels I use on long bamboo rods with real silk lines which are thinner than plastic lines of the same weight. As a result, they require much more backing to get the same reel "fill."

Since they are trout rods and I really don't need that much backing, I use 30lb Micron backing instead of the usual 20lb.

Just a thought...


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Post 22 Jul 2022, 11:40 • #11 
Master Guide
Joined: 02/07/18
Posts: 428
Location: US-MA
Welcome to the Board and to fiberglass fly fishing. I have that same rod and think it does nicely with a 7wt line, although a 6wt DT line would do too. It is a heavier rod, so a larger, heavier reel would balance it. I have bought some 30lb backing for just the situation you describe. Typically, I would use 30lb on 7/8 wt and above, but to fill up a reel and take up space it works fine. I have not gotten into the backing in freshwater.

The 6'6" model of that Eagle Claw Featherlight is a fun inexpensive rod too if you want to get a 4 or 5wt outfit, but it is a short rod probably best suited for smaller water. What size Medalist do you have? I picked up the 7' recently and it was labeled a 4wt, but it is definitely a 5DT or even a 6wt rod. The medalist if it is a 1494 would be light on the rod, but it would be doable, but might seem a bit tip-heavy on the hand (it does to me). I have a 1495 that I use with the 8' EC rod.

That St. Croix may work well with a 6wt line - you may want to give that a try too - I have a couple of new to me Cortland Pro-Crests that some surmise are built on St. Croix blanks and they typically fish better with a line on the lower end of their weight designation (i.e., 5/6 fishes well with a 5) and the FR2000 5/6 seems like it could fish a 4DT line very nicely.

Have fun!


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