Lamson LP

Review Date
January 12, 2003

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by: MNM(Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year , from Outside of Philadelphia

Price Paid:  $125.00 at AA Pro Shop, White H

Body of Water:
Any Pennsylvania Limetstoner

Favorite City:
Anytown

Favorite State:
PA`

Favorite Country:
US

Summary:
I have had an LP 1.5 for over ten years, and have not had any major problem with it until last year. I beat the heck out of this thing as it was the only reel I have used in that time, for trout. Back then I was probably fishing 50+ times a year, not quite as much latley, but this thing took a pounding. The clutch went on me last year, I called Lamson (lifetime warranty) and they didn't ask any questions except for name and address. "Just send it in" they said, I did, and they had it back to me in prime condition, in 2 weeks. The only thing I paid for was shipping to them, which was only a couple bucks.

I got away using it for 3/4/5/6 weight lines by using spare spools, but the reel was a bit heavy for the 3 weight, and not quite heavy enough for 6 weight. It wasn't that it couldn't handle the line, it just didn't balance the rod too well.

Strengths:
Good solid reel that takes a pounding. Great customer service and back up their lifetime warranty.

Weaknesses:
I think I heard they are phasing out the model series, probably can't make enough money off a reel that performs so well over the years. I assume spare spools may get tougher to get a hold of and maybe in a few decades the company will start to run out of parts.

Customer Service:
Awesome

Similar Products Used:
None

Review Date
January 6, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: msutherlin(Unregistered User) ,  40 days a year , from Truckee, CA, USA

Price Paid:  $315.00 at Reno Fly Shop

Body of Water:
Trinity, Mad, Russian, Smith, Garcia.

Favorite City:
Northern California Coast

Favorite State:
CA

Summary:
I just bought one of these Lamson Litespeed 3.5 reels, upon the salesman's recommendaton for steelhead on the coast. Out of all of these reports that I've read, and no one has one comment about this reel, after my Reno Fly Shop salesman pumped it up so well?

I have to say though, it does look sweet, and the drag seems more than amazing to me. It's the smoothest drag that I've ever had in a reel, but, I've only had a few reels, from my Martin years, to my two SA-2 reels that I like, to a small Ross trout reel. I've never needed a drag before, but once I landed my second steelhead on the Trinity, I realized I needed to upscale a bit. So, the lamson Litespeed 3.5 is it, for my new 8 weight Sage rod. I can't wait to use it.

Strengths:
Looks nice, is light weight, has nice feeling drag that seems like it will be easy to operate.

Keep in mind that some of these people who didn't like Lamson's drag, had no experience with this reel. Plus, Lamson was bought out in '98 by Waterworks, and this reel is purely their own design. It's nice.

Weaknesses:
Can't find any reports on it from users.

Customer Service:
Don't know

Similar Products Used:
Sientific Anglers SA-2 and Ross trout reels for 3 and 5 weight rods.

Review Date
October 24, 2002

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: Paul R(Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year , from Miami, Florida USA

Price Paid:  $200.00 at Richters

Body of Water:
Fresh/Salt of South Florida

Favorite City:
Miami

Favorite State:
Florida

Favorite Country:
USA

Summary:
I've owned the Lamson LP3.5 for a 6 years and have used it in all types of conditions. From saltwater fishing for Bonefish and small/midsize Tarpon in the Keys, to Largemouths and Peacock Bass in freshwater. I was very pleased with how well this reel balanced with 8 and 9 weight rods and how smooth the drag was when the reel was fairly new. Eventually after about the 3rd year, the drag and the clutch failed, and this was disappointing because I always rinsed it off after use. I was more disappointed with how the company responded with the warranty. I went back to the fly shop where I bought it, and it wasn't for them calling the company, I would have been stuck in the mud. There have been many other reels that have come out since the fly fishing boom, and I'm sure I could have done better with them, etc. Old Florida, SA

Strengths:
Very light for a 8/9 weight reel. Drag(if it works) is smooth. Some of the paint has come off, but even with heavy saltwater use, very little oxidation and rust.

