Euro Nymphing Reels ?

What's up with reels for Euro nymphing?
What do I need and why?

[@KentarouTachibana]

I'm a Japanese fly fisher. I mainly enjoy Euro Nymphing. Your video is very helpful. I look forward to more.

[@gregkosinski2303]

Is that a haiku?

[@flyholics]

I've purchased two Euro reels over the last year or two and recommend everyone do their research (prior purchase). One turned out to be great for Euro constraints and the other proved fatally flawed (design wise) and I've since repurposed for other fly-fishing applications. Both come from top brands. The reel I love is the Ideal Nymph made by Diamondback . The drag on this reel is smooth as butter and the large arbor reel collects slack quickly. The sealed cage ensures that thinner mono leaders stay in. The biggest drawback IMO is that it's quiet (some people prefer reels with an audible click). The Euro reel I had to repurpose is the Hardy Ultradisc UDLA. While an incredible (general-use) reel, they claim the cage is sealed but mono constantly sneaks out. Additionally, the reel has small grooves between the main component and spool that lets mono sneak in, and it often gets hooked on an edge. After losing several nice fish (which I could have probably hand-lined in), I'd seen enough! I was a bit surprised because of all the premium Euro rod makers (Sage ESN, T&T Contact II), Hardy's Ultralite LL is by far the best Euro rod IMO (and less expensive than the other two mentioned). I fish the 3wt / 10'8" which is great for bigger, western rivers. Across the board, it's an amazing rod far superior in quality, components, and overall feel (in comparison to the ESN and Contact II). A 3rd (general use reel) that turned out to be amazing for Euro is Abel's Vaya.

[@mikekuczynski1552]

Good info. I really get tired of people saying the only reason you need a reel is to hold line . That’s is not true , catch a 20” + trout on the Madison chances are you will break it off by trying to use your fingers as a drag . Thanks for the video

[@wvlongshooter3912]

I agree!!!

[@journeyonthefly1246]

Right on. Thanks man!

[@myrlstone8904]

However if you’re on a very tight budget, don’t overlook picking up a used click-pawl non drag reel in good condition. Generations of fly fisherman used them and landed large fish without beating the fish to death. It’s a skill and you will break off a few fish learning to either palm the reel or applying pressure with the fingers. The important thing is that you can be on the water improving your nymph skills. Good luck.

[@journeyonthefly1246]

@@myrlstone8904 I could not agree more. I am a very, why are used to call myself cheap, but will use the word frugal out of necessity. I have just recently, within the last six months, picked up the diamondback reel.

[@glenndotter5065]

It is because you dont know how to palm a reel on a fish

[@fabiosoldati1811]

very instructive and useful !

[@onemorething100]

Sure looks like the Yough river in Pennsylvania!

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Great video. I recently bought a vision hero for my euro rig.

[@allstar24]

Your vids are amazing

[@journeyonthefly1246]

Thank you!!!

[@sergtang5593]

Thanks for the video. One question…do you plan to talk about vest? Yours seems good.

[@journeyonthefly1246]

Yes, I’m going to talk about that Umpqua chess pack. I wanted to give it a good nine months work out before I said much about it though.

[@carlosviquez239]

Thanks Nice info

[@journeyonthefly1246]

I appreciate you watching

[@morgantroutster]

Nice video. Thanks for taking the time to produce it. Please, please cut down on the advertising intro garb at the beginning. Way way way too long.

[@WildBlueDiscovery]

Good job! I am wanting to get a good Euro reel. Ive been in the Euro game for some time. Looks like you were enjoying come central PA fly fishing. Tightlines!

[@journeyonthefly1246]

I am! If I could recommend one...look into the Diamondback Ideal.

[@WildBlueDiscovery]

@@journeyonthefly1246 ..thx

[@robertwendel1805]

Do you think semi-automatic fly reels are good for euro nymph fishing?

[@jackinthewoodsii8653]

The more I see fly line & fly reels designed specifically for Euro nymphing the more I wonder why one would need fly line or a fly reel at all. Seems all you need is some form of reel with dependable drag.

[@rutabaga69]

Don't even need a drag for most freshwater fly fishing situations. The latest trend of fishing huge beads on long rods with no fly line feels more like a breakaway sport, imo. If I was fishing at that range, I'd just use a 13ft tenkara pole with level line and fluro leader. We caught fish in that type of water for years before anyone invented Euro Nymphing. That being said, I'm no luddite, and happy to see people enjoying themselves. I do wonder what fly fishing will look like in another 30 or 40 years...

[@connorerhardt1767]

@@rutabaga69 it reminds me of having a 10 foot stick and hook a live cricket tied to red line with knots every 6 inches or so up when i was 5 years old. Throw a micro spinning reel on there and you can do the same thing.

[@glenndotter5065]

I suppose you are not in vogue if you dont call high sticking Euronymphing, but ever since I had an 8 1/2' bamboo rod placed in my 7 year old hand, I was taught to highstick and control my line and feel. My reel was a Pflueger Gem with no drag and I was taught to palm. Sure, the reels I have in the past 10-15 years have drags and I have no problem with that. Its all marketing. Guess I'm just an old dog who gets a kick out of fly fisherman who have to be in vogue but dont know the history of the game. Just like fly tiers that call Perdigons flies.

[@bneckart]

People used to wipe their ass with a sponge, why do you use toilet paper?

[@_paljkambroz]

which reels were you showing in the video?

[@journeyonthefly1246]

The black reel is a Diamondback Ideal. The gunmetal reel is from Risen Fly, it's their Gideon series (not a full cage but has held its own for a few years for me, and it is fully machined.)

[@johnlaudenslager706]

I wanted you do show several reels you find are best (for buck) examples of the type. Not doing so seemed a reel cop out.

[@journeyonthefly1246]

It was kind of a reel cop out.... I work for a small national brand and I have to walk the line some times. With that said, the Ideal from Diamondback is amazing. I lot of thought went into it.