Any of you folks out there have experience with the Redington AL Series fly reel as a spey reel.  I'd appreciate any comments on it's quality, reliability and value.

 

Regards,

Andy

  No experience with the large-arbor AL series, but I have a standard-arbor AS 13/14.  At a reasonable 10 ounces, it has the capacity of a steamer trunk, holding a 120-foot DT12F and ample backing.  It's well finished (if you like glossy black) and the spool fits the frame without slop.  The drag seems to have a more than adequate range.  No combat experience yet, but it seems to be an entirely respectable reel at a price that makes one wonder if Abel is a subsidiary of Enron.

I've got one, but I haven't used it yet. There are a lot of comments on them on Juro's site (flyfishingforum.com). Check it out.

Eugene

Thx Eugene & Mac for the quick feedback.

 

Having perused flyfishingforum.com & flyfishingreview.com I noticed lots of good points being made for the Redington on price/value, finish and customer service.  At around 10oz it'll provide good balance for 15' rods at a good price for a machined reel.

 

However there are quite a few reports also on the synthetic drag "sticking" or "disintegrating".  I wonder if anyone know of any remedial engineering or design changes being made by Redington to correct this?

 

Best of the season to you all!

 

Regards,

Andy