Fly Reel For Trolling?

[Seafever]

I don't flyfish so I've never owned a fly reel.

I troll for trout out of a 10ft punt. Right now I'm using a small salmon mooching reel. (Royal SeaKing 110)

I pull gang trolls and/or spoons and wedding bands and Apexes.

I sometimes use a little added weight but don't use lake downriggers.

I don't like using the salmon reel. It's too big and you can hear the ratchet miles away.

I won't use baitcasters or level winds.

Wondering if smaller fly reels have what it takes to do what I do.?

I think they'd hold enough mono......I usually go 10lb. main.

How's the clutch and drag on those?

 

[Dogbreath]

If you use a cheap one you'll wreck it in no time-if it's a better model that takes a while.

 

[Seafever]

Got any idea where one can get a reel like a salmon moocher only quite a bit smaller?

When I was growing up they made all kinds of such a reel.....can't find any of those anywhere now.....

 

[tinboatrobb]

#27189604 check that add on used Victoria. This guy lives near Portage inlet and had a ton of fishing gear. He will have what you are looking for. He has close to 200 adds on used Vic, or did have when I bought some stuff from him. Good luck

 

[Big Green Machine]

Been using fly reels for trolling small and big lakes, cheap ones and fairly decent ones for many years and the work great. Put some backing on before the mono and pair it up with whatever rod you like, even a fly rod.

 

[gungadin]

Many fly reels do not have substantial drags, if they have one at all. Don't let that dissuade you from getting one, they are great to use. If you are using a rod holder you can use one of the scotty power grip line releases to stop the line going out on its own. Put a length of string through the hole in the end of the release and attach the other end to something solid in the boat near the rod holder. Adjust the length or the string so that you can clip the release to the fishing line so that the slack is taken out of the string somewhere between the reel and the first eye. This will prevent any further line from going out while trolling, and can easily be removed for playing the fish with little or no drag.

 

[Big Green Machine]

Never had an issue with drag on the fly reels, especially for 3-5 pound trout in lakes. How much drag can they pull? If you need to add drag, Palm the reel. Some of my higher end 5 weight fly reels have killer drag systems that can be cinched up lock tight or adjusted to whatever you need.

 

[gungadin]

He is also using gang trolls, the ones l use impart a fair amount of drag, especially with a great big juicy worm.

 

[wishiniwasfishin1]

You might also want to consider a small center pin reel. I have one that I use in the ocean for trolling and its a blast. The drag works well too.