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
$625. This is the standard in Orvis’ saltwater reel lineup. It has all the bells and whistles of most high-end saltwater reels, with a slightly more attractive pricepoint.
Score: 4 out of 5

How it “Met the Street”
Well … we darn near set ‘er on fire. Granted, we weren’t playing fair: We ran it at 55 mph, threw water on it during the run, and clamped the drag down fairly tight … but we charred the cork drag. This was an extreme test. This reel is rock star when we fish it on the flats. But the fact is, we tested four reels to the max, and this one smoked.
Score: 2 out of 5

Functional Review
The amount of cork incorporated in the drag surface is probably not quite enough. It’s a slick enough system, just a little underdone, like... [ 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
The Bauer McKenzie Extreme 4 (MX4 for short) is a pretty solid value at $545, compared to other saltwater models. It’s a line-cranker, with that larger profile, but the drag is nice also.
Score: 4 out of 5

How it “Met the Street”
If any reel gets the “wow, I didn’t think this reel could do that” award, it’s this Bauer MX4. We ran it at 25 mph, with no problems. Then we cheated and tried to fry it … ran it at 45 mph. Same smooth, wobble free drag, and very slick startup (a little dip on the first run). This reel couldn’t tell the difference. Bonefish, therefore, are definitely not a factor.
Score: 4.5 out of 5

Functional Review
We all dug the flashy duo-tone aesthetics, the larger spool, and its line-gathering capability. But when all was said and done, the drag was an exceptional surprise; Jeff the motorcycle... [ 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
$600 MSRP, at a weight of 7-3/8 oz, this reel is a sharp large-arbor model, with an easy-to-access (and measure) drag meter on the off-cranking side. It pays out line well, and gathers it even better.
Score 3.5 out of 5

How it “Met the Street”
Very nice. In fact, better than expected. We admit we’re guilty of considering Sage a “rod company." But the startup on this reel was velvet smooth, and the carry-on performance at 25 mph was even.
Score 4.5 out of 5

Functional Review
We’re not always huge proponents of large profile reels, but this reel obviously was designed with purpose. Let’s call it like it is … on the way out, the line poured evenly without much vibration. And in terms of cranking back, the reel gathers line much faster than most. We like the visible meter that lets... [ 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
$58.75. That says a lot right there. For an introductory or mid-level fly reel; even a backup reel for the seasoned angler, we give SA high props for throwing its hat in the ring and accepting the challenge.
Score: 5 out of 5

How it "Met the Street"
Nice performance, all-around. Must say this reel held up admirably against the thoroughbred competition. It wasn’t silky smooth during the startup or the run, but it didn’t break off that 4X tippet. At trout speeds, it made us wonder how much a reel investment is really worth … adequate is adequate. This reel will stop Mr. Brown Trout in his tracks without assaulting the wallet.
Score: 3 out of 5

Functional Review
Let’s be brutally honest: the drag settings are abrupt. This isn’t a “well oiled machine” in the context of the higher-priced competition. But functionally, it’s just fine. Easy to... [ 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 $285-$295 for a good trout-sized model, the Evolution is a key reason why Ross reels are the best-selling fly reels in America. The company sells excellent introductory/value reels; but this is where we think the “big league” features start.
Score: 4.5 out of 5

How it "Met the Street"
Pretty decent, all around. We felt a little bump at the startup, and then a touch of bounce in the rod as the reel wound out into the backing. But, by and large, it gave a pretty honest effort; in fact, it did better than we expected it to do. It was fairly smooth and stable, and we certainly felt no major hiccups throughout the test.
Score: 3.5 out of 5

Functional Review
Ross reels are good values, especially at the trout end of the fishing spectrum. Most of the other reels we tested were born and bred in saltwater, and dialed... [ 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
$295 in the Featherweight model, which intentionally does not include the CCF disc brake drag element of the larger saltwater models.
Score: 4.5 out of 5

How it "Met the Street"
Pretty darn good, especially at the startup. There’s nothing jerky about this drag, and at trout speeds, it’s plenty muscular. Very impressive, all around.
Score: 4 out of 5

Functional Review
Nautilus reels are great values, throughout the range of weights and classes offered. It’s easy to pop the spool on the move, and frames are very light. This is a “thinking man’s” reel.
Score: 4 out of 5

Knocks
We’re scratching our heads here. The price isn’t cheap, but it is pretty fair. We like the quietness, and really like the resistance-free forward cranking. Why don’t more people know about Nautilus?
Deductions: 0

Total Score: 12

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