Weaknesses:
Drag eventually fails. Wary of any Warranty

Customer Service:
A dealer gave me the phone # and I realized Lamson was bought out by Sage or Waterworks. All I cared about is that I bought my reel new, had the receipt, and was swayed by the unconditional lifetime w

Similar Products Used:
Sage, Orvis Battenkill

Review Date
September 23, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Darin Goff(Unregistered User) ,  30 days a year , from Kenai, Alaska

Price Paid:  $0.00

Body of Water:
Anchor River

Favorite State:
Alaska

Summary:
I own two Lamson LP reels, an LP 2 and an LP 4. I purchased my LP 2 seven years ago and have come to regard it as an outstanding trout reel. The drag is smooth with an adequate range of adjustments. I have used it to land twenty inch browns on 6x tippets as well as large Alaskan rainbows in heavy current.

The LP 2 compares favorably with other machined "traditional style" reels in its price range, including the Ross Gunnison and the Orvis CFO. I dislike the plastic click and narrow spool found on the Ross, but that is a matter of personal taste. The Ross drag is superb. The LP 2 probably most resembles the Orvis CFO, which sports an arguably superior "true disc" drag, but has a reputation for fragility. Pick one of these three and go fish.

Based on my experience with the LP 2, I jumped at an opportunity to purchase the LP 4 on sale through a mail order company. The large arbor craze had not started yet and the LP 4, especially at the price I paid, was the only option I could find for a fully machined reel to mate with a ten weight rod. Upon receiving the reel and inspecting it I was surprised to find that the caliper pads on the LP 4 were roughly the same diameter as the pads on the LP2. I was concerned that the drag would not hold up to large, hard running, king salmon. Had I researched this purchase more thoroughly, and assuming the LP 4 had not been on sale, I probably would have selected the Orvis DXR, a similarly machined reel with a powerful true disc drag (as opposed to a caliper drag).

My fears regarding the drag, however, were unfounded. I have subsequently landed nearly two dozen king salmon with the LP 4, some of them approaching thirty pounds. Most of those fish melted fly line and backing off the reel and not once have I noticed any fade. I loaned the reel to my brother to fish for Kenai sockeyes. These fish, although not as large as king salmon, have a reputation for spinning the handles off fly reels. He hooked and played at least forty of them in a week of trying, and I have not observed any degradation in the drag mechanism. My brother lost the pawl spring at this time, which disabled the outgoing click. I have requested a new pawl spring, but the drag works fine without it. The oft-reported "slippery when wet" problem has not materialized. A friend of mine fishes the 3.5 for salmon (including kings) and steelhead and reports

Strengths:
LP 2: Smooth, reliable drag; strong fully machined case and spool; price; traditional good looks.

LP 2: Smooth, strong drag; strong, fully machined case and spool; affordable spools; price.

Weaknesses:
LP 2: None

LP 4: Drag surface is small. "Traditional" arbor design is now obsolete in big game reels.

Customer Service:
I recently ordered a pawl spring. I have had no other direct contact with the company.

Similar Products Used:
Orvis CFO III; Orvis Battenkill 5/6; Ross Reel Gunnison 3, 4; Orvis DXR 7/8.

Review Date
September 5, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: John (Unregistered User) ,  50+ days a year , from Michigan

Price Paid:  $200.00 at local fly shop

Body of Water:
small rivers

Favorite State:
Michigan

Summary:
I love my LP1.5! I have had this reel for ~2 years and have been fishing it exclusively. I've fought and landed everthing from catfish to cutthroats with this little guy. The drag has never failed me and it is easy to adjust.

Strengths:
Good weight. Good looks. Great performance!

Weaknesses:
None Yet

Customer Service:
N/A

Similar Products Used:
SA