It’s poll time here at the Deneki blog!
There are a bunch of quality reels out there these days that do a great job in the saltwater.
We want to hear about your favorite fly reel for fishing in the saltwater, and why you like it.
- Any size, any price point.
- Any saltwater fishery – bonefish, salmon, tuna, tarpon, sea run trout…they all count.
- Tell us why you like it.
OK? So what’s your favorite saltwater reel? Why do you like it? Leave us a comment and let us know!
Hatch #7 for bonefish, cudda, and the one permit that broke me off in the coral.
Love the site, guys.
I haven’t used the Hatch, but they look sweet. I’m a Nautilus guy right now, and have been pretty happy – 8W for snook up to 12W for the big tarpon on the beach.
Used Orvis, Tibor, Nauti’s, Sage, an Abel (can’t afford more than one!), and even a Martin – loved them all . . .
I use Ross Canyon Big Game 5’s. Good drag and they are quiet. When fishing with guides, I have fished with Sage, Orvis and Abel, all nice reels with good drags but some produce more noise than I like.
The Tibor line of reels. Why: they are built like a tank and flawlessly execute every time. Simplicity is key also. Very few moving parts.
Hatch Finatic #7 – not all reels were made equal. Perfect for bonefish, permit, ‘cudda, and even the smaller poon.
Hatch Finatic 9 plus mid arbor…
very smooth and easy to adjust drag, ton of backing for sailfish when fishing a 12 weight, light enough to use my 9 weight on permit, bonefish, small GTs, and when i’m chasing steelhead and salmon, all i need to do is reduce the amount of backing and i’m all set! super versatile and stylish reel.
Charlton, the drag is so smooth
Hatch 7 Plus and Shilton
Charlton’s are hard to beat and harder to find. Signature 8550C for tarpon and offshore, 8450C for permit and bones. Ya gotta wind a lot sometimes but that’s half the fun.
Blondes, Redheads, Brunettes, they all are fine! My hair is gray!!!
Reels – Pure guts – Tibor, Abel.
Looks – Tibor , Abel, and the Old Sage 5000 series (looks like an Abel)
I’ve got Tibor From Everglades up to Gulfstream
Abels in Super 6-through8
My sleeper – Fin-nor #2 not the prettiest reel but durable and a very, very smooth drag. None of the above have ever let me down.
trout reels are a different story.
You ought to see my rod selection.
I like Galvan’s Torque series, T-8 for Stripers, Blues and Bonefish, does double duty on my light switch rod.
T-10 for larger fish/ heavier rods/larger flies. Doubles on 13′ DH rod.
T-16 Monster reel for Tuna and Makos.
They are affordable, sturdy, have a smooth drag and great service, also the company is family owned which I appreciate.
Hatch 7 Plus, with 9 wt line. It always works, great drag, easy to clean and light.
The Galvans do everything that I ask and take a lot of abuse with little or no up keep.
Danielsson Flyreels L5W. This are Swedish flyreels made by a small company here in Sweden. I have tested them in Los Roques and Mexico. The drag are just magical and the quality is superb.
I like all the reels mentioned, we are so lucky to have such high quality choices. I always have a cork, draw-bar reel with me, Abel or Islander, but have been fishing for bonefish with Hatch and Nautilus NV plus…the one I am going to go with as no one else has mentioned it; the Hardy Fortuna X. Sealed, stacked super-potent drag, solid as a rock, smooth and infinitely adjustable, its width to depth spool proportions are just right. A first rate contender.
Affordability + Quality (+ sharp looks): Lamson Litespeed
Quality + awesome old-timey look/feel: Tibor. I have a Tibor Backcountry & love it with all my heart. Someday I’ll own an Everglades or similar…
I’ve never fished any of the Hardy saltwater reels, but I have fished and loved many of the older English made Hardy trout reels. Some of the readers don’t like noise, but there is a lot to be said for the noise of a pawl drag screaming under a lightning run by a big rainbow trout. It’s also neat if fishing in crowded waters when everyone looks up as they know you have hooked “Old Eli” when that drag screams!! What say Andrew – agree????
Tibor Gulfstream –
I use a Kamikaze PF8 Fly 9/12
Australian company. Comes with three extra line inserts. Easy to adjust drag
Mako 9550
I have landed tarpon over 125 lbs, bill fish, tuna, you name it.
This real has the smoothest, beefiest drag I have fished
I have owned and fished many over the years including Abel, Tibor, Ross, Orvis, etc. I still fish some Ross Gunnisons but have got rid of all the others and fish Galvans today. I love them, they have all the features I need: Pop-off spools ( I like to change spools quickly…not lines!, Lightweight, strong, good & durable finish and an ever so smooooooth drag.
abel super 8, 10, 12. abel 5 offshore
natilius NV FOR #7-8-9 FLAWLESS PREFORMANCE FOR BONE FISH.
Hatch 7 plus for bones, stripers, and small snook.
Hatch 9 plus for permit and tarpon.
I fish a lot for tarpon and Danielsson Fly Reels are excellent
I’ve tried most of them reels during those 36 years I have fished for Bonfish, Tarpon and Sailfish and now I only use Hatch and Danielsson reels.
For me it is important that there is a good and reliable brake, light weight and good service from the manufacturer wherever you fish in the world.
Bauer CFX and Rogue. Smoothest drags I’ve used, nice aesthetics, no complaints. The anodizing seems tough as well, its still flawless after a season fishing steelhead and chinook.
