Reel for my 0wt

[anacrime]

Finally decided on a reel for my 0wt. Looked into a bunch of different reels and decided to go with this little guy.



J. Austin Forbes Avon 2"

There's a guy selling them on eBay for $90

I do have one question that hopefully someone here can help me with. I can't figure out how to switch to left hand retrieve. Help?

[darrin terry]

Shane, I do not know this reel, but it looks, mechanically, a lot like the Pflueger 1492 which is not reversible. Of course you could flip it around and fish it reversed if there is an opening for the line on both sides. You just would not have drag to the fish. My buddy uses his 1492 that way on his 2 wt.

It looks like, if it can be done, the pin the spring wraps around would have to be moved to the other side of the center. But it is likely pressed in, not threaded. That's just a guess though.

[anacrime]

Their website says it's left or right hand retrieve

[STMFlyGuide]

ya, the triangle with the slot in it.. slide it off the post while keeping the loaded spring in place...then flip that piece over and put back on so the slot is on the other side.....the clicking drag will now be switched...hope this helps.. David

[darrin terry]

Cool. Zooming in I can see how that piece fits in place. It still amazes me how many ways people have come up with to reverse the direction on fly reels.

[dna]

Now I am really jealous. I have been talking about that reel for so long...finally someone got it! Score! The design is like the reversible Martin reels that I am a big fan of.

Correct me if I am wrong: the parts on J Austin Forbes reels are the left overs from J.W. Young reels of England. JAF just bought all the inventory and assembles them here in the US.

[Benny]

Hey Shane,

if you don't understand maybe this photo will help you out.

[anacrime]

Hmm that was the first thing I tried and it didn't seem to work

Maybe a stupid question, do I have to reline it after I switch? It takes in line the same way with either position of the piece

And yea, Antonio, I think you're right. The reel says Made in England on it

[dna]

Hmm that was the first thing I tried and it didn't seem to work

Maybe a stupid question, do I have to reline it after I switch? It takes in line the same way with either position of the piece

And yea, Antonio, I think you're right. The reel says Made in England on it

Yeah, you have to reline it.

[anacrime]

Hmm that was the first thing I tried and it didn't seem to work

Maybe a stupid question, do I have to reline it after I switch? It takes in line the same way with either position of the piece

And yea, Antonio, I think you're right. The reel says Made in England on it

Yeah, you have to reline it.

Dang it! Do you know how long it takes to reel in 20yds backing and 90ft of fly line on a 2" spool?!

[anacrime]

Alright, finally got it right. Thanks guys

[dna]

No prob...now that it is set up, I can steal it from you

[gabe]

20yrds of backing, that's freaking hilarious!
what the heck do you need 20yrds of backing on an UL setup.
don't tell me you plan to get spooled by a 12" trout.
get rid of some of that unnecessary backing bro.

[midger]

Gabe,
I have to respectfully disagree about getting rid of the backing. It isn't there because you think you will get spooled. It's there to properly fill the reel to where the flyline comes to within about 1/8 inch of the reel pillars when loaded onto the spool, and it also allows for larger turns of the line on the spool thus increasing the line recovery rate. These larger diameter turns also result in less line twist/memory/coiling. I never load a small reel without backing. If the reel is very small, I'd use a Double Taper line, cut in half, with half set aside for reuse after wearing out the first half. I'd then add 100 yards of backing or whatever would make the remaining flyline load properly.

Just my take.

[flybob]

Hey Shane, that is one sweet tiny reel!

Just make sure you tie it to a zinger, so if you drop it you won't loose it!
JK!

Time to try it out!
Bob