Topic: Best Fly Reels for Trout, Saltwater, Big Game, and More (Read 52 times)
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Topic: Best Fly Reels for Trout, Saltwater, Big Game, and More (Read 52 times)
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Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This is the best reel for trout because it picks up line quickly, balances well, and is durable.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Mirage II is a big part of the reason that the Manchester, Vermont-based Orvis co*pany has experienced a recent renaissance in reel-making. The Mirage’s weight is perfect—it balances your trout rod and feels great in your hand. The extra-large arbor enables you to reel in your line extremely quickly. You won’t always need to be able to do that when fishing for trout, but it can be a day-saver if you hook into a really big one.
You’re going to bang around your reel while trout fishing, but the Mirage will hold up, both structurally and cosmetically, thanks to its aluminum bar stock body and anodized finish. One nice little thing the Mirage features is a rounded reel foot. Most reels have reel feet with edges, which can feel unco*fortable to the touch and produce kinks in your leader if you wrap it around the reel foot (as I do) when moving to a new bit of water. The rounded reel foot solves both of those problems.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This is the best reel for saltwater because nearly 1,000 world records have been caught with Tibor reels.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Tibor’s founder and owner is the Hungarian-born tool-and-die maker, Ted Juracsik. He’s the OG when it co*es to well-built fly reels, having made his first in the early 1970s. Juracsik’s credo has long been “the most beautiful machines have the least moving parts.” His reels live up to it: They are simple and excellent.
I have fished my Riptide for more than 20 years now for a wide variety of different species, including striped bass, snook, permit, bonefish, tarpon and Atlantic salmon. I have enjoyed every minute I’ve used the reel. It’s tough as nails, has a great drag and is nearly maintenance-free (after fishing in the salt, a quick rinse with freshwater is a good idea). Some anglers may prefer the super large arbors on some of the more modern reels, but I’ve never had a problem retrieving line quickly with my Tibor.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This is the best budget fly reel because it offers serious high-end performance at an entry-level price.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
I bought my first Lamson Liquid reel many years ago as a backup for my salmon-fishing outfit. Over the years, I’ve found myself using it almost as much as I do the first team reel. The Liquid, which co*es in 3-through-9-weights, is die-cast and not machined like most high-end reels, which is why the price is so low (it’s cheaper to manufacture that way).
But you don’t lose much in performance here, or even in durability, though I have found that the reel is easily nicked-up cosmetically. The drag system is the same one that Lamson uses in some of its high-end reels, so nothing is co*promised there. The only real drawback is that I’ve had trouble in the saltwater with this reel—machined bar stock reels tend to hold up better in that hostile environment. But for your freshwater needs? An excellent backup, or even primary, reel, especially for those new to the sport.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This is the best reel for European nymphing because it’s purpose built, offers customizable balance, quickly picks up line, and there are no line-catching gaps in the reel.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
European nymphing for trout has exploded in popularity in recent years, primarily because, when done right, it can be a deadly tactic for catching them. Part of doing it right is having the correct equipment, and the ESN is the best reel I’ve found for European nymphing. It has an extra large arbor, which allows you to easily get the slack out of your line and get the fish on the reel quickly.
The full frame construction of the reel (basically, no gaps) is essential—your leader and the thinner lines used in the discipline can easily slip through any gaps in your reel and foul up your day. And the easy-to-install weights that co*e with the rod allow you to balance out your reel to your rod, whether you’re using a 2-,3-,4-, or 5-weight. Though the ESN should not be used for conventional fly fishing, it’s the only one you’ll need for European nymphing.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This is the best fly reel for drag strength because the ultra-strong drag feels like it could stop a speeding 18-wheeler.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Behemoth’s carbon-fiber drag system is super strong. You won’t need its strength for a largemouth bass or most trout. But if you fish for hard-charging species that need to be stopped—say, snook who lurk near mangroves or giant trevally anywhere—this reel is an excellent option. The great thing about the drag is that it’s smooth, as well. You won’t lose any fish because of any hitches as the line leaves the reel.
The Behemoth just looks tough, too, beefy and solid. And it is, in fact, very sturdy, even though it is die-cast and not machined. Its one drawback is its weight: A 10.8-ounce 8-weight reel is a lot to handle.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This lightweight, high-performance reel is the best fly reel for Spey and switch rods because it has a large arbor for quickly picking up line and has a nice drag system.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Another fast-growing trend in recent years in fly fishing is the use of two-handed rods. Spey rods are for two-hands only. Switch rods, in theory, can be cast with one or two hands. As with European nymphing, it’s important to get your gear right if you are going to get into the two-handed game. The reel is hugely important.
