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 Back to: Angler's West Flyfishing Lamson Konic "The Batten-killer"
It’s die cast and then machined, and I know some readers are rolling their eyes, but to the “machined barstock or die” fans, let's simply point out the huge numbers of die-cast Hardy Lightweights that are still catching more than their share of fish. And besides, the Waterworks guys do die-casting a little differently: "In order to deliver this expensive drag in a low-priced reel we are die casting the frame and spool. But this is no low-end die casting. This is Pressure Casting with molten ALDC12 aluminum alloy injected at 1,080 kgs pressure to ensure consistent, smooth and strong parts with lower porosity." These guys are engineers not designers. It's all about stripping away all the fluff not adding it on. Remember that wonderful saying: k-i-s-s? Yea, well, I won't go any further. The key to the Konic is Lamson’s sealed conical drag — the exact same sealed unit you’ll find on the top-shelf $400 models. This is the drag system that has really put Lamson back on the map of success. Think a fly reel is inteneded to basically be a spool designed to hold the fly line with a drag mechanism to slow the possibility of backlash, then this reel’s appeal and utility far outstrips its somewhat drab finish. The drag mechanism itself is impressive; not only is the sealed-for-life mechanism maintenance free, it’s also wonderfully smooth. For anglers who like to set their drag light, the Konic’s drag micro-adjusts from almost no drag to reasonable to stop a freight train-like settings in easy, tiny steps with an easily used drag adjustment knob featured on the back of the frame. Right-on! The finish of the reel won’t excite those looking for brook trout themed paint jobs; it’s a silvery grey polyurethane finish that’s as tough as your average anvil, and generates about the same amount of sex appeal. Still, I think that Lamson is betting some fly fishers actually buy gear because they want to fish the stuff, not just show it off. I find myself hoping they’re right. For sheer usefulness, durability, and price – and for focusing on the parts of the reel that really matter — I’m giving Lamson/Waterworks four rollcasts (out of five) for the Konic. The Konic is just what the average angler looking get a start or add a decent second setup needs. Move over Orvis, there's a new value minded reel in town. One that rocks!
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Reels that Rock. Lamson has come up with some great fly reels in the past couple seasons. With the Hard Alox models in the Litespeed and Velocity on the top end, the Radius as a great mid range reel, Lamson needed a knock out punch in the value minded realm. Well, they've done it this year with the Konic. Priced from $119-$149, the Konic is bound to be this year's "batten-killer".