Advantages: Low price Disadvantages: Cheap and poorly manufactured
...Scierra reels are econmically priced but tend to be let down by poor manufacture. as in the IC3 a good reel with three spare spools and a cordura case to hold the reels it is a good buy.
The reel struggles in use as the cheaply made plastic spools are stiff and need to be sanded with a fine paper to get them to turn freely. They are not suitable for sea fly fishing as the o-ring under the spool traps sand and salt. The die cast alluminium cast is good and the change from left hand wind to right is a little fidly. All in all it is a good reel for the price and the three spare spools give you the flexibility of different lines....
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Advantages: Prices take some beating, good quality stock, well established Disadvantages: not much space in store
...will almost certainly make your jaw drop to the floor, wondering how the hell they managed it.
Some examples I've seen (and bought) include:
- Shakespeare 13ft Albany Match rod (RRP £145) selling for £50
- Shakespeare 2684/000 Summit Fly reel (RRP £16) for about £11... though in my case it was £22 with one of the 2 spools ready loaded with flyline, backing & leader.
- Masterline / John Wilson "Debut" 12ft Match rod (RRP about £45), which I picked up there for £17.95 (though admittedly I think it was an older model, but a good piece of kit nontheless)
- Shakespeare Ugly Sapphire 7ft Spinning rod (RRP £32) for £17.95
Their customer service is pretty good too, with the only time I had something I bought off them go wrong being dealt with by the following day - Around January 2004, I went there to spend my Christmas money, and picked up...
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Advantages: Cheap, Stylish, well made Disadvantages: None
...of these Shakespeare SUMMIT fly reels, in the 2684/000 size ready loaded with Backing, Flyline (6 WFF) + leader for just under £22.
The standard factory supplied reel comes unloaded, and is RRP'ed @ £19 (but can be picked up for around £10-£15 if you know where to look.... try either WHITBY ANGLING SUPPLIES or MULLARKEY & SONS).
According to the manufacturer's blurb(http://www.shakespeare-fishing.co.uk/Product12.asp?line=2684-2687), they're constructed from lightweight aluminium........ which has been finished to an extremely high standard.
It also comes with 2 spools, so, say.... you can have one loaded with Floating flyline, and the other loaded with a sinking flyline, for instance....... or perhaps use a 4WFF line on one, to use with your AFTM 4-5 rated rod (for Trout bashing on small rivers)... and a 6/7/8 WFF rated fly line on the other on your AFTM...
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Not bad sound quality, great power amplification, stunning design. Top of the "budget" range.
Shame it gets so hot - the cooling fins on the amp aren't too efficient, although it'll work fine it will burn your hand if you touch it after listening to... more