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Rising To The Occasion With The Redington Rise 7/8 Fly Reel
| Date: |
6/12/13 |
| Tackle type: |
Fly Reel |
| Manufacturer: |
Redington |
| Reviewer: |
Wolbugger |
Total Score: 8.33 -
GREAT
Introduction:
After breaking into the fly fishing scene back in 1992, Redington
quickly gained notoriety for offering quality products at very reasonable
prices. Fly fishing has always been a notoriously expensive sport, and the
approach Redington took from the get go was really fresh and attention grabbing.
Over the years, their product lineup has become increasingly refined, and today
their offerings rival some of the best out there. Case in point, their
affordable line of Rise fly reels. At a glance, these seem like just another
standard attempt at a decent price point fly reel. I handled one of the first
models after their initial launch a couple years ago, and felt they were decent,
but could be improved. Since these reels have recently been tweaked, let's dig
deeper and see if my impressions of the old reel hold true for the latest model.
|
Redington
Rise 7/8
Fly Reel
Specifications
|
|
Line Weight |
7/8 |
|
Backing
Capacity |
200 yards
with WF8F
line |
|
Spool Width |
1.25 inches |
|
Diameter |
3.47 inches |
|
Weight |
5.1 ounces |
|
Colors
Available |
Dark
Charcoal,
Glacial,
Mantis |
|
Material |
Machined
Aluminum |
|
Drag |
Cork and
Teflon -
maximum drag
approx 3lbs
(tested) |
|
MSRP (reel) |
$189.95 |
|
MSRP (extra
spool) |
$94.95 |
|
Origin |
Korea |
Impressions:
While I
had just a fair impression of that older Rise reel I handled awhile back, when
our glacial 7/8 size test reel arrived I was immediately impressed. Redington
made several key upgrades to the most recent lineup, and it really shows in
terms of overall quality. These changes include larger arbor sizes on all
models, increased drag power on 7/8 and 9/10 models, a drag knob that's easier
to grip, and improved frame to spool overlap, thus preventing line intrusion
between the frame and spool.
The glacial blue Rise is quite an attractive piece of equipment.
The first striking aspect of the reel is the overall weight. At just 5.1
ounces, this thing is light! By comparison, the generously ported Nautilus
Feather Weight Extreme 7/8 weighs in at a scant 4.1 ounces, making it the
lightest machined aluminum disc drag fly reel currently available. At just 1
ounce heavier, the weight of the Rise is quite impressive.
The back side is extremely clean and equally as attractive as the front.
The dimensions of the Rise 7/8 are well thought out. The small arbor of the
past reel is gone, and the new size works really well to facilitate rapid line
pickup. Overall reel diameter is excellent, as it's sized just right without
being too big and awkward looking. I really appreciate the narrow spool width as
well. As a big fan of the narrow Abel reels, not only do I think it looks better
on the rod but I know just how beneficial this can be in increasing retrieval
efficiency. Not having to sweep your finger so far back and forth when guiding
line back onto the spool alleviates fatigue, too.
Up close allows you to easily see the clean machining and finish. The small,
silver spool quick release button is visible adjacent to the logo.
In the cosmetics department, this reel is quite a looker. Though definitely not
a Tibor, Abel, or Hatch, the clean lines and quality of machining actually does
give it some high end appeal. No doubt about it this is a beautiful reel, and
looks right at home on a rod of any price. The glacial blue test reel would
match perfectly on a new Redington Link rod or (sorry Redington) a G. Loomis
NRX.
Alongside an Abel Super 7/8N (narrow), the spool width of the Rise is
relatively similar.
Real World Tests:
Testing of the Rise 7/8 took place in California fishing for Carp, and in
southwest Florida fishing for beach Snook. It's always great to be able to test
a piece of equipment on both fresh and saltwater species. The sole rod of choice
for use with this reel was the G. Loomis Pro 4X 8 weight. Not the best looking
match in the world, but it was the only 8 weight I had on the rack!
The handle could use some texture or a bit more flare for extra “grip”
Next Section: Effortlessly "Smack" the spool
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