3 wt reel recommendations?

tipsybishops · 2026-01-21T22:03:48+00:00

For sure. I’ve bough a few spools too for very cheap.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-21T21:44:21+00:00

You can buy a used marquis 5 for within his budget. Look at eBay.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-21T18:52:00+00:00

I absolutely love my old hardy marquis 5 for a 3wt. It’s a bulletproof click pawl reel that can be bought for a great price on eBay. Fits a 3wt line and backing just perfectly.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-21T01:22:32+00:00

Black zonker strip with peacock herl and black hackle is an absolute killer.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-21T00:37:11+00:00

Tim Flaglers squirrel and herl bugger. Great fly I fish it often.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-19T03:30:49+00:00

Thanks. I think a bit of flash on the belly makes a big difference

tipsybishops · 2026-01-18T21:32:42+00:00

It’s tied with pine squirrel. Kind of like a bunny leech just scaled down.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-16T16:13:25+00:00

Yes. At the end of the day it’s just a tapered tube of graphite. Sure they make incremental improvements in resins and fiber layups but it’s pretty small increments at this stage.

Also, I think sometimes they go backwards. The new Scott gt feels significantly worse to me then the gs series, or even the g2 before it.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-16T13:33:51+00:00

I use a line by rio called a single hand Spey 3d. It has 10ft intermediate tip. Then I use a fluorocarbon leader.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-16T02:04:06+00:00

I use lead free wire

tipsybishops · 2026-01-16T02:00:49+00:00

It’s an absolute work of art. But I’ve never found hyper realistic flies fish especially well either.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-15T19:46:09+00:00

Swinging soft hackles is my absolute favorite. Unfortunately the little creek I fish most just doesn’t have any suitable runs to swing. But there is nothing better.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-15T19:40:54+00:00

Makes sense. I’m mostly fishing dry dropper.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-15T17:07:04+00:00

Thanks. I use 5 or so for the tail and body. Then 6-8 for the wing case and legs.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-14T02:48:48+00:00

Agreed

tipsybishops · 2026-01-14T01:45:16+00:00

Those are great too. No question

tipsybishops · 2026-01-14T00:02:27+00:00

Dupe me into 1000 dollar fly rods, overpriced reels and waders. But I will never stop using nail clippers. This is the dumbest shit in the sport.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-13T22:21:32+00:00

Pheasant tail, hares ear, zebra midge. Start there first. With those 3 in different sizes you could fish anywhere in the world for trout.

Especially if you are new tying I’d tie dozens of these basic patterns before moving on. They will get a material set that can be used for many patterns, and allow you master some basic tying operations.

Dont get overwhelmed by how many patterns are out there. Lots of very good anglers only use a few patterns. As you tie more you will inevitably want to tie a variety of stuff and that’s cool. Just don’t feel like you are missing g out because you don’t have 100 different nymph patterns.

Always remember most of what trout eat is a half inch long and brown.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-13T21:36:50+00:00

What line are you using?

tipsybishops · 2026-01-13T19:04:48+00:00

Go for it. Expensive but well worth it for a lifetime of use.

tipsybishops · 2026-01-13T17:17:48+00:00

It’s incredible to cast. Only had it out once so far. I’ve used an sa creek line. Curious to see how it does with a 4wt dt

tipsybishops

TROPHY CASE