Ross Cimmeron vs. Orvis Battenkill

ShadowCast · 03-01-04, 01:18 PM

I know that the answer to my question will be it depends or personal preference but I am going to ask it anyway.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Ross Cimmeron vs. the Orvis Battenkill barstock reels? I am going to as for a new 4 or 5 weight rod for my birthday and, of course, I will need a new reel to go with it.

Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks.

bingo · 03-01-04, 03:27 PM

I think the Battenkill is prettier but friend of mine who was recently trying to make the same decision chose the Ross for durability reasons. The guy he talked to at a flyshop who told him to pull the spool off and check the spindle (he had dropped his Okuma and bent the shaft.) He ended up buying the Cimmaron.

Josh Barnett · 03-01-04, 09:27 PM

Can't say much as personal preference for the Cimaron, as I haven't fished with them.

However, I do have an Orvis BBS on one of my Winston Rods, and I love it. They are well-made reels- as well as great for the money- starting at $129.00.

The Orvis reels seem to be very durable- we own three or four of them. They are also beautifully handcrafted in England.

I suggest the Orvis soley on the fact I haven't yet compared it to the Ross.

------------------
Joshua Barnett
caddisfly08@yahoo.com
1-706-354-8500

Call me for all your flies!

Glenn Scott · 03-05-04, 01:37 PM

Check on E-bay for a Ross...you may be able to get a Gunnison for less than the new BBS. The Gunnison is a very, very good, tough reel. Personally, I love Ross reels, for price, function, design, you name it. I bought a brand new G-2 for less than $120 on E-bay.

------------------
Glenn

DAWGFISH · 03-08-04, 11:34 AM

I haven't had a chance to try the new barstock Battenkill, but I used to own some regurlar Battenkill's and a large arbor Battenkill. Orvis may have come a long way, but based on my experience, the Ross reels soundly trounce the overall quality of the Battenkill's. I have a Orvis CFO click and pawl that I really like, but even it is not built as well as any of the Ross series I own (Gunnison, Colorado, Cimmaron, Big Game Canyon, Canyon, Evolution). Ross reels are built like tanks. They simply take punishment and keep on operating. I know it used to be a fashionable thing on the board to bash Orvis and that's not what I'm trying to do here, but I have owned several of their rods, reels, and waders and they have all performed subpar to me compared to the competition. The sad fact of the matter is Orvis' sales for flyfishing equipment is just a minor percentage of their overall sales nowadays. The real "bread and butter" sales-wise with the company now is their clothing,doggie beds, etc. I would rather trust my major flyfishing components (rods, reels, waders, and lines) to companies that live and breath flyfishing, not fashion. It's sad to see this happen to what was once a great flyfishing outfitter, but the accountants have spoke!

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03-01-04, 01:18 PM	#1
ShadowCast Native Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 238	I know that the answer to my question will be it depends or personal preference but I am going to ask it anyway. Does anyone have any thoughts on the Ross Cimmeron vs. the Orvis Battenkill barstock reels? I am going to as for a new 4 or 5 weight rod for my birthday and, of course, I will need a new reel to go with it. Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks.

03-01-04, 03:27 PM	#2
bingo Native Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 257	I think the Battenkill is prettier but friend of mine who was recently trying to make the same decision chose the Ross for durability reasons. The guy he talked to at a flyshop who told him to pull the spool off and check the spindle (he had dropped his Okuma and bent the shaft.) He ended up buying the Cimmaron.

03-01-04, 09:27 PM	#3
Josh Barnett Native Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North Georgia Posts: 2,934	Can't say much as personal preference for the Cimaron, as I haven't fished with them. However, I do have an Orvis BBS on one of my Winston Rods, and I love it. They are well-made reels- as well as great for the money- starting at $129.00. The Orvis reels seem to be very durable- we own three or four of them. They are also beautifully handcrafted in England. I suggest the Orvis soley on the fact I haven't yet compared it to the Ross. ------------------ Joshua Barnett caddisfly08@yahoo.com 1-706-354-8500 Call me for all your flies!

03-05-04, 01:37 PM	#4
Glenn Scott Stocker Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Warner Robins, Ga. USA Posts: 24	Check on E-bay for a Ross...you may be able to get a Gunnison for less than the new BBS. The Gunnison is a very, very good, tough reel. Personally, I love Ross reels, for price, function, design, you name it. I bought a brand new G-2 for less than $120 on E-bay. ------------------ Glenn

03-08-04, 11:34 AM	#5
DAWGFISH Native Join Date: May 2001 Location: Gainesville/Brunswick/St.Simons Island Posts: 422	I haven't had a chance to try the new barstock Battenkill, but I used to own some regurlar Battenkill's and a large arbor Battenkill. Orvis may have come a long way, but based on my experience, the Ross reels soundly trounce the overall quality of the Battenkill's. I have a Orvis CFO click and pawl that I really like, but even it is not built as well as any of the Ross series I own (Gunnison, Colorado, Cimmaron, Big Game Canyon, Canyon, Evolution). Ross reels are built like tanks. They simply take punishment and keep on operating. I know it used to be a fashionable thing on the board to bash Orvis and that's not what I'm trying to do here, but I have owned several of their rods, reels, and waders and they have all performed subpar to me compared to the competition. The sad fact of the matter is Orvis' sales for flyfishing equipment is just a minor percentage of their overall sales nowadays. The real "bread and butter" sales-wise with the company now is their clothing,doggie beds, etc. I would rather trust my major flyfishing components (rods, reels, waders, and lines) to companies that live and breath flyfishing, not fashion. It's sad to see this happen to what was once a great flyfishing outfitter, but the accountants have spoke!