Reply With QuoteI have been running an MR2 for 3 years now and love it.. Although I do run a couple Shimano's there is nothing like a 30# Chinook on an Islander,, smooth as silk..
Cheers All,
Invictus Charters has been running Islander Reels for years and to say I am thrilled with their performance over the past 15 years would be an understatement! I am currently looking to add to the 5 that are left (2 have been lost on seperate occasions overboard).
Interested in your comments about which model you would prefer:
Islander MR2 or Islander MR3
Any comments would be appreciated.
I thank you in advance.
Fishing Guide
Fishing Guide
www.invictuscharters.com
SFI Certified Tidal Angling Guide
BC Outdoors Pro Staff
West Coast Fishing Guides Association
I have been running an MR2 for 3 years now and love it.. Although I do run a couple Shimano's there is nothing like a 30# Chinook on an Islander,, smooth as silk..
I'd personally go with the MR3's. I switched over three seasons ago, and love the results. Here's my breakdowns of the pros and cons of both the MR2 and MR3 (cut from a previous post).
I really like the MR3 and have switched all my guide reels over to this model. The MR3 is lighter and has a larger arbor for quicker line retrieval. The later, is really important when inexperienced guests are playing a fish that is running back at the boat (especially big springs). Furthermore, because of the larger arbor, knobs are spaced on a wider diameter which I find is a more natural turning radius (try retrieving a 100 feet of line on a fully spooled MR2 then on an MR3, you'll find your hand muscles are less burned after doing so on the MR3).
I find line retrieval speed really important when playing fish, and I keep my reels fully spooled for this reason. To cut down on line costs, I spool my reels with more dacron backing than most (~3/5 of the reel capacity). When the mono level gets low, I simply remove it while keeping the backing. With the larger arbor of the MR3, I re-spool less often, and waste less monofilament.
I really appreciate the interchangeable option of the MR3. I retrieve left handed, while most guests are right handed. The MR3 allows me to have a useable personal reel at the end of the season. Also, left handed guests appreciate being able to use a high-end reel (In my experience, most saltwater guides do not carry high-end left handed mooching reels). If you are converting from left-handed to right-handed or vice versa, the process takes about 15 minutes using a line spooler. You need to de-spool the reel entirely, open the reel and reverse two clickers, close the reel, and then re-spool.
To gain the interchangeable spool on the MR3, the free spool had to be removed. Some people see this as a huge disadvantage to the MR3. Personally, I don't mind, I usually fish with weighted rods, and typically in the top 50 feet. If I need to drop to bottom, I can reduce the drag (it takes about 10 seconds longer to hit bottom 200 feet down with an 8 ounce weight on an MR3 drag removed, versus an MR2 using free-spool).
The MR3 has a larger cork drag system with a buttery smooth adjustment knob. When the MR3 is well oiled and greased, I prefer its operation to the MR2. It sounds better (in my opinion) and applies drag pressure more consistently which can also be more finely tuned during the course of the fight. On the down side, I find I spend more time maintaining my MR3's than my MR2's. During the season, I re-grease/oil my MR3's with perforated back every 70 hours, my MR3's with solid back every 100 hours, and my MR2's every 140 hours (I cut these numbers in half when it rains regularly).
The drag knob on the MR3 is larger and easier to make fine adjustments. On the downside, when inexperienced guests are playing fish, you need to be careful that they don't accidently rub their knuckles against the drag knob while reeling (especially when wearing gloves). This results in accidentally tightening the drag and can end in loosing the fish (I've seen guests do it frequently, but warn them when I catch them, and can only attribute loosing two fish to this cause in the last three years).
On the whole, both are great reels, I just prefer the MR3.
I'm on my second season with an MR3 and love it. I went with the MR3 because I reel left handed, and the MR2 can't convert to left hand retrieve. Also the big drag knob is like butter. Although the MR3 doesn't have the ability to free-spool if that's important to you. I've never had the pleasure of using an MR2. I don't think you can wrong with either one.
Highliner
www.salmonboats.ca
Been packing both for a few years now. And for myself, the preference is the MR3 for the same reasons noted above - left hand retrieve (and as herring noted, a good many guests are quite relieved to discover you have "lefties" of quality on hand), larger arbor = faster retrieve, and the drag is simply awesome.
That said, I still very much enjoy the stares when casting a blade back well out behind the boat with the MR2 in freespool prior to engaging to the downrigger!
Both are better than good, methinks it simply boils down to a matter of personal obsession![^]
Cheers,
Nog
I'm with the Nog on that. I have 3 of both style for my guests, but prefer the MR-3. Currently field testing a new reel for Normark which won't come to market until it is 100%. So far the reel is pretty good, but we can get her better with more tweeking.
The islanders are great reels and nothing can touch them. The MR3's are the ones I use for myself, but there is something to be said for the MR2 anti-reverse which I let my wife and other inexperienced friends fishing with me use, as they still have a silky smooth drag, but I never have to worry about them getting there nuckels beat up or removing their hands from the real when a big fish surges to run. Would not go out fishing without one of each!
I think that you are referring to the ARMR2. Masonquote:Originally posted by HSM542
The islanders are great reels and nothing can touch them. The MR3's are the ones I use for myself, but there is something to be said for the MR2 anti-reverse which I let my wife and other inexperienced friends fishing with me use, as they still have a silky smooth drag, but I never have to worry about them getting there nuckels beat up or removing their hands from the real when a big fish surges to run. Would not go out fishing without one of each!
[www.savebcsalmon.ca]
I tried that reel for 1 week and tossed it sold it to a guy I hated it as it seemed if it was too tight it wouldnt let line out and you moved it a 1/4 inch then it was too loose For how bad "I" found it you might as well buy a level wind!!! you dont see many out there I think for a reason anyone can reel in a fish with a "coffee grinder"
The ART of "SPORT FISHING" is learning to reel in a fish with a single action be it a MR2,MR3,TROPHY QXR,GT 4000, M1 or the old stand by a 5 or 6 inch peetz. When they invented that it was the beginning off all these above mentioned reels the peetz is the forefather of them all!!!!!
Good luck Wolf
Blue Wolf Charters
www.bluewolfcharters.com
Me... I would just buy a Penn or Shimano level wind! But, to each his own! LOL
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