I have an Orvis Battenkill 8/9 for my salmon/steelhead 8-wt rod and I'll just quickly give a Orvis Battenkill 8/9 Fly Reel Review. I've been using this reel for the past three years and it has been a workhorse to say the least. I've hooked steelhead, springs, coho, chums, and pinks - and the disc drag mechanism is easily adjustable for each species. The largest fish I've landed was a 40+ pound spring and the reel handled it nicely. Overall, an excellent piece of equipment for the price! I keep on thinking about purchasing a nice Hardy for my 8 wt rod (I've got Hardy reels for all my trout rods). But I just can't justify not using my Battenkill! I would definitely recommend this one folks!
Below is a list of new and used Orvis Battenkill 8/9 Fly Reel for sale.
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VINTAGE ORVIS BATTENKILL 8/9 DISC DRAG FLY REEL |  |
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US $98.95 | 29d 7h 46m |
Great all-round package for the price. Disc drag is smooth and easy to operate. Good line capacity. Attractive "traditional" look and feel. Can use it in saltwater too (although I haven't done this yet).
Anodised finish seems to wear off easily (keep away from rocks!). Printing on rear end of the reel is not engraved (what do you expect for the price). Also noticed some minor imperfections in the finish.