Quest Outdoors

salmonguy · Egg Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Nova Scotia

Hi folks,
While I have been salmon fishing for quite some time, I have just recently purchased a 14ft Sage 9wt spey rod. I am trying to decide on a reel. Over the years I have collect a number of reels, more than I care to admit to my wife, and some are no longer in rotation, but are still in excellent working order. I was thinking I would try and use my Hardy Marquis Salmon #1 as my spey reel. It will hold a WF10 line and 200yds of backing. I am looking at a couple of lines, a Rio multi-tip and an Airflo multi-tip (longer belly version). Do any of you know if this reel would work for these lines, if for example I used 150yds of gelspun? Any info would be greatly appreciated. I'd hate to have to buy another reel, but if I must, one more won't be noticed. (I hope)

Swinger · Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 7:22 am Post subject:

A 9/10 weight spey line is thicker in diameter than a WF fly line. It might fit with the gel spun though. I use 11/12 size spey reels. BTW, I don't use more than a 100 yards of backing on any fly reel any more.

Good Luck

Very Happy

salmonguy · Egg Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Nova Scotia

Thanks. I'll try the Marquis with the gelspun first. Hopefully that will work. I have been thinking about reducing backing amount to 100yds as well.

twohander · Egg Joined: 19 Jun 2006 Posts: 2 Location: westcoast

salmon #1 might a little too small for that rod, not just for capacity but to balance the rod. and the longer belly lines need bigger capacity reels. A salmon #2 would be a much better fit. Need a reel in the 4" diameter or bigger.