Which fly reel should I choose?
In our opinion, fly reels should be reliable and have a nice design. There are a lot of fly reels on the market and it is the little things that separate a good reel from a really good reel.
A fly reel is not used like a standard fishing reel, as a standard reel must always be spinning the line in. In fly fishing, the line is taken in by hand, and thus it can be said in general terms that the primary function of the fly reel is to store the line.
However, this is not entirely correct because if you are out fishing for larger fish, such as salmon or trout, a bigger fight will occur and here it is necessary to work actively to pull the line and the fish in with the reel. In such situations, it is also important that you can brake the line with the reel, as it is much safer than letting the line run between your fingers.
The best fly reels for coastal fishing
If you often want to use your fly reel for fishing on the coast, or in saltwater in general, then it is a good idea to choose a reel that is made of plastic and stainless metal parts.
If you are fishing for larger fish, you should choose a large fly reel in class 10-12, as large fish often also have long tails, which requires more backline.
The best fly reels for rivers and lakes
If you primarily fish in streams or lakes, it is not necessary to choose a fly reel based on the fact that the components must be particularly rust-free. However, if you buy a fly reel from us, we can always guarantee that you will get the best quality.
If you primarily fish for smaller fish, you can choose a smaller reel, as the fish rarely take very long runs and they are not as strong as the large fish.
Fly reels for put and take should be selected based on the same criteria as for sea fishing.
The best fly reels for salmon
When fishing for salmon with a fly, you need to be prepared that the salmon can be really big and will not give up without a fight. The salmon likes to take a very long run and you should therefore choose a fly reel in AFTM class 10-12.
Right-handed fly reels
As standard, the fly reel is turned so that the handle is on the right side. This stems from an old fishing tradition where the line was not thrown out, but simply lowered into the water, and it was therefore natural that the reeling was done with the right hand.
Now that fly fishing has developed a lot and there is significantly more work with the fishing rod itself, it is most natural for right-handed people to hold the fly rod in their right hand and spin with their left.
When fishing with the traditional setup, the vast majority of right-handed anglers will need to switch the rod from left to right hand when they have a bite and need to fight the fish. However, this is very impractical in such an intense situation and therefore the vast majority choose to turn the reel to left-handed spinning.
Fly reels for left-handed people
Traditionally, fly reels are made for right-handed spinning, which is optimal for left-handed anglers.
The vast majority of fly reels on the market today can be modified so that they can be used by both left- and right-handed anglers.
How to maintain your fly reel
It is very important to maintain your fly reel because there is nothing worse than standing out in the water, in the middle of a fight with the biggest fish of the day, and then the reel fails.
This can be avoided by maintaining the wheel and always remembering to lubricate it properly.
After the fishing trip
We recommend that you wipe your reel with a hard wrung cloth after each fishing trip. The reason you shouldn't wash it more thoroughly is to keep oil and grease in all joints and moving parts.
Then let the wheel dry completely before packing it up.
If you have dropped your reel into the water during your fishing trip, it may be necessary to disassemble the reel and let it dry.
It is a good idea to lubricate the line reel with a little oil and release the wheel's brake before packing it away.
As needed
There is a big difference between whether you fish a few times a year or several times a week. There is also a big difference in how exposed the reel is to wind and weather, because one thing is a Put 'n take lake in the summer heat, another is coastal fishing in a strong headwind.
Therefore, it is important that you have a good maintenance routine so that your fly reel lasts for many years.
Start by unscrewing the handle and giving it oil. Then oil the side bearings on both sides and remove the spool shaft and also give it a drop of oil.
Remove the line reel and disassemble it – for your own sake, put all the parts in order so that the line reel is easy to reassemble. Clean all parts and apply grease to the moving parts with a cotton swab. Then reassemble it and you can check if the bearing runs smoothly and easily.
Maintenance for the winter break
When the fly reel is going to have a winter break, it is a good idea to give it a thorough cleaning, so that all dirt and grime comes off and give all the moving parts a new layer of oil or grease. This way, salt and dirt are not allowed to sit for a long time and penetrate and the reel is as good as new for next year, so you just have to pack the reel in your bag and you are ready for a new day at the river, lake or coast.
