The Konic....I have decided to name it Stormin Normin the Caveman He Man Women Hater Club Reel
I recently picked up a Lamson Konic after I played with it in the fly shop a few times. Not only did it seem like a sturdy no frills reel, which is what I wanted, it was also highly recommended to me by a few fly fisherman whose opinions I highly regard. I paired it up with 9ft 5wt Helios 1 and an Orvis Hydros Power Taper line. I have found that most modern fly reels are actually too light for correctly balancing a fly rod and the konic, being the heaviest in the Lamson lineup, is still just a little too light for a correct set up. I find that on a typical 9ft fly rod that weighs under 3 ounces, a reel that weighs about 5.5 ounces, before even adding backing and line, once filled will balance the rod just about perfect. I can prove this to you very easy: Take your rod and put your reel on it. Grip it like you would to cast and note where your thumb is. Now take it and set it on your pointer finger in that spot as if it was a see-saw. If the tips hits the floor, its too top heavy and could use a heavier reel. You will find a rod that balances nice, doesn't have to perfect or great- just nice is suitable, will be much more comfortable to fish on an all day outing than one that is too out of balance, one way or the other. Without looking it up the weight, I would guess it to be about 4.5 ounces before its lined, which is close enough to my target for me.
First Impressions of the reel
Before I even took it on the water, there were some things I liked and some things I didn't like about this reel. Let me note here, the Konic ii is now out and I got my Konic for under a $100 on closeout and it would seem Lamson actually fixed a few of dislikes on the new one, this leads me to believe they should hire me as a reel tester!
Great, solid feeling reel. This thing doesn't beg to babied, it begs to be abused. If somebody tried to fight me, I would just hit them with this thing and I am confident they wouldn't come back for more. The drag is awesome, I refuse to understand what conical drag system means, to me it just means they use magnets and some other parts to make a great drag. I like it! I am a big fan of sealed drag reels, less open parts means the less I can mess it up when I take it apart. I actually like the look of the konic as well, which doesn't mean much for performance, but I like to look good on the water! I think of it as a 'caveman' looking thing, and I am more of a caveman than most. Its warranty really is great as well, for less than $100 I got something that will last me a lifetime and if it wears out, I can get a replacement or get it fixed by Lamson.
Things, I didn't like... The drag lol I know I just said I like the drag but its how the drag is applied and lower limit of it I don't like. With it being a caveman reel it also has a caveman attitude when it comes to applying its great drag system. I can reel probably a 1/8th of an inch before I hit any drag and then its straight into it, its not smooth its an abrupt drag. Here I am and no fish is going to pull me without knowing it! That is what this reel says. It makes you think, is this going to protect light tippets? Which is a BIG deal because if you hook into a big fish, you don't want to loose it because your reel is trying to pound that SOB into submission. Now an 1/8th of an inch does not sound like much, BUT its like driving an old truck compared to modern sports car. Old truck = turn the wheel a few inches before it turns. Modern Sports Car = You just think about turning and it turns. Sports cars can be dangerous but to those who know how to make them work for them can do some amazing things. Same with reels. (Lamson fixed this with the Konic ii - or so I have been told)
Second thing I didn't like... I wish the drag could be set lighter. Most fly fisherman don't put the trout on the fly reel, ever. I put every fish I can on it! I bought that thing, I am going to use it dammit! Disc drags are a beauty because you can make it as loose or as tight as you want it. The Konic's lightest setting is what I would consider to be about a perfect 12-15 inch trout drag, but most trout I catch aren't that large so its like bringing napalm to a hand grenade fight. Those poor suckers don't stand a chance. So, my problem isn't the lowest drag setting is too high, because its probably perfect but I just don't like to be limited! I am an American and if I want a 2 incher to pull my drag, then I should be allowed.
I Took it Fishing and I really Liked it!
That is the title of this section and it sums it up. My dislikes are still there and I still think it will not protect tippets from big trout like some of my disc drag reels but I am willing to give it a chance. I did get one trout to pull the drag out on its lightest setting, but I think the fast riffles helped it. LOL I think this reel will become my go to for the summer and defintley be my first choice for bigger waters like the Delaware because the fish bring big fights there but I am bringing Stormin Normin and he don't mess around!
BTW, I am no fishing expert so everybody else in the world may tell you something different about this reel BUT Lamson did fix that delay on the drag to make it a smoother transition, so I must know something. At least a little of something. Let me know what you think of the Konic, if you have it. Also, if somebody wants to explain the drag system, please do.
A.S. aka Sulphur Salvation
No Drag Allowed
A cone has more surface area than a disk with the same diameter as the cone base, so the cone can create more drag. Also, I am not sure, but I think that the cone would generate less heat with the same amount of drag than a disk, since the friction is being spread over a larger area.
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