[Big_Steve]

Hey gang- This is my first post on the site- Great website and learning a ton. Got a quick question and wanted to hear some opinions. Have a store credit at Orvis and need to get a new reel for my 5wt. Mostly hit small streams in the NC mountains. Any suggestions. I was looking at the BBS or the mid arbor. Oh, the rod I have is an Orvis Clearwater 2 piece.

Thx

[Big_Steve]

Originally Posted by Big_Steve

Hey gang- This is my first post on the site- Great website and learning a ton. Got a quick question and wanted to hear some opinions. Have a store credit at Orvis and need to get a new reel for my 5wt. Mostly hit small streams in the NC mountains. Any suggestions. I was looking at the BBS or the mid arbor. Oh, the rod I have is an Orvis Clearwater 2 piece.

Thx

Any advice?

[Phil]

I bought the Orvis Battenkill Mid Arbor III reel on sale with a free line and backing. It's a great reel.

[Big_Steve]

Thx Phil- I think I am leaning towards the mid-arbor.

[Phil]

Lotso guys here don't like Orvis stuff. In my experience, however, Orvis makes very good products and their customer service is the best in the industry. Among the other brands sitting in my fishing closet, I presently have 4 Orvis rods, 3 Orvis reels, and wading boots.

I've had customer service problems with other equipment. Never with Orvis. They stand behind their sales the best, IMO.

On my last fishing trip, my friend had his high-dollar Lamson reel go bad. No drag. He said that it was the second one he has that has broken for no reason.

My Orvis reels worked just fine.

There. I said it. Of course, I was an Orvis employee and rep back in the 1980's...

[Big_Steve]

Yeah I figured that out. I like Orvis gear- never had an issue and terrific customer service. Just bought a new Lamson reel- hope I dont have any trouble with it.

Thx again.

[runcible]

I see that Orvis has BBS reels on sale now for $100 with a free spool included. I have several Battenkill reels, a couple of which have been in use for over twenty years, and have never had a problem with any of them.

[AppleJack]

Hey Big Steve. Well--this is my first post here too. Have been a long time lurker. You say that you will be fishing small streams--but you don't say what weight/length your Clearwater rod is. I have two of the BBS reels for small stream rods. The BBS I and the BBS II for use on 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 foot rods. These are fine and efficient little reels for small streaming and really all you need. Depending on your rod length, a mid-arbor might be the ticket also--but could be a bit on the heavy side for those short blueline rods. I would recommend you get the black finish for small streaming as waving around one of those shiny silver reels over a small creek is like shining a mirror in their eyes.

[Big_Steve]

Thanks- thats a great tip. My rod is a 5wt and I believe the length is 8'6". Mostly will use it for rivers like the Tuck. I just got a little 3wt that I will be using for the smaller streams. Thanks for all the advice- really appreciate it.

[streamer]

Anybody's rods/reels can go Dixie on you, no matter who makes 'em.Lamson, Orvis, Billy Pate, St. Croix, Sage.....everybody's got a story about what broke, when, and how, and it's usually "not my fault".

That being said, I have joked for a long time about Orvis and their dog bed / fatwood mentality. Truth is, I own 3 Orvis rods and 2 Orvis reels, and like all of them.

The Orvis BBS is a great buy right now, and as Runcible said, you can get a free spare spool with the purchase. That's a bargain on a quality reel, and the arbor size will be a non-factor on a 5 wt.

Go get 'em. And welcome.

Streamer