Best Fly Reels: Top Rated Good Fly Fishing Reels for Every Angler
A day when you plan to do fishing and you catch up yourself in drag adjustments and handles? Well, the best ones will not have these problems friends! You know that fly fishing is a fishing method that utilizes a lightweight lure called an artificial fly to hook your favorite species in the blues. The fly must be angled using specially made fly rods and particularized balanced lines.
In daily routines, Fishing reels play an essential role for all casters. Whether you take fishing as a hobby or a profession, you must have best fly fishing reel. There are many fishing reels, and it can be overwhelming when you try to narrow it down to one. Fishing reels have their designs and features to meet specific needs.
Contents
List of Best Fly Reels in 2025:
Here we discuss six different types of fishing reels, and then you can choose the perfect one according to your needs.
A behemoth is commonly defined as a massive creature or something vast and extensive. The reel is famous for slowing down large species and getting control over them. This reel has unbelievable stopping power. With a powerful dragging system and excellent features, it is durable and works like a champ continuously.
It’s got an enormous drag, a great price, and pretty good ergonomics. It’s probably one of the best backup reels you can buy. But is it a well-rounded reel? An angler of any experience level would have pleasure using it. And if that doesn’t satisfy you, then below, I’m going to go more into detail:
Redington Behemoth is stating something big about its drag. The Behemoth has an adjustable carbon fiber drag that can even slow down an enormous monster-sized fish. The reel is durable. It comes in six different colors, allowing you to ultimately select the color scheme you would like to have on your layout.
The reel is relatively lightweight and comes in different sizes, like 4/5, 6/7, 7/8, etc. The rotation gives you a great option, whether you want something light for trout or something a little heavier for bass casting. The Behemoth was made to combat big and hefty fish with its robust, no-stopping drag system.
It has a smaller arbour, featuring is excellent for putting on a lot of lines.
So, to get your hands on those heavy species, I advise you to purchase REDINGTON Behemoth. You will get an experience of your life with this fly reel.
PROS
It is easy to handle the left- or right-hand retrieve.
The aluminium coating makes the reel more efficient.
Redington is becoming one of the most famous and reliable fishing worlds. With unique products at affordable prices. This Rise reel is available in four variations (3/4, 5/6, 7/8, and 9/10), permitting you to match it to your fly-fishing frame.It is a reel you can take anywhere and expect to perform on the spot, regardless of the different weather conditions.
It is a great reel, but more like a freshwater reel than a saltwater reel. Moreover, Low profile spool release makes switching outlines easier than ever!!In short, it is one of the best reels. It’s a great reel and would compete well in a freshwater test.I tried it both in fresh and saltwater. However, I recommend the Rise for all freshwater use. Let us investigate more detail about this product:
The drag knob is one that all manufacturers should consider. This reel from Redington is genuinely designed for beginner, young and intermediate casters. You can use it in all waters, making it a great all-rounder for casting near lakes, rivers, creeks, and even saltwater. Check out the best saltwater fly reels available in the market.
The Rise is an eye-catching and attractive fly reel with a lightweight design.
It’s entirely built from 6061-T6 aluminum. The carbon fiber drag system on the Rise is one of the fundamental components! When you get this reel in your kit, you’ll experience that this fly reel’s drag is excellent and rigid. We cannot doubt the versatility of this reel. There’s a Rise fly reel to cater for all types of fish and every fishing arena with four different sizes.
It is the perfect reel whether you plan to fish largemouth bass, small trout, or panfish.
You will not regret adding this reel to your fishing tools for sure. Be it the gear ratio or drag procedure; all is ten on ten. It is highly recommended!
PROS
Attractive colours.
Affordable price.
Lifetime warranty.
A large arbor holds lots of lines & reduces line memory.
The Sage CLICK significantly influences me, and there’s nothing I didn’t like about it. With great looks, excellent build quality, lightweight, and that essential inexpensive also. The Click Series comprises four different sizes of reels ranging from the super light Click I for 0 weight lines to the larger Click IV that works with 4 and 5 weight lines. Ideal for high mountain anglers!!
Nowadays, you will see Click reels constructed from aluminium and plastics in the market. They are made so that they are affordable for the beginning fly fisher. The Sage Click Series Reels are the perfect choice for anglers who want performance, durability, and fascination in a simple, ultralight package.
The Click is finalized with a hard anodize to protect the surface of the reel from corrosion. The Click series features an adjustable click-and-pawl drag system. The system’s adjustability staves off the revolution from over-spooling. The most delicate click design allows anglers to fight big trout traditionally.
Overall, the Sage Click is fun to fish. It is lightweight and offers a different experience when you clip a fish. When I used it for the first time, the smooth drag drove me crazy. Can you imagine that I got my first catch within 15 minutes. Use it to believe it!
PROS
Ultra-lightweight
Fun and joy to fish for new and young anglers
The retrieve rate is outstanding.
Large arbour size increases the line pick-up control.
It is one of the best fly-fishing reels. It catches fish and is built well enough to bring trout from streams and rivers season after season. This reel is durable and will last for years with the aluminum spool, aluminum frame, metal click, and pawl feature!
Metal Clicker with on and off Control and Push-Button Spool Release makes it unique. You have a pre-spooled backing for about 20 pounds. Customer reviews and opinions are the best way to get quality product information. It has gained such great responses, highly recommended by many anglers due to its unique features and build.
What I loved about Martin Caddis Creek was that the spool can be handled to adjust the line without disturbance. The whole package was so economical. It came with pre-spooled backing, a running line, and a strong leader too. I mean what else do you want? A go-to reel with exceptional qualities is what you deserve.
PROS
It is ideal for catching bass, panfish, and many others.
Great rim control.
