There's a distinct difference between inexpensive and cheap. I'm looking for an affordable fly outfit. I've decided on a 4 piece 6 weight Scott V2 Rod. VERY comfortable to cast, easy to cast at shorter distances (the most I'll probably be casting is 50 feet or so, and once I learn to cast well, 60-70 ft casts are probably well within range). Are there better rods out there? Yes, but they all cost 3 times as much as I can afford. I tried a couple rods under the $300 mark (Sage FLi, Scott A2, Loomis GL3) and they all were a lot stiffer. I'm not fishing saltwater flats so I don't need insane line speed and power. The V2 was just cozy to cast.


Now onto the reel. I'm not fishing for bonefish or redfish, so I probably won't be needing a super smooth, powerful drag system. Just stream bass and trout. I already have a simple click and pawl Cortland Crown 75 spooled with 20# backing and Scientific Angler Ultra 3 weight forward floating line (still in great shape). I figure a simple palming rim will suffice, but I don't want the thing to fall apart.

I'm toying around with getting either the Orvis Clearwater or Battenkill (original one). I might even be able to pick one off of e-bay. Around $100, and the drag should be plenty for a good Smallmouth or big Trout.

Thoughts?

Scientific Angler makes very good inexpensive reels...I've got several of them. I understand that the Battenkill is good also. It just does not pay to spend a lot of money on the reel if you aren't doing any of the supercharged fish like bonefish or tarpon that require sophisticated drag systems.

For a reel that is almost cheap, try Bass Pro's Hobbs Creek reel. About $40, all metal, and large arbor. I'd sooner have one than a Clearwater.

For one with a good drag, try the ECHO reels.

For a GOOD reel, get a Ross Cimarron.

Gotta echo Cliff on the Bass Pro Hobbs Creek reel and, well, the ECHO reel. Both are outstanding values. Unless you're planning on doing some serious saltwater fishing, you can't go wrong with a Hobbs or ECHO.

MM

I have a Tibor on one rod, but that one was a little pricey for the model..
Redington makes a great reel. I bought an RS2 before they discontinued it (a couple years ago) I haven't had any problems with it. I have even put it in the water while taking a few wild wild fish off of the hook when I was at Yellowstone, and to this day, that reel has not rusted. I paid $ 125 for it , got a warranty from Browning (I think they bought out redington?)
And it's a 5-6 wt reel. Cabelas stocks Redingtons. I highly recomend them. If the price is out of range, then I would do the above, and check out some of the BPS reels. Or a White River reel. They're all good quality stuff.

There are a lot of great reels out there for freshwater fishing and in a lot of different prices.

I've come to like the STH MR-POP I got from Cabela's early this year for $70, extra cassettes are only ten dollars and the drag is smooth. I had it on the coast for about 6 days, semi-submerged in standing water in my yak and it did just fine. Price is right.

Battenkill or Lomis adventure series reels are my preference.They have performed great and are not an arm and a leg in cost.I still dont know why Fly reels cost more than a Good Calcutta or high end spinning reel.The ones Im talking about are 100 dollars and do great.The STH reel is a good one too according to a friend of mine.I just got a Battenkill mid arbor for 125 dollars.It is made of the same material as a Loomis reel that cost 400 dollars.Its a great reel and my choice.BPS has Orvis reels and Loomis adventure reels.Check em out.Cabelas dont carry Orvis reels.So go to BPS my home away from home.

Orvis Battenkill Large Arbor or a Ross. Both will treat you right.

I have a Battenkill 4/5 and so far it's sooo good!
Bought a floor (demo) model at that Mkt Hall thing Orvis had a couple of months back for I think was close to $80.

If you get to Austin, go to Adam's Outlet on I-35 just south of 32nd Street. He has the best prices around for fly fishing gear. He also has an ebay store. His phone number is (512) 499-8381. 3 or 4 years ago I bought an Orvis cassette reel and Corland 5wt rod all for around $80.00 including backing and line. Brand new. Give him a holler and see what he has. He knows fly fishing. He also has an Ebay store.

Academy has some Okuma reels for about $30 that are pretty decent.

sounds like you have a prefectly good setup right now for the fishing you are describing. But the quest for new toys continues unabated, I completely understand

Any of the reels in Cabelas or Bass Pro's catalogs ought to be prefectly fine.

I have 3 G-Loomis Adventurer reels and I love them. They are actually made by Shimano. Nice disk drag and is very smooth for a $100.

The Orvis Mid Arbor III is a great reel for only $125.

I just noticed this thread, but I just posted another thread about Cabelas reels. I was very impressed. They have an SR (large arbor) which runs about 169 that feels like a much more expensive reel than it is. They drag is smooth and strong.

They also make a CSR which is also large arbor, but not as expensive. It is around 69 but I got one this weekend for 59. Also has a good drag, but this reel doesn't have the same "feel" as the SR. Only real knock on the CSR is it is a little heavy.