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Fly Reels
Almost any reel will work for small species, but you didn't travel this far to chase snappers. Look for durability first. Is the reel machined or simply injection-molded? Is the spool one piece or two? Can the spindle handle the torque a speeding fish can produce? Did the reel designer leave enough metal on the spool to withstand warping? Will the finish last for years or merely months? This is no place to put your fly in front of a fish and hope that your reel can handle the pressure. What about drag systems? Cork is the perennial favorite. It compresses well, requires little maintenance, and with proper care will last for years without wear. Look for low start-up inertia; a sticky drag equals a lost fish. Can the drag be tightened enough to let you get "down and dirty" to land a fish quickly?
The benefits of large arbor reels are faster line retrieval and consistent drag pressure, but a larger regular-sized arbor reel can provide some the same advantages with more backing capacity.
This is a lifetime sport, and your reels should last at least that long. Buy your reel once, and buy it right. The following have all proven to be up to the task and among the best buys for your money.
Tibor
made in Florida by Ted Juracsik – the maker of the famed Billy Pate Reels, these are one of the top, large arbor reels on the market. Very solidly built, but impressively light, Tibor