Fly Reels
Scott, have you caught any fish on your Lamson yet. The reason I'm asking is I want to know what the drag inertia is. My SA system two L sucks. Whenever a fish runs, the reel overspools regardless of the drag setting, and I'm stuck with trying to overcome a lot of slack in the line.

I could palm the reel but would rather not burn or bruise them.

Tyler, guess you'll have to wait! I can assure you that the Lamson won't have those problems though, its a solid reel, and I did my research.

Scott

Tyler,I'm not sure if this is your problem but I have the same reel, SA system 2 L... I found mine a little light on the drag ...I made an adjustment inside to tighten it...much better now...forget which way the adjustment works, but if you look at it you'll see how to change the range from heavy to light.
I used it on Coho this fall with a 6lb tippet and it did not overun..actually got a few on Kilby beach

Frank

Tyler,

I think you may be a little in experienced in the concept of a salmon or steelhead reel. The concept is not to let the drag do the work but your hand. Leave the drag loose and palm the reel with your rod hand not your free hand. Use your free hand to manouver the rod. Lots of guys in the know will tell you this puts a hinge in the rod but that is just an old city wives tale. The reason the handle is set inside the outer edge of the spools is to allow for this type of drag. Nothing beats the drag created by a hand that knows the fish. Variable drag put on the fish means a shorter fight and more landed fish. Only an absolute rookie relys on his drag to put fish on the beach. Hope this helps.

Wow, I never considered any of that. Thanks for the tip. I'll definitely give it a go next time I catch a fish worthy of drag control. I can't imagine it would be too easy to fight the fish in my left hand while I palm with my right but I'll practice it.

Tyler,

I assume from your reply you reel left and your rod hand is your right. In any case it works both ways. Wrap your hand around the reel seat and onto the spool from the front laying your fingers on the rim. When reeling, reposition your rod hand slightly to gain more leverage on the fish. Should work like clockwork after a few fish. Glad to be of help.

'Palming' the reel is only necessary with traditional click and pawl designs. While it can be done with quality disk drags, it's more efficient to adjust the drag while fighting the fish. In my experience a good disk drag stops a fishes run better than palming. I have a couple of older SA 2 reels (not the L version which are trout reels)and found them very effective for stopping large chums, steelhead etc. Much better than my Hardy St John or Perfect for example. However some of the drags on these reels are known to virtually ceasing to function when the get wet. if you had just dipped the reel in the water or do these frequently (ie to clear the reel of grit) it may be the cause of your problem.

Ralphie,that is sinful for you to suggest that your disc drag is more effective than palming.You must have girly-boy hands or something.Palming is the most effective way to tire fish period.Changing rod angles and direction keeps the fish off balance and doesn't allow him to get into a routine of long runs and fish losing jumps and palming will bring him to his knees,faster than you at a truckers convention.The most drag ever needed in any situation,would simply be some form of caliper drag,to prevent backlash when stripping.Come on man,palming is where the action is,just get some glovies,is she's too rough.

Dan

Tyler,
You might want to reverse your reel. It almost sounds like you are letting the fish run with the reel either backwards or the pauwls (the little triangular jobbies inside) set incorrectly.

I and most righties reel a spinning rod with our left hand, holding the rod with right. However with a bait caster most hold the rod in the left and reel with the right. Apply the same to your fly rod. Cast with the right and play a fish by stripping in line with the left, but once a larger fish gets into your reel transfer the rod to your left hand and reel with the right. This allows you to palm the reel more naturally and the reeling action is easier.

To check that you have the pauwls set correctly, spin the reel in both directions with the drag set about half way. One direction should not spin much, if both are equal reset the pauwls, one should have the pointy end up the other should have the round side up. I'll bet that's the case. It could be that you are reeling against the drag. If that is the case reverse the pauwls. Hope this helps. By the way that reel is one of the best made and you shouldn't be having that problem.

I hate to legitimize your point like this especially now that it will make me look stupid. But I have intentionally been playing fish with a reversed reel. Didn't think it would matter much.

I strip line with my left and hold the rod with my right. It's the only way I've ever done things well back into my gear fishing life. But the only way to accomplish this was to turn the reel upside down. This way I could strip with my left and fight the fish with my right, something as natural as eating pie.

But by the sounds of things I should start fighting the fish with my left hand and reeling with my right. It would be so much easier if I could just switch the peg to the other side of the reel.

Thanks for the advice.

Tyler,

Most fly reels can be switched to either left or right but you knew that right. Quit wasting our time with baiting the board.

Tyler,

Systems 2L reels can be changed from left to right hand with ease. Or at least the ones I own.

I don't know what to tell you. The one I have is impossible to change from right to left hand. The only possible way is to turn the reel upside down and use it that way which is what I've been doing. I've billionupled checked.

Tyler I am looking at mine right now and you just pull out the disk in the middle with the teeth and flip it over. Done like dinner.

You owe me a tooth. I still couldn't get it and unless you're willing to pay for dentures, then that's it.

Prof; I think that's when one guy says flip the gear and the other guy brakes it trying.

Sucker Brain: A normally smart guy who spends $500+ on a flyreel, but only $29.95 on the rod.

The genus for sucker is catostomus. Hence the name.

You definition is good though. It would accurately describe young scott who spent thousands on gear and time but still can't catch fish

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