So Lamson... Im fishing my Lamson Litespeed the other day...

Catching a few blue runners... ( look it up ) and notice that the drag isnt working like it normally does... as I increase the drag, I also increase the incoming line tension the same amount the out going drags tension is set to...

So I figure I should take a look at the drag... cant get the spool off... The whole o-ring thing isnt working. I am pulling it, and nothing gives... I keep tugging on it.. Nothing.. I pull harder and harder, keep tugging and pulling and still the damn spool is not coming off the frame...

I finally decide to push the frame with my feet and pull with my hands and it pops off.

The rod looks rusty. and a rusty rod is never a good sign. ( when I say rod im talking about the spindle on the frame.) so I decide I should probably take a look at the drag, So I take the drag cover off...

look down the cylinder the drag parts are completely rusted out...

Awesome!!! Nothing like having a $420 dollar drag that is and I quote... "our patented maintenance-free super smooth conical drag." [censored] out on you. I wash the heck out of my gear after it goes in the salt.

I havent contacted Lamson but I have to say for a reel that is supposed to have a patented maintenance-free super smooth conical drag. This blows.

I have a friend that has a 3wt Radius, same problem.. never has seen salt and the reel frame is basically bonded to the spool.

I should have bought one on those okuma reels or cabelas composites.. that would have been way better...

dude,

okuma integrity.

$70.

Yes that is right.BTW can be had for around $40 on e-bay now. Love mine. It is as smooth as a ++$$100 reel

That sucks, i've got the lamson konick and haven't had any problems, i'll keep my eye on it now.

what a bummer...sorry to hear about your reel...I thought those were really awesome reels, from what I have read from reviews

I have one of those Cabelas RLS ones on my 8wt I think its like $120 brand new and extra spools are $70, the thing is still like its brand new and I am tough on equipment.

now I am going to preface this with one statement

"i dont catch BIG fish"

I have the cheapest reels I could find, I dont take care of them and they have never given me an issue.

Lamson users... Check it out... seriously... Look to see if you have corrosion in the drag...

No rust on the Velocity and it's seen plenty of salt. It has never been intentionaly dunked though like a lot of salt guys do in their photos.

Don't know how yours failed. Send it back.

I like mine too, but I like my Okuma SLV's better and they are cheaper.

lamson; seen too many of them explode (literally) plus my lamsons always were full of rust in the "sealed" drag area.

mike the SLV is a nice reel, but i recommend for saltwater if you can't afford a good reel (abel, tibor, old florida, tfo hayden) that you get an okuma integrity. their other models may or may not hold up, but with saltwater, it's all about the exact composites a reel is made from. i have a good friend who fished two integritys in the surf and bay and never rinsed them once, dunked them, etc. after two years of being stored in direct sunlight and never being cleaned they were going strong... then he washed them... still going.

i only own one integrity, and i haven't had the slightest trouble with it. fishing in the surf is a whole different ball game on gear than freshwater and/or standing on the front of a skiff for $500 a day....

I cant argue with that, I have an Integrity & its an awesome reel, but I don't fish saltwater & the SLV suits my purpose well...but if I was headed for some briney water I would for sure use the Integrity (awesome drag on it)

Integrity is a great reel, the problem with it is that it only can hold 100 yds of backing on the jetties I would like at least another 100 yds. Now for the flats it's great. Then again I've gone after Jacks and Kings with a 5 wt...

never had a problem with my konics

Okuma Integrity sounds like a heck of a reel...I will bookmark that for when I might ever be looking for another reel...thanks for the recommendation, I love hearing about GOOD EQUIPMENT at a decent price. I am not even close to be in the market for a reel or rod though. This winter I hope to get a new camera for my birthday. Maybe next year I can get another rod and reel.