Great value and attractiveness.
CONS
According to a few reviews, it is straightforward and basic.
The Pflueger Automatic Fly Reel is challenging and powerful. It is a reel that offers anglers a one-handed operation perfect for those with restricted strength or when you are in a boat and need your other hand to paddle or pole.
It is built from an aluminum alloy frame and spool; this reel is constructed from substantial components and is designed to give a maximum yet powerful performance. The line trigger requires a quick and gentle push and works best without hassle. The Pflueger Automatic Fly Reel is black and can hold up to ¾ and 4/5-line weight.
A fly reel that can take you to the sky of pleasure is Pfluger Automatic. It is a combination of versatility and strength. I experienced a tangle-free catch and above all, it is truly automatic.
The new Animas maybe a combo with any cutting-edge lightweight spool. Artistically, the new Animas is both solid and exemplary. At first glimpse, the Animas look like a change of colour on the drag knob and handle.
Animas fly’s reels combine the latest technology with the generation of experience to develop innovative products designed by fly fishers and can say for fly fishers.
An improved blend of drags and lower profile, high grip drag knob completes this reel and makes it easy for new anglers. We love how they look, the performance, and how they fish and handle trout.
The spool release is easier than ever with just a button click. Moreover, Anima fly reels give you a lifetime warranty. Isn’t that great with an affordable price. At the same time, anima fly reels are plentiful in the sound category compared to the different fly reels in the market.
The old Animas 5/6 weighed 4.9 ounces, while the new one explores at 4.43 ounces, a modest change. Like all the new reels, the Animas has a HUGE drag knob. It seems absurd when you see it for the first time, but later, you will agree that this one is right!
Now fly-fishing reels are considered the most important and best equipment for fishing. A poor-quality fly reel will show its true colors, leading to lost fish and potentially damaged or broken reels and rods. The fly reel must maintain tension, and this reel is undoubtedly balanced.
It keeps the line spinning off the fly spool in an inspiring manner. I love fly reels because the line management lands my catch smoothly. So, what are the essential considerations you are looking for in the right fly reel? Let’s discuss them.
To help anglers, I have prepared a short section for guidance; make sure you don’t skip it!
Infographic: Best Fly Reels Buying Guide
Size:
Your reel should be per the size and length of your rod. Typically, reels are constructed to work within a range of rod sizes, e.g., 5/6 or 6/7, etc. A rod is controlled when a loaded fly reel keeps the whole of the fly rod holding side by side to the water’s surface.
Capacity also plays a significant role. Like: How much backing can a spool holder for a particular fly line size. Small fish and little water most likely mean small rod and small reel.
Materials:
Most fly reels in the market today are made from different qualities of aluminum or even plastic. Considering that although the price is right, cast aluminum is more liable to break if compared to fully machined aluminum reels.
Some reels are structured from graphite or even plastic. Even though these reels give an option to novice fly anglers, they are not durable. Their overall performance is quite symbolic of their price tags and affordability.
Drag:
Drag systems should be convenient to adjust, provide smooth start-up, and have no hindering power. Click pawl drags are designed to be very light. Start-up inertia is a fancy way of describing how a drag system ramps up from zero pain to a flat-out shirl reel.
This is a far more important characteristic of a drag procedure than how extreme stopping power is in the drag for almost every scenario. Drag knobs are a personal choice and selection but should be easy to adjust, especially during a battle. One feature beloved by guides is the no resistance retrieve.
Design:
You can start with quality materials, but the result can differ from model to model or design to design. The essential parts of the reel areas mentioned: The body, spool, drag, and bearing element. When you put these together, we’re after a reel that spins fluidly, is user-friendly, has a dependable drag system, and is durable.
Regularly, revolutions have been full-frame, meaning that the spool is attached inside the reel with metal. Another thought is the size of a spool’s arbour. Arbor is a term heard often, which refers to the diameter of the spool’s interior.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What fly size reel do I need?
Fly reel sizes are sorted in the same way as rods, sized by “weight”. Sizes can run from 3 weights to 12 weights. The smaller the number, the lighter the construction. Suppose you have a 5-wt. Rod, you may end up buying a 4-6 wt. Reel.
2. What type of line do I need to put on my fly reel?
Fly lines are just like rods and reels, and they are classified in size by their weight. Most line sellers will display their lines by size (5wt, 6wt). You need to pair up your line to match the correct size of your rod/reel. If you have a too heavy pipe, you may break your rod due to the heavyweight. The reverse is valid for a line that is too light.
3. What should be considered while buying a fly reel?
Anglers who plan on days in the saltwater should think of reels with robust and steady drag systems, large capacities, and an anodized finish. Following small trout and bass, anglers can have reels with lighter drags, less power, and a lower price.
4. Which one is the correct right-hand reel or left-hand reel?
There are no rules. The choice is yours. Most reels are easily converted from LHW to RHW, but it’s good to have all your reels set up the same way!
5. Is it alright to expose fly reels to water?
Fly reels with closed drag systems will not be damaged if they get some water exposure. However, you should always try to save it from submerging a fly reel in water. This is especially for saltwater, as the salt is hazardous for your reel. The fly reels with non-sealed drag procedures are very delicate and should be dry all the time.
Conclusion:
A good fly reel is something you’ll likely have for a lifetime. Whether you’re a professional expert or a first-time angler, you want a lightweight reel for the line to flow through without tangling. Considering all the aspects and characteristics of a better reel, my favorite is Reddington Behemoth. It has a good gripping handle and gives 100%performance all year long. What’s your favorite?
Hi, I am David. I have founded THE FISHER CAST because I believe everybody deserve to do fishing smartly. I with my team are here to make this possible for our present and future generations by giving the best hands on practical experiences and reviews.