Loop has been a mainstay in two-handed rod fishing for decades, and with the Opti Strike, the co*pany has reached the apex of its two-handed reel design. The reel has a huge arbor that allows for quick retrieval of line. That’s important because you will have a ton of line out when casting a two-handed rod. The frame, though not full, is narrow enough that you usually don’t have to worry about your line slipping through it. Loop’s Power Matrix drag system is among the best in the industry, and co*es in handy when that hot steelhead you’ve hooked is rocketing downstream for the next pool.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
This is the best fly reel for big game because it can stop the biggest beasts in the ocean and serve you for decades.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Monster has been a popular reel among those who fish for the ocean’s largest fly rod fish—billfish, giant trevally, tuna, sharks, and tarpon—ever since its release a decade ago. Its drag is one of the strongest in its class.
Its huge arbor, known as a “Giga” arbor, retrieves between 14 and 15 inches per turn, which is remarkable. The giant arbor also allows you to load a lot of backing on your reel, which is a good thing to have when fighting truly huge fish. The reel co*es with an innovative venting system that dries out the backing quickly, so you won’t have to worry about rotting. The Monster is made with nearly indestructible CNC machined aluminum, which is important given the abuse the reel will inevitably take in the ocean.
Read Next: Best Saltwater Fly Reels
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
If you want the best fly reel for aesthetics, you can’t do better than this stunning reel.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
It used to be that fly reels pretty much came in two colors: black or silver. Not anymore. In recent years, most co*panies have begun to offer reels in different colors and/or designs. Though traditionalists may scoff at the trend (they can still get their black or silver reels), the new colors and designs have made the sport a bit more fun. Aesthetics, after all, have always been a part of fly fishing.
To my mind, no one does the color/design thing better than Abel. They’ve been innovative with colors for a while, and have recently begun to incorporate designs from well-known fly fishing artists, like Derek DeYoung, Andrea Larko, and Casey Underwood. All you have to do is pick your color or design when ordering a reel (colors will run you an extra $125; artist’s designs cost an extra $800).
The good news is that Abel also makes great reels. The Vaya is among my favorites. It’s light and has a good drag system. It’s also half-ported on one side, which is an interesting design element in itself, and means the reel doesn’t need any counterweights bolted to it.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
If you like the sound of a click-and-pawl drag but want a design with modern features, then check out Hardy Marquis LWT.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Hardy has been making fly fishing gear since the late 1800s. The Marquis was long a mainstay within the trout and Atlantic salmon worlds, known for its looks and the unique sound the reel made when a fish made a run and pulled line from it. As space age material infiltrated reel manufacturing, the Marquis fell out of favor, and Hardy stopped making them.
But in 2016, the Marquis was reintroduced, with some upgrades. There is no longer a line guide on the reel, which would have been cumbersome with modern lines. The frame is no longer full, either, which means you can fit more line on the reel. And there’s more porting on the reel, which allows for better line drying.
What hasn’t changed: the classic look and the old-fashioned click-and-pawl drag, which is the fly fishing world’s equivalent of a manual transmission (disc drags would of course be automatic transmissions). Click-and-pawl drags take some getting used to—when fighting bigger fish, you have to use your palm to slow down the reel. But this is part of the fun. If you’re going to go old-school with this elegant reel, you might as well go full-hog.
A great fly reel for beginner freshwater anglers is the Lamson Liquid, but you can also check out these reasonably priced entry–level rod and reels.
A quality fly reel can cost between $70 and $1,700.
The color of a fly reel won’t help you catch more fish or the reel function. But, a great looking reel like an Abel will enhance pride of ownership and your enjoyment on the water.
There are a few significant things to consider when you look for a fly reel: Your budget, the type of water you’ll be fishing and the species of fish you will be targeting. Unfortunately, there is no one reel that can cover everything. Trout and bass can be targeted, generally speaking, with 3-6 weight reels. For bigger saltwater fish, you’ll need a 7-12 weight reel. A big tarpon cannot be angled with a 5-weight reel. Likewise, a half-pound bream would be no fun on a 12-weight reel—it’d be like bringing a cannon to a spitball contest.
One thing that should not factor into your buying decision: Your skill level. Any fly reel you buy should be looked at like an investment. A good one will last you deca