New Lamson Liquid-S äóñ review & images by Andrew Harding
Fly Fishing enthusiast level 100, Andrew Harding, takes the new Lamson Speedster S out for a run. Have a read of what he thinks below.
Gear envy, who doesnäó»t get it? Ever since I laid eyes on the Lamson Speedster years ago, I fell in love with the elegance of that reel. The Speedster was sleek, light and fully machined from a solid aluminum bar. Massive advancements in the pressure-casting processes of fly reels in recent years has brought entry-level reels into the realm of äóìhigh-endäó in every regard. Cast reels were often bulky, heavy, and tended to not take hard impacts overly well. Things have changedäó?
The new Lamson Liquid S is a testament to the fusion of aesthetics, and advanced casting processes. At first glance, it looks JUST like a Speedster! The spool featuring intricately cast spokes of varying density to counter-balance any wobbles, thereäó»s no unnecessary exterior counter-balance weights here, and Lamsonäó»s advanced casting processes minimise the overall weight without compromising the structural integrity. One bonus of pressure-cast reels is their one-piece cage, lessening the chance of the reel foot ever separating as on a machined reel where the two separate parts are secured with screws.
Iäó»ve been putting the new Liquid S through its paces recently and came away bloody impressed! Looks aside, the reel is a complete departure from the old model. An overbearing feature is the new äóìtractor-tyre styleäó drag knob which is easily accessible for fine tuning, allowing anglers to adapt quickly to the changing dynamics of a battle with a spirited fish. Itäó»s huge, and thatäó»s a good thing when fumbling for it blindly as a 6lb brown heads down the rapids.
Lamsonäó»s legendary conical drag system needs no introduction. A hallmark of throughout their entire reel range right from entry-level, to high-end utilise the same system, providing consistent and smooth resistance to varying demands and tippet-protection mid-fight. One thing I love about äóìsomeäó fly reels is the sound they make! The Liquid S sure sings a beautiful tune! I know it sounds sillyäó? but some reels can be downright obnoxious on wind and under drag, the Liquid S reminds me of the old Leeda Rimfly reelsäó? perhaps Iäó»m just being nostalgic, but itäó»s a particularly sweet sound!
As a long time user of the Lamson Guru, I always maintained that reel was perfect in arbor size, not silly narrow, nor ridiculously tall, and itäó»s nice to see this sensibility carried over to the 5+ (5-6 weight model) I tested. Retrieval speed was good, and at 130 grams, weight was right where it should be to balance a typical 905-4 or 906-4 rod. It certainly felt very light on the 905-4 Scott Centric !
I can see the new Liquid S Fly Reel becoming a firm favourite with guides, where balancing a clientäó»s demands for high-end gear, with business cost effectiveness is paramount. The Liquid S with its visual appeal in äóìDay Break Greyäó, excellent ergonomics and solid construction could be summed up as feeling high-end with a mid-range price tag, and thatäó»s a very good thing if youäó»re like me and love collection new Lamsons!
This article first appeared in NZ and Australia's super popular fishing magazine, Fly Life. Get yourself a copy today, or better yet, subscribe to it! Head to flylife.com.au for more information.