Lamson Liquid S Reel Review — The Workhorse That Handles October Browns

The Lamson Liquid S lives on my Redington Vice, which is my October streamer outfit. It doesn’t get more than a few months of use in a year — streamers are a part-time pursuit for me, not my primary way of fishing. So this reel spends most of its life in a closet, waiting for the leaves to turn. But when it comes out, it needs to do its job without asking me to think about it.

That’s exactly what the Liquid S does. It’s not a glamour reel. It’s not old-school or artisanal, and it won’t get anyone misty-eyed at the fly shop. It’s a reliable disc-drag workhorse with a good arbor and a drag system that handles the unpredictable runs of a big October brown without making a scene. I respect a tool that just shows up and works — even if it never makes the highlight reel.

The Drag

The Liquid S uses Lamson’s sealed conical drag system. It’s smooth at low settings, has meaningful range as you turn it up, and doesn’t spike at startup. When a pre-spawn brown takes a streamer in fast water and runs, I don’t have to baby it. The drag does what it’s supposed to do.

The sealed design matters for Colorado fall fishing. Cold water, potential ice in the guides, the occasional dunking when you cross a slick boulder. The sealed system keeps the drag performing regardless of what the river throws at it.

Large Arbor Design

The large arbor means faster line retrieval when a fish runs toward you — which October browns do, unpredictably. It also means lower effective drag variation as the spool empties. In practice, it just means the reel keeps up with whatever the fish is doing without me having to compensate.

Is the Lamson Liquid S a good streamer reel?

For a 7wt throwing big flies in fall, yes. The sealed conical drag handles the unpredictable runs of a big October brown without spiking at startup, and the large arbor keeps line retrieval fast when a fish runs at you. It’s a reliable workhorse, not a glamour reel.

On the Water

Paired with the Vice on a fall South Platte run, the Liquid S sits in the hand correctly — not tip-heavy, not so light that it throws off the balance of a heavier 7wt setup. It’s a practical reel for a practical rod for a practical purpose.

October streamer fishing is about covering water, making distance casts, throwing big flies, and staying in contact when a fish moves. The Liquid S doesn’t complicate any of that. It’s just there, doing its job, while I take all the credit.

Honest Assessment

I’d put this reel on any streamer or heavy-nymph rod. It’s not the reel I’d put on my Winston — that’s the San Miguel’s job, and the two of them are not getting reassigned. But for a 7wt throwing meat, the Liquid S is exactly appropriate, and it will last a long time doing it. No drama, no fuss, no second thoughts — which, if I’m honest, is more than I can say for half the gear in my closet.

Price: lamsonflyfishing.com

Part of my five-rod South Platte quiver.