Alright, I'm gonna bite. I want to get one, I fished with one up in Nootka sound a few years back, loved it! Is there anywhere that sells them cheaper than the rest of the shops? $595.00 is alot of duckets to lay down for one.

I believe Islander uses a fixed price system for selling their reels to dealers. I could be wrong on that, but when I looked around for an Islander, the prices were identical no matter where you went to.

Most of our local stores (at the time) didn't even carry one, so I had to get one via ebay. I didn't save any money, but at least I found one.

I went with the MR2 over the MR3 because I wanted a knuckle buster, not another clutched reel.

I know Sky-Guy got one at the same time, but I don't know if his is the MR2 or MR3. It's the cool blue one!

I fished the MR3 out of Gilly's boat and it was nice. Just a personal preference at that point.

Yep, I scoured the world before I bought my MR3 and ended up purchasing one from Berry's Bait in BC. There is a guy in Washington who sells on Ebay that you can sometimes find is selling them a bit cheaper.

I bought this reel in blue and silver...: http://www.anglingbc.com/index.cfm/review/1
And couldnt be happier.

It performs flawlessly, is simple in design ( all you operate is the drag) and will probably never break. Easy clean up. Drag is ultra silky smooth when a fish takes line. Last but not least..... it has a major bling factor!!

Parker, a true knucklebuster doesnt have Anti-reverse, ya Puss!

Only the ARMR2 has the anti-reverse, right?

I thought the MR3 did, but in looking at the site, I guess not.

Now that I've looked at the site, Gilly had the ARMR@2', I believe.

I just have the MR2. No anti-reverse there.

oh ok, I thought you had the AR. you're excused!

Team Islander needs to fish together!

We might not catch anything, but at least our gear will look impressive!

if all goes well....I'll have my boat in the water next friday AM for an E-Bay Run. Wanna come along with your too long-a leaders?

Yes!

I own a pair of clippers. I can cut them down.

Besides, your boat likes me.

SmellslikeTuna.

Bottom line, you are getting what you pay for with these reels. This isnt a $500.00 reel that will go tits-up in 3-5 years like some do. You'll have it for the rest of your life..... unless you fish with people who like to throw gear in the water


Yes it does Parker, you have had some bender days out there on it, like last time!

This guy makes it look easy. As someone said the other day, few have the ability to any thread into a ho'ing thread quite like Parker.

I'm on the juice.

I'll eventually get incriminated by my trainer and someone at Balco, my reputation will be forever tarnished, and when I finally get sent to the MLBH Hall of Fame, I'll have a * put next to my name.

By the way, with the larger arbor on the MR3, completely filled with line ( we're talking +/- 500 yards of 20# test) I can retreive line *almost* as fast as my buddies with a 5:1 or 6:1 reel.

With a single action, Sometimes you have to seriously bust balls to catch up to a fish coming at you.... but that is what adds to the excitement IMO.

I'm picking up my centerpin downrigger rod that is being built for me on Tuesday.. I bought a Shimano Moocher to put on it to start out as I don't have the $$$$ to throw down on the islander right now but when I can I will.. I have fished them and damn are they sweet... smoooooooth as silk for sure

Watch ebay as said above sometimes you can find them a bit cheaper, not by much, but some, and no tax which helps take some of the sting away
My 2 cents

Heres a pretty pink one so Sol can match it up with Sherry's custom pink downrigger rod...

I'm on the JV team of centerpin reel users. I have a Daiwa M-One Plus reel, awfully smooth drag, and drop dead simple. Plus it's $50! LOVE IT!

I have MR2's and MR3's, I have grown to love the MR3 over the MR2. I like the simplicity and with the larger arbor it retrieves much faster than the MR2. It's really a simple fantastic reel. Turn the drag knob and your in business. Want to let line out without turning the drag knob just turn the arbor backwards I love them. Fished on a 11 or 12' moocher they are the cat's ass.

I have had an MR2 for more than 15 years. I has always operated flawlessly. in Canada I often fish two rods, usually my MR 2 on one, and typically a Shimano centre pin on the other. I find myself thinging"Shait, that fish is on the Shimano"

I convert my MR2 to a fy reel in winter. It has been perfect on tarpon, sailfish, and othewr bigguns.

Buy it, you will never regret it.

The MR2 doesn't convert to left hand retrieve from what I understand? Is that true?

Bought 2 MR2's several years ago at River Sportsmen in Cambell River. I think I paid $400-$450 Canadian (good exchange rate at the time) they were blems. The spool was a different tone of gold than the face plate.

I just keep replacing washers in my Shimano and as I was explaining to my wife the cost of those washers really adds up over time, but if I got a quality Islander reel, in the long run, we would save money.

Those are sweet reels and I will own one next year.