Is a new reel (Orvis Battenkill Mid Arbor III with extra spool) and a new 4 piece 4 weight fly rod.
My entire Fly Fishing career has been spent with a 5 weight 2 piece rod. The two piece rod is just not convenient, and I feel that a 5 weight is a little more than I want for the rivers that I fish regularly. I’m hoping to drag the FishingChef up to Manchester VT to visit the Orvis store, where we’ll cast the different grades of rods that Orvis sells, and choose our favorite. (warning we may not agree! but i’m sure you’ll read about it!)
The reel has already been ordered, and it is on its way to me now! After viewing the mechanism in the Large Arbor reel that FishingChef uses, I was convinced that it was time to replace my bargain basement reel that I’ve been using for the last 10 or so years, and move up to a (hopefully) hassle free reel. The Mid arbor reel that I selected weighs a little less than the large arbor (for better balance on the lightweight rod) but still uses the same mechanism for drag, and changing spools (which I do way to often
). I’ll put together a full report once I’m able to mount it on a rod and take it for a spin (pun intended!)
Hope you all get what you want for Christmas (or other holiday)!