By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

We graded each reel on a 1-5 scale in three areas:
1. Price
2. How the reel felt and reacted as the motorcycle sped away
3. How we like handling the reel

Then we made “judges deductions” for any beefs we had about the reels.

Price/Features
Suggested retail: $940 There’s no denying that Abel is the standard bearer of big game flyfishing reels. The record books speak for themselves. Along with Tibor/Pate reels, this is the M-16 of the saltwater army.
Score: 3 out of 5

How it “Met the Street”
This reel was also tested a bit above its pedigree at 55 mph. At $940, we felt that was fair. We heard a squeak at the start – not a problem lubricant cannot fix – and despite that, the reel hummed along as we hoped it would. It was actually a good run. A touch of dip on the startup, but once she started rolling (a half-second later) the Abel did all it was supposed to do. Not earthshakingly impressive, just steady. Honest.
Score: 3.5 out of 5

Functional Review
We’ll say it again, the screw to undo the spool is a pain... [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

We graded each reel on a 1-5 scale in three areas:
1. Price
2. How the reel felt and reacted as the motorcycle sped away
3. How we like handling the reel

Then we made “judges deductions” for any beefs we had about the reels.

Price/Features
Nautilus makes a 12 ($500), a 12T ($565), and a 12S (for $595). For this sized reel aimed at tarpon and above, those are all pretty fair prices. We tested the 12 S.
Score: 4.5 out of 5

How it “Met the Street”
A touch of bump felt at launch, but beyond that, the reel, with a carbon fiber and cork combo in the drag, did a very nice job of paying out line with a grudge against the bike. Jeff felt like he had a parachute dragging behind him as he accelerated. No heat, no stink. No problem.
Score: 4 out of 5

Functional Review
Nautilus is the only brand we tested in all three classes. The functionality attributes we described apply throughout the different series the company produces. Not a whole lot to argue with. Not a lot of bells and whistles; just a “shut up and fish”... [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

We graded each reel on a 1-5 scale in three areas:
1. Price
2. How the reel felt and reacted as the motorcycle sped away
3. How we like handling the reel

Then we made “judges deductions” for any beefs we had about the reels.

Price/Features
Big Game reel in the 8-12 range, costs a mere $239. Tons of guides use these reels as client loaners, because they don’t cost an arm and a leg, they gather line well, and they don’t fold easily.
Score: 4.5 out of 5

How it “Met the Street”
Pretty good, all around. We felt a slight shudder in the rod as the reel started. But, by and large, it gave a pretty good effort. We had this reel’s drag cranked down pretty hard, and it still leveled out nicely when the bike hit the target speed. No major concerns.
Score 3.5 out of 5

Functional Review
You get what you pay for, in most cases, and Orvis seems to do a steady job of giving you at least that. Admittedly, comparing $200 class reels with $600 class reels is an apples to oranges deal (and a made in the US vs. imported... [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

We graded each reel on a 1-5 scale in three areas:
1. Price
2. How the reel felt and reacted as the motorcycle sped away
3. How we like handling the reel

Then we made “judges deductions” for any beefs we had about the reels.

Price/Features
At $400 retail, this is a big-league saltwater reel, made in the USA, with really nice features and a great drag system. We like those classy, saltwater standards (a la Tibor) a lot, but Nautilus gets it done for a better price.
Score 4.5 out of 5

How it “Met the Street”
An admission here … Most of the actual reels we tested were offered as samples by the reel companies. In this case, I used my own Nautilus reel. No fear … I’d had so many fish pull on this reel in difficult situations, I knew a motorcycle wouldn’t make it choke. Smoothness is what we experienced, except for a hiccup at the start of the second run.
Score: 3.5 out of 5

Functional Review
Nautilus reels are good values, throughout the range of weights and classes. It’s fairly easy to pop the... [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

We graded each reel on a 1-5 scale in three areas:
1. Price
2. How the reel felt and reacted as the motorcycle sped away
3. How we like handling the reel

Then we made “judges deductions” for any beefs we had about the reels.

Price/Features
Retailing at $210, this reel is a pretty solid all-around deal, in terms of drag performance, functionality, and price. Bauer has a loyal following of reel aficionados, with good reason.
Score: 4.5 out of 5

How it "Met the Street"
Listen to that thing. It purred, quietly, and evenly when we hit the gas, then leveled out for the stretch run. Fairly consistent, all in all. We felt a tiny bump or two mid-run, but not much. (There are so many variables – rod, line condition, hand steadiness… no reason to deduct).
Score: 4 out of 5

Functional Review
Seemed like a pretty nice total package. Light, ported, easy to get at the spool for changing over. The reel seat is solid. You have to be a fan of the overall design to appreciate the aesthetics of the reel, but the performance is solid. Combined... [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano & Kirk Deeter

We graded each reel on a 1-5 scale in three areas:
1. Price
2. How the reel felt and reacted as the motorcycle sped away
3. How we like handling the reel

Then we made “judges deductions” for any beefs we had about the reels.

Price/Features
Hard to argue with a standard like Orvis; after all the company has been at making reels for 150 years. This model, price $119, is a very safe and satisfying bet for trout fishing, and it looks slick on any brand of rod.
Score: 4.5 out of 5

How it "Met the Street"
A very impressive startup drag, with no undue shakes or shudders felt during the run. The mid arbor tempers the lateral (back and forth) rod tip vibrations some of the larger arbors caused (as expected). Dial the drag to the right setting, and it balances nicely on both the “going out” and “coming back” aspects of fighting trout.
Score: 3.5 out of 5

Functional Review
We like how this reel looks and feels. Easy to pop the spool. Having fished this reel extensively in the past couple of years, it seems pretty durable (after all, the true reel... [ Read Full Post ]