LAMSON

I needed a new reel for a rod upgrade and decided on the Liquid S after reading a lot of media and customer reviews. I fish mostly small streams and don’t require an overpriced bling winch to show off around a campfire. This one is light but sturdy with tight tolerances and no wobble. I’ve used it on about a dozen all-day trips. I got a bit of grit in it that made it grind but I was able to pop the spool out and easily clear it streamside with no tools. The click is just right, quieter than most and not buzzy. It doesn’t free-spool but the drag is light enough that I can turn it all the way down and forget it unless I hook a chunky trout. The foot seats perfectly and the handle and drag knob appear to be replaceable if needed. It’s a good tool that does exactly what I need without any fussing or fear that I can’t put it to work. Five stars all day.

Used it once or twice so far, I love it do far! Hope it holds up!

I have been a fan of lamson for many years now. I have a number of reels. I bought this HD version due to the solid frame for euro nymphing with long thin leaders. It was a great choice.
John

I purchased my first one last sping on closeout since I had never owned a Lamson reel. I liked using it so much through the course of the year, that I just ordered two more, through my local fly shop! Those are going to replace a couple of older reels, from another well known maker, that I thought I liked best before buying a Lamson.

I've been searching for the perfect Great Lakes Steelhead reel that can be fished in any weather without worrying about spool freezing on the frame when it's 15 degrees out. The Force SL II -7+ is it. The design & engineering is to marvel at. The spool & reel touch only slightly at two points beyond the middle spindle, making the spool to appear like it's floating on air. Astounding retrieve rate & drag. Just freaking wow Lamson! I own two of these reels.
PS: I spend 140 days per year on the water. I know.

There was a miscommunication on Lamson not getting back to me on a problem with my reel. But in fact their email went to my spam folder and I never saw it. Once we communicated these guys went over the top to make me happy. A big shout out to Kyle who was first rate

Liked the medium so much when I added my forth Lamson reel the Liquid Max 10wt and extra spool to go with my Liquid Max 8wt and my Guru S -3+ and my Guru -5+. I use the medium for the Guru’s extra spools and the large for the Liquid Max’s extra spools.

I have a second spool for my -3+ and my -5+ and they are flawless. Prefect for a quick technique change while in the wild.

A second spool is great for quickly changing techniques and this spool does exactly that. I have a second spool for my 8wt and 10wt.

I bought two Liquid Max setups 6 & 7wt. With 4pc 9ft rods. They performed perfectly catching monster browns and rainbows in everything from spring creeks, big rivers and lakes.

Unlike the 5-weight, which I bought on the overwhelming quality of the “feel” noted in my previous review, the 8'9" 3-weight is the rod I actually needed for an upcoming small-water dry fly trip.

This rod loads effortlessly at short range and provides constant, precise feedback. The progressive action allows excellent loop control with very little line out, making accurate, delicate presentations feel natural rather than forced. The tip is supple without being vague, the mid-section tracks cleanly, and the butt provides just enough authority to maintain structure and control across a surprisingly wide range of casting distances and conditions.

I’ve been deliberately reducing my gear over the past few years, moving toward a more minimalist approach and away from maintaining a specialized arsenal. This rod makes that possible. Its versatility and control allow it to replace three different 3-weights I previously kept to cover varying conditions. One rod that performs this completely removes the need for compromise or redundancy.

What stands out most is the consistency. There are no dead spots, no disconnect. The rod simply responds predictably and does exactly what you ask.

It is purpose-built for technical dry fly fishing, and it fulfills that role completely.

This is not my first Lamson reel, and it won’t be my last. Very solid, serious quality for the money spent.

This reel is an amazing budget option, can’t beat it.

I really love this rod, it casts super nicely and feels really good. All around great rod for the quality at the price

I think the Liquid Max line of reels is one of the best values out there. It has a fully sealed drag and plenty of line storage. At the $269 price point it just made sense to buy this reel as it can go from fresh to salt without any issues. This simplifies things for me. I currently own several Lamson reels and find them all exceptional. I have the Liquid Max 8 (+extra spool), Liquid Max 6 (+ extra spool), Centerfire HD 8, and the Lightspeed M in a 10wt. I also have a Cobalt 8wt rod which I recently broke on a redfish outing and the Lamson warranty took care of the issue with not questions. I had the required section back in about a week.