Best Fly Fishing Reels
Published June 3, 2024
It makes sense for us anglers to put most of our fishing money into our fly rod. However, a good fly reel completes our rig, balancing our rod and not being the weak link that costs us a pig when we finally hook one. The best fly reels are durable with a large arbor and dependable drag—ideally one that clicks, purrs, or sings when a rainbow runs downstream or a tarpon turns acrobat at the end of our fly line. That’s why we polled our buyers and Gearhead® Experts to curate this short list of the best fly reels for freshwater and saltwater.
Orvis Mirage LT Reel
Top All-Around Reel
Lightweight fly reels balance our lightweight fly rods and help us fight fatigue on a long day of casting dries or high-sticking our nymph rigs. The Orvis Mirage LT may be 30% lighter than the OG, but its also durable with its machined construction, titanium shaft, and 6061 T6 anodized aluminum. This reels carbon and stainless steel drag system protects our light tippets while also providing plenty of stopping power for freshwater fish, such as trout, bass, carp, pike, and musky. This lightweight ranks as our best all-around fly reel.
Winning Features
- Machined construction
- High-performance disc drag
- Low-profile counterweight
- Made in the USA
- 25-year warranty
Orvis Battenkill
Top Click & Pawl Reel
A legend among click and pawl fly reels, the Orvis Battenkill is the top option for all of us who prefer palming our reels to play the bruisers than run wild after our hook set. The Battenkill is lightweight yet durable with its aircraft-grade aluminum and features a standard arbor, muted metal colors, and clicking drag for a classic feel. This click and pawl fly reel keeps our costs down while letting us enjoy the simple pleasures of fishing with a modern classic.
Winning Features
- Classic click and pawl drag
- Standard arbor
- 6061 T6 aircraft aluminum
Lamson Liquid S-Series Fly Reel
Top Entry-Level Fly Reel
The best fly reel doesn’t have to break the bank, thanks to the Lamson Liquid S. With a pressure-cast aluminum frame and spool, a light weight, and a large arbor, this is a highperformance reel at a budget-friendly price point. The sealed conical drag is smooth with plenty of stopping power, a pleasant clicking sound, and an easy to use drag knob—the perfect package to play a running fish and protect our lightest tippets. This good-looking reel is our pick for the best entry-level fly reel.
Winning Features
- Pressure-cast aluminum frame & spool
- Sealed conical drag
- Large arbor
- Limited lifetime warranty
SAGE Enforcer
Top Saltwater/Big-Game Reel
Saltwater wreaks havoc on our equipment, and so do saltwater fish. That’s why we like the SAGE Enforcer. Like any good enforcer, this reel is tough with a corrosion-resistant aluminum frame and bombproof drag that’s sealed for saltwater with more than enough muscle to put the brakes on bonefish, stripers, and redfish. We like to pair the Enforcer reel with the Sage R8 Salt Rod for a killer saltwater combo.
Winning Features
- Aluminum frame
- Sealed disc drag for saltwater environments
- Quick-change spools
- Lifetime warranty
Find The Best Fly Reel At Backcountry
A good fly reel can make a big difference—especially when we hook the biggest fish in the run, hole, or flat. That’s when a quality drag earns its keep and makes us glad that we took time to research the best fly reels for our style of fishing. Our picks for the best all-around, click-and-pawl, entry-level, and saltwater fly reels will help you upgrade with a reel recommended by our Gearhead® Experts. Our store in Bozeman, MT, also has a great selection of fly fishing gear, but if you can’t make it there, then find a store near you.
Fly Fishing Reel FAQ's
Q: What are the best brands for fly reels?
A: Our Gearhead® Experts often recommend Orvis, Sage, and Lamson fly reels.
Q: Why buy an expensive fly reel?
A: More expensive fly reels feature better durability and better drag systems, which are especially important when you’re targeting bigger fish.
From The Backcountry Bulletin