Bauer M5 & M6 Superlights (bones, albies, redfish); Abel Super 8 (bones, redfish); Van Staal 8/9 (striped bass and albies)
Greetings,
There is only one to consider, and that is simply a “HATCH”! The only other one to consider is a Bauer. Charlton’s, are very nice, but find one that the average fly fisher-person can afford. They are a collector’s item, and mine are not up for sale.
Mr. Bauer, is abrake man. He learned it from his Father, and his car racing days.
The finest engineering is with “HATCH””, in every recpect. I have and do, fish mine in both Fresh and the Salt. Tough, Very Reliable, and Dependable with a wonderful little company in San diego that backs their cooment to their customer’s. Get a “HATCH”, and go FISHING.
Andy R.
I like both the Nautilus NV and the Hatch #7 as they are both great reels for saltwater. Steelhead and salmon.
Nautilus NV 10/11 Salt and Spey
Danielsson HD 9/13 Salt and Spey
Lamson Litespeeds for a very light smooth reel.
Great drags, smooth, powerful, reliable, and good looking as well.
Just for old time sake, I still love my Van Staal, which like the Ross Canyons, is as solid and smooth as you can find. Weight is the issue though.
Big three: Abel, Tibor, Nautilus… Honorable mention: Danielsson… JMO.
Ross Momentum 8 on the 14wt and Galvan T14 on the 16wt. Both have what it takes to handle big fish and blistering runs.
Current Mako series of saltwater fly reels by Charlton have the best drags and finishes, but they are heavier reels and are expensive. However, the previous Charlton reels have proven their worth, and are still highly prized. The Makos seem even better to me.
I have to put in a word for Colton reels. Made in the USA, built like tanks, and incredible value. The Torrent series is the equal of the Abel and Tibor, comparable to the best of the disk drag reels at half the price. The new Terrapin, with sealed drag, is at least the equal of the Nautilis NV, and sells for about $400. Super smooth drags, state of the art engineering, flawless construction, and value. Did I mention tough, tough, tough. I think these reels would be more popular if Bob Filger inflated the prices to accommodate our well-known tendency to define our fly fishing ability by the cost of our equipment.
I’ve been a Tibor fan for years. Rugged and dependable. I’ve used his Billy Pate anti-reverse, just a bit heavy. Now prefer the Gulfstream for large species like Tarpon and the Riptide for Dorado, Permit and as a spey reel on my switch rod. The drag is smooth and the finish excellent.
I used the Abel Super 8 on steelhead and salmon. The retrieve was too difficult for king salmon. This year, I switched to the Nautilus NV 10/11 with G-8 spool. I’ll be taking it to the Salmon River, NY, in a couple weeks.
I’ve never fished with Any reel, as unbelievably amazing as a Big Game VERY LIMITED Edition, Gold anodized 10-12 Hardy Bros Fly Reel! I was given the true privilege to field test this incredibly FINE FLY REEL. On my very first outing (10 minute drive from home), as my wife was in the middle of praying for me, I hooked and landed a 28 Lb. Summer Steelhead. The battle with this large HATCHERY STEELHEAD, was nearly becoming a chore, as with many other Hatchery Summer Steelhead of the Upper Clackamas river system of Oregon!!! And no, I hadn’t hooked it in the roof of the mouth. You see, this seems to give a great deal of pain/discomfort to both Pacific Salmon & Steelhead
Tibor, everglades and Gulfstream. Have fished for Tarpon, Bonefish, Snook and Redfish for 20 +years. Have never had a problem. My Billy Pate tarpon reel has been great.
I have one favorite and that would be my Kingpin Stella 3.5. Yes it’s a click pawl reel, but the range of the click pawl can be adjusted to even slow down a running bull red on the surf flats.I love the way it sounds in action. The Stella design is classic but it’s made with modern technology with navel bronze and type 3 anodizing. It encompasses all classical looks of years past and all the technology of today.
Have used some of the reels listed, for many years my big game reels Tarpon, Sailfish are either Tibor or Able, mid size fish, false albies, dorado, small tuna etc again Tibor or Able. For bones I have a old Billy Pate Bonefish which I love but rarely use today, my current bonefish snook, large redfish reels are a old Sage 3400D, Nautilus NV eight/nine. For my 7 wt a Van Stall and a very inexpensive Tioga.
Bauer is my choice.
Hatch 7+ and 9+. 10 years, no maintenance, no problems.
Ditto on Aubrey’s comments about Colton. Sweet reels all of them and nice rods too.
Bob Filger will also take care of you, great customer service.
I have been using the Okuma Helios # 8 for the last 6 years now and no issues. I really like the sealed drag system, no servicing required till I get back to Red Deer Alberta. I just rinse in fresh water every night shacked it out in the morning and go fish, fish and fish
Regards Scotty
I have Tibor, Abel, Orvis, Lamson, Waterworks, Bauer, Hardy and probably a few others that I have forgotten. All are good. I also have a couple of Islanders that just “work for me.” I just like their feel, looks and sound. I don’t think they are necessarily any better than the others…just that I somehow enjoy fishing with them more. I guess the aesthetics just add to the overall experience.
But if I was going to a remote location where I was limited in tackle, I would probably take Tibor for durability and Lamson for light weight.
I have been a dealer for all the top reels , own most of them , and none have failed me. As Mr Cargile mentioned some feel better than others. I like xl diameter reels with narrow spools and smooth drags. The drag
adjustment must be real short and positive. When i want to dump a line
and back to drag the Sage 6010 is my favorite. Fast , positive adjustment and the drag is smooth. Now they are only $400.-$450.
Hardcore saltwaterflyfishing in Scandinavia and tropical Waters. First choice Danielsson flyreel. Never fail.