| Fly Fishing Reels |
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| Written by Paul S. |
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 Because of modern day technology, I believe there is very little difference between middle of the road fly reels and top end reels. Fly fishing reels will run you from $15 to $1,000. If you find a reel for under $50 (and a fly rod, for that matter) it will probably catch fish, but generally it will be most effective as a decoration.
Mount it on the wall (as high to the ceiling as possible just in case someone sees it for what it is). There are a couple reels out there in the $100-$150 range that aren’t bad in my opinion. $200 on up your going to have to see what feels right, has the best warranty, reputation, etc.
The most important function of the fly reel is to hold your line. Remember, unlike other kinds of fishing, fly fishing entails stripping line off the reel and using the weight of the line to cast. You will never cast directly from the reel like a spinning rod. All reels will hold your line, but they will vary drastically by the material they are made from, how they are made, how fast they retrieve line, and finally, what kind of drag system they have.
Again, if you are shopping, we can't say enough about River Bum's and Leland's pricing - they are definitely worth checking out.
Like the rod, having a lighter reel is an advantage, particularly if you fly fish long hours. You’ll notice they all have nice holes drilled in them. This has two functions. One, it allows the fly line to dry. And Two, It makes them lighter. Believe me, if your fishing gear is heavy, you’ll feel it in your arm and shoulder at the end of the day. You may even notice your knuckles at the end of your casting arm dragging on the ground as you make your way back to your car at the end of the day. Lighter is better, in theory, but not all reels are made the same.
Fly fishing reels today are made from plastic, aluminum, titanium, and some composite materials. Less expensive reels like the plastic and other composite reels are die cast, created from a mold. Some of the metal alloy fly reels are made that way too. The higher quality (and more expensive) reels will be machined from whole blocks of aircraft grade aluminum and titanium. With die cast parts, there are more imperfections, and anything that gets in the way of the reels function is bad. Also, try as you might to protect your reel, it is going to take a beating. Nothing is more frustrating than losing your footing in your felt wading boots, going down and watching your reel crash on the rocks. You want a reel that will be there for more than a season. So, again I suggest that saving money on cheap fishing gear now may cost you more down the road, not to mention, dampening your experience in the present.
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