I've pestered everyone about getting either an Integrity or SLV reel and finally decided to pull the trigger last Sunday. I found what I thought was a deal on Ebay and wanted to make sure it came true before I bragged too hard on it.

I got it from this guy and everything was as advertised. It is the older model with the "ship's wheel" drag, but I doubt the fish will really care that much. For those of you who don't fling double digit line, he also has a 5/6 wt reel for the same price.

I got it with shipping for less than $50. Remember, it's just a myth that children need to eat three times a day.

good price, I have one o them reels & like it, flyline occasionally gets hung behind the ships wheel knob but not enough to be a real nuisance . You for sure won't find a better drag on a reel at even twice the price.

Well if I manage to hang it on the ship's wheel it will be a first for me. I've tangled fly line in everything BUT the drag knob on a reel.

I'm looking forward to getting it all put together. My plan for it is to make it my shooting head reel. Now I just need a big spool of backing.

I use mine for my sinking line, I couldnt find standard flyshop type backing (dacron ?) so I used braided fishing line from Berkley (fireline , I think ?) it cost more than backing but its one of them things you rarely change anyway.

I've considered going the braid route, but I haven't totally made up my mind about it yet.

This stuff is okay

wow, $$$$$$$
I used this (1/2 the price)

Twice as much though. Pretty much a wash.

I'm thinking more along these lines (the 30lb variety).

Only draw back in using braided fishing line is they tend to slip on the spool. The Dacron has a better grip. A little trick I use on my bait casters and spinning reel to stop line slippage. Place a piece of athletic tape on the spool before filling the spool with braid. You will be happy with the performance of the Integrity. They do not hold a lot of backing, but how often do warm fresh water fisherman need 150+ yards of backing. My arm and hand would go on strike if I had to reel 1/8+ mile of line back in on a fly reel with 1 to 1 ratio

Another draw back with using braid is when a fish is pulling really hard the the line bites into the other line that is on the spool causing break offs. This happens because the backing wasn't put on tight enough in the first place or the reel was "backlashed" when the drag was backed off to far causing the line to loosen on the spool and you go to pull line off the reel.

Funny, I bought an the same reel from the same guy, but in the 8/9 size. I think with shipping, it was 47 bucks. I have yet to put any backing or line on it. I am trying to decide what line I want. I bought the Intergrity because of recommendation of some of the guys on the saltwater FF forum here.