Over Christmas Orvis was selling this reel for $99! Yes, I ordered one and absolutely love my Battenkill lll! My only regret is that I didn’t pickup one of each size. Thanks for the review. 👍🏻
I have this reel primarily for trout fishing and I really like the retro styling. The line pickup isn't really an issue for me as fighting fish is usually just stripping in line. For heavier duty use such as salt, I prefer the Hydros which is also a great value.
As a budget orientated reel, I would choose the lamson liquid. And as a click n pawl , I would upgrade to the hardy marquis, better build and lasting. Otherwise here in europe we have the Danielsson reels. Beside high end american reels, the Danielsson are superb. Really enjoy your channel and reviews etc.. just great man!! :)
This reels are my favorite, because they’re very easy to use and it’s an old style, battenkill is the ORVIS history, classic, good value, stronger and a good size for fishing.
I still have my first click pawl Battenkill reel and 5 wt Fenwick rod for nostalgic reasons. Who knows how many fish I’ve caught with that combo? This new one looks nice but I’ve moved on.
I just can’t do it, man. My Battenkills are all click and pawl…it just feels *wrong* to have a disc drag battenkill. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Hydros and my other disc drags (I really love the Hydros, actually). But to me, the Battenkill will always be an old school click and pawl that screams like a banshee the moment you get a decent sized rainbow on the other end. Much to my chagrin, my brother told me they’re being discontinued…so we’re doing our duty as obedient consumers and scooping up whatever remains we can before they’re gone for the foreseeable future.
The Encounter reel is plastic. The Clearwater reel is diecast aluminum. For trout, aside from true Steelhead and lake run "Steelhead" rainbows, you do not really need a drag. A click pawl reels is more than sufficient.
Over Christmas Orvis was selling this reel for $99! Yes, I ordered one and absolutely love my Battenkill lll! My only regret is that I didn’t pickup one of each size.
Thanks for the review. 👍🏻
I have this reel primarily for trout fishing and I really like the retro styling. The line pickup isn't really an issue for me as fighting fish is usually just stripping in line. For heavier duty use such as salt, I prefer the Hydros which is also a great value.
As a budget orientated reel, I would choose the lamson liquid. And as a click n pawl , I would upgrade to the hardy marquis, better build and lasting. Otherwise here in europe we have the Danielsson reels. Beside high end american reels, the Danielsson are superb. Really enjoy your channel and reviews etc.. just great man!! :)
This reels are my favorite, because they’re very easy to use and it’s an old style, battenkill is the ORVIS history, classic, good value, stronger and a good size for fishing.
I recently bought a battenkill III, and it's perfect for me.
I still have my first click pawl Battenkill reel and 5 wt Fenwick rod for nostalgic reasons. Who knows how many fish I’ve caught with that combo? This new one looks nice but I’ve moved on.
Very good and honest review; thank you.
I just can’t do it, man. My Battenkills are all click and pawl…it just feels *wrong* to have a disc drag battenkill. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Hydros and my other disc drags (I really love the Hydros, actually). But to me, the Battenkill will always be an old school click and pawl that screams like a banshee the moment you get a decent sized rainbow on the other end. Much to my chagrin, my brother told me they’re being discontinued…so we’re doing our duty as obedient consumers and scooping up whatever remains we can before they’re gone for the foreseeable future.
The Encounter reel is plastic. The Clearwater reel is diecast aluminum. For trout, aside from true Steelhead and lake run "Steelhead" rainbows, you do not really need a drag. A click pawl reels is more than sufficient.
It's $99.99 right now from Orvis 12/10/2023
Take a Shimano Biocraft XT fly reel. Best value reel out there. Better than some of those $400 reels. I swear!
Clearwater is not made of plastic.
Why in God's name would you do a close up of a buggered drag screw?
You do understand that the fishermen should be the drag with a fly reel. If you fly fish and you depend on a drag, you have not learned much.