but, their customer service is awesome. I've been using one of their reels for about 10 years. After getting beat to holy h**l, one of the frame screws worked itself out. All I had to do was call them and the part is in the mail.
I love working with companies like that. Thanks, Pflueger!
My first trout reel was a 1492 or 94 (I forget) Plueger which I still have. Bought 40 years ago and it still works although I do not use it much anymore. Probably 20 years since I have used it.
It is now one of FF heirlooms. Actually should check out there current models, since I am looking for another fly reel for steelhead/salmon though and which can hold spey lines.
Have three of the new Plug. Supremes that I use for light spey rods.
The largest of the new line will easily hold a 8-9 mid-spey and 150 yards of 20# backing. Very well built and you could pound nails with them. As to Phlug's service, I had the same experience .... road rash....... don't ask.
Replacement parts hit my desk at the bank about 3 days later ... and no charge. Very cool!
The Pflueger 1598 RC works very well, will hold your 8/9 line and generous backing. I've owned Pflueger reels since the early 60's.
I know of at least one other member who speaks well of Pflueger; I'm happy to know there are more of you
Question: Regardless of the cost of a replacement spool - do you that have used Pflueger Service think it's worthy of asking them IF they'll put the handle back on a 1598 RC spool??? it was snapped off while being tossed about on a boat; story involves two jugheads, two overpowered go-fasters and a no wake zone in a harbor...
Empty, a little over one half-pound; I think it's 9.8 oz, or transpose to 8.9 - filled, probably 1 1/4 lbs. +/-
Phenolic fiber drag shoe, protected drag adjustment knob, palming rim - so they're not the most expensive reels in existence, so what?
(BIG OOPS , see below)
My $.02
You asked what the Supreme weighs. It weighs several ounces empty, BUT, and you can research this comment over the past year or so - it feels really flimsy, it didn't seem to me, when handling several in a shop, that it would stand up to heavy use or mild abuse. The display models were pretty, and that's about it. While handling several display models, I came away totally unimpressed with drag capabilities AT ALL; found drag springs on one adjustment knob to be sprung and busted. Found drag operation on another same size to be totally inadequate IMO to handle what either of us fish for. Perhaps in the small stream sizes, the components would pass muster, but not by what I observed in the larger sizes.
I gave these an objective inspection; I was not prejudiced either way prior to examining them. I was very disappointed and would not nor will not spend money on them until Shakespeare brings the quality up markedly.
Please research the archive for past thread on this.
Thanks, will take a look at them. My first king salmon (15 pounds est) was caught on my trout Plueger 1492 and then many more salmon and steelhead were caught on Martin click pawl drag $ 30-40, fly reels. I use a very light drag on these fish playing them from the reel and palming the rims, or holding the line against the rod varying the friction, etc on the line and fish.
You really don't need a state of the art drag especially in a the smaller width rivers fished here in the mid west. Larger rivers and very hot fish which can run long distances then you need them in my experience.
Keep the drag light is my MO, especially with 4 and 6 lb test leaders. The more tension they feel usually the stronger and longer they run to find the inevitable michigan log jams and sweepers, etc....
I don't mean to imply log-truck stopping drag at all with the Supreme. I mean to imply poorly thought out, designed, manufactured and such, just to get a toe in the market of pretty gold anodized reels. Machining and anodizing aluminum so it's pretty isn't all of it, to me. These reels don't have more than eye candy appeal until handled, then to an old eastern parsimonious tightwad like myself, they look like five minutes more energy in design and production might have made them WORTHY, not just eye candy...Ramble over, I'm sure you understand the point.
They are great reels. Especially the older ones. I have on old one on a 10wt Fenwick that I have. It's a 1498. It's what I only used for trout and was at one time the only reel I had for all my salmon/steelhead rods. I've since sold all mine off over the years. Have picked up some old and new SA's for the price of a new pflueger. Speywise, haven't paid more then $100 dollars for my Lamson LP7 spey so not complaining. But I don't mind buying used. I've been able to buy gear I wouldn't normally be able to buy.
But for a diehard reel, my pfluegers never failed me. Even on some hellacious chums that have been known to rip drags and rods apart.
Reel weight/capacity ratio is a consideration. In the smaller sizes, the Medalists are heavy for light-trout use. The larger sizes are more reasonable. The 1495-1/2, at 6.5 ounces, may be the best in this regard. Mine holds a WF10 + 200 yes./20#, and was my winter steelhead reel for years (with a single-handed rod); it also holds a DT8F, and balances well with a light spey rod. The 1500 series has a palming rim at the cost of about an extra ounce of weight. Worthwhile? Probably.
As you people were talking about Pflueger reels. Yesterday I picked one up for a great price of free. I used to have one like it but it was bigger. This one is a No.1774 and has the name of Pflueger Progess on it. I guess it (name) refers to the model.
Does anybody know anything about these reels. An old man would like to know. Jim
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