Best Fly Fishing Reels

When I’m putting together a new fly fishing outfit such as a fly fishing vest and fly fishing boots, one of my most critical decisions is choosing a reel for my setup. My selection process all starts with taking into account what species I’ll be going after.

For small spring creek trout fishing, I like my reels to be light and well balanced with my rod. Therefore, I don’t worry too much about drag as these wary little fish can usually be brought to the net by stripping line.

However, when it comes to salmon, steelhead, and bass, things get more complicated. These are aggressive sport fish that fight like hell, and I never want to be overmatched or outgunned in the moment of truth.

In this case, I want a fly fishing reel with a large arbor and a drag system that packs enough punch to handle five to ten-pound fish digging in strong currents.

What follows is a rundown of some of the best fly fishing reels, along with a deep dive into the pros and cons of each one to help you decide which reel is suitable for you and your style of fishing.

What are some features to look for in a fly fishing reel?

Whether you’re new to fly fishing or a seasoned veteran, the first thing to think about when purchasing a new rod or reel will be what species you are targeting. The species you are fishing for will determine every decision you make when putting together a new fly fishing outfit.

Fly fishing equipment is highly dependent on the line Wt. designation that you match to the type of fishing you’ll be doing.

The most common line weights go from a 2 Wt. up through 12 Wt. For simplicity’s sake, the smaller the fish, the lower the weight of fly line, reel, and rod, and vice versa.

As an avid inland dry fly fisherman, I often use either a 3 Wt., 4 Wt., or 5 Wt. These fly fishing combinations will usually handle fish up to 5 lbs, with no problem.

In the fall, when I switch to targeting larger lake-run salmon, steelhead, and brown trout, my setup is typically a 7 Wt. or 8 Wt. rod, reel, and line configuration. In this application, we are looking at fish that fight a bit harder, require the reel to do more work, and fall in the 6 lb. to 10 lb category.

Saltwater fly fishing requires even more heavy-duty equipment, and these rods and reels will be more along the lines of a 10 Wt. or 11 Wt.

It all starts with choosing your fish species and then selecting the matching rod, reel, and line combination that best fits the size and power of your desired type of fishing.

What size reels work best for fly fishing?

As noted in the section above, once you have your species of fish locked down, you’ll choose the reel size that matches the appropriate line weight for that fish.

For example, with my favorite dry fly trout fishing setup, I fish a 4 Wt. rod, with a standard arbor 4 Wt. reel and a 4 Wt. floating fly line. This is delicate fishing to smaller fish where I don’t worry much about drag or retrieval power.

Alternatively, for bass, I typically use a 6 Wt. fly rod with a large arbor 6 Wt. reel that has more drag capabilities. I pair these with a 6 Wt. floating line to work topwater flies to stronger fish. But, again, I want a drag system on my bass fishing reel that can deal with fish more likely to run a few times before landing.

What’s the difference between standard and large arbor reels?

The arbor of a fly reel refers to the diameter of the spool that your fly line and backing are attached to. A large arbor reel is typically wider and not as deep as a standard arbor reel, allowing you to hold more line and create more retrieval power on each crank of the handle.

I use a standard arbor reel for lighter and more delicate trout and pan fishing. However, I will almost always choose a large arbor reel if I know I will be running into larger and stronger fish like bass, salmon, steelhead, or saltwater species.

Of course, there are dry fly fishing situations where I will choose a large arbor reel if I know I will be on water where trout in the 20 in. plus categories are commonplace.

What are the different types of drag systems found in fly fishing reels?

The drag on fly fishing reels usually falls within one of two different types. Most reels on the market have either an old-style click-and-pawl system or the more modern disc drag type design.

A click-and-pawl drag functions with spring tensioning on a gear within the reel. Increased tension on the spring results in more resistance to fighting fish. This system is older, perhaps less powerful, yet classic and still enjoyable to fish.

The disc drag design utilizes a series of washers that compress on an internal disc to create tension and fish-stopping power. This type of drag is very smooth to start while also providing ease of adjustability and a great deal of power.

Disc drag reels can also be sealed to prevent water and debris from getting to the critical working parts of your reel, making this type of drag system ideal in inclement weather and rough fishing conditions.

These types of reels each have their place and can be a blast to fish with for different reasons. I’d recommend taking the time to learn which fits your fishing style best.

How to choose the best fly fishing reel

Now that you know about the different reel sizes and the two different types of fly reel drag systems, there are a few other essential factors to think about when purchasing a fly fishing reel.

Materials

Fly fishing reels are usually offered in either machined aluminum or molded carbon plastic.

The aluminum reels are more pleasing to the eye and likely more durable; however, they usually carry a much larger price tag.

Molded carbon plastic reels have come a long way over the years. They are now much stronger than in the past and can put up with more of a beating on the water than ever before.

In addition, many companies have also started putting their high-end reel drag components in their more cost-friendly molded plastic models resulting in a well-performing yet less expensive option for the consumer.

Also, keep in mind that you need to lubricate your reels using gun oil or other lubricants.

Weight

When it comes to the weight of a fly fishing reel, I typically like to go as light as possible. However, how well your reel balances with your fly rod is more important than the reel’s overall weight alone. I recommend that anglers bring their rod into a fly shop to try the reel on the rod whenever possible.

Alternatively, with the increased practice of buying fly fishing equipment online, I would suggest calling the rod/reel manufacturer or retailer to speak with a knowledgeable pro about what rod and reel combinations work the best.

Line Capacity

A reels line capacity becomes essential when you expect to be going after fish that are strong enough to pull a lot of line. There’s nothing worse than having to break off a big fish on a run because you’re afraid of getting spooled.

Avoid this by planning ahead and selecting a reel size that allows extra backing and more powerful drag.

Drag

There are situations in fly fishing where drag does not come into play all that much. When fishing for smaller, lighter fish, you can rely on simply stripping line or palming the reel to slow down and land your catch.

On the other hand, if fishing for larger fish is your game, you’re going to want to go with a disc drag reel that has more stopping power.

Conclusion

That ought to do it for our rundown of some of the best fly fishing reels that I’ve tested out. While there are a ton of fancier and more expensive fly fishing reels out there, I’ve made an effort to compile a list of reels that are modestly priced yet still meet the demands of heavy use.

Take into account all the areas we discussed here, and you should find yourself with a quality fly fishing reel that will provide years of enjoyment on the water.

Fish on!