Choosing a Fly Reel     

A great build and perfect balance

This seemed like an appropriate heading to catch all the other things that we feel are important when you are making a choice of fly reels.  And let’s face it, we all appreciate the intrinsic beauty of our fly equipment, enjoy owing really good gear and do like to have a look at some of the new ideas that come through every now and then.  

Most modern quality-made fly reels tend to share a general characteristic and that is they are machined from high-grade aluminium, generally called aircraft grade, bar stock or billet stock.  High quality aluminium is usually referred to as 6061 which identifies the grade.  Ask this question before you buy from anyone, even if the reels look the same.  This material is light, strong and corrosion resistant.  Best of all, it can be finished to very exacting specifications and produces an outstanding reel.  You will find a few that are touted as super alloys but again, we wonder how our interest in fly fishing seems to somehow translate to the aerospace industry so rapidly today?  So in our humble opinion, you will do quite well with a machine cut aluminium frame reel.

One quick word before we leave this thought on frame construction and that is that there are a lot of other materials out there ranging from cast to graphite composite and back again.  And some of these can be a decent choice.  And too, while we have been pretty harsh on some less expensive models, some of these have their place.  Once again this is up to you.  

With regard to bearing systems on the reel spool, you will again find a wide range from ball bearings to spindle bearings and even no bearings.  We prefer a needle bearing system as it produces a silky feel to the spooling action and is very durable.  It also distributes pressure evenly (load dispersion for the technically minded!) and will last.  There are any number of good bearing systems and again, ask the question. 

The next topic is size and yes it does matter!  In our old school yet again it was a fairly simple choice to just pick a reel size (weight) to match your rod weight.  And while this is still the case, with some of the new ultra lightweight technology and design, you may find that you can go a bit larger and still get the job done.  This then allows you to use the reel equally well for more than one rod.  The best way to find the right reel is to actually put it on the rod in question along with the line that you wish to use and see how it feels.  You will also find that many manufacturers that make both the rod and reel will have already thought about the size and balance issue well in advance.  Once again this is largely dependant on how it feels to you but sticking to the old school principles will certainly see you well on your way.

We hope you noticed the word “balance” a few times along the way because this, to us, is one of the separators when selecting a reel.  The reel, with the line included of course, should allow the rod to sit on an even balance at just about the point at which you will grip the rod.  And yes, we agree with the “one finger test” where the rod sits precariously as the level on the scale.  Too much tip in any direction is going to inevitably do two things.  The first is the worst and that is it will reduce the casting efficiency of the rod, which in turn, effects distance and accuracy.  The second is fatigue.  Make sure too that the reel is not over or under sized for the rod and your hands even if the balance seems quite good.  This will just make your outfit too hard to handle and a lot less enjoyable.

And that brings us to the latest contender in the consideration arena and that is the size of the arbour of the reel.  There are right now effectively three sizes of arbour available with the ad guys coming up with all kinds of names for their version of these reels.  Yes, some are actually a little larger or a little smaller but no so much that it really makes a huge difference to most of us.

The first and best known of course is the standard arbour reel harkening back to Mr. Orvis and still available in many very fine reels today.  The classic series reels that we spoke of earlier that are the perfect match to a bamboo rod is one such an example.  And there are many others too numerous to mention by name.  On the upside, these reels are reliable, easy to use, compact and hold a reasonable amount of backing.  On the downside, you do have to spend time regularly stretching your line to avoid line coil (spool memory) and since most have a standard 1 to 1 ratio, at times you have to wind very quickly to stay up with a fish. 

The next contender is the relatively “new” large arbour design and we have put that in quotes because if you look back far enough, the idea of a large take up spool is nothing new.  It has once again just been applied much more reasonably and with the benefit of a lot of technology.  These reels are available even in the smaller trout sizes and do have advantages over the traditional arbour reels.  Large arbour reels store the line in larger coils, thereby minimizing line memory which allows for longer casting and a fair bit less chance of a line tangle.  They also increase drag consistency considering that the spool is not spinning as often and particularly if you are considering a disc drag reel.  And too, the retrieve rate is faster than the standard reels.  So is there a downside?  There are only really two that come to mind.  First, in general, these reels with have a smaller capacity than more traditional reels.  And second is the size, being fairly large in diameter as one would think.  Weight is not a problem due to modern design but these can be a little unwieldy at first, don't always have the best alignment with the stripper guide and might take some getting used to if you have been a traditionalist. 

And finally we have the mid arbour design which seeks to encompass some of the best of both worlds and, as long as you once again stick to quality, does this quite well.  These mid arbour reels are beautifully suited to a disc drag style and are more closely aligned in size thus more compact and still hold a very reasonable amount of line and backing.  There are not nearly enough companies that product a true mid arbour but over time this will change.  We really like these reels and the concepts incorporated in them.  Quite frankly, this is our choice until proven otherwise.  

So is there a clear winner in the great arbour debate?  Thankfully the answer is no!  Each has it’s place and each can be the perfect choice.  Once again, just look for quality and you are close to home already.    

Winding it all up

Fly reels have come a long way and yet, have stayed very traditional as well.  There have been many improvements in functionality, specialization, diversification and best of all, price due to serious competition among the quality reel companies.  And due to improved manufacturing techniques you can get a very good fly reel at an affordable price.  And yes we can concede that there are some in fair range of quality for not much at all.  

How to choose?  Read the reviews as they are plentiful.  Make sure that you are happy with the warranty and of course that the company will be there when you need it.  We think too that you can find quality craftsmanship in both the large and certainly smaller companies and this has now become the standard rather than the exception.

And yes, before we end this article we will answer the proverbial question that is asked albeit quietly whenever you read anyone's article.  If we were going to pick one, and one only, new reel for our general use what would it be?  First, remember that we did make a call on a 6 or 7 medium-fast action nine-foot rod in a four piece configuration.  That being said, we would choose a matching mid-arbour reel in an appropriate size for the rod.  We feel that we could use this up or down a bit if we wanted to only have one reel and maybe two rods.  And don't forget that any good quality reel also is available with extra spools.  Mind you, we love the large arbour reels and do highly recommend that you consider these, but once again this is a "pick one" exercise and that would be the one.  Oh that and the smaller classic reels are perfect for bamboo and.......are you sure we can only have one?   

Most of all and especially in light of all that is available, make sure you like the feel of your new reel as that is the most important standard of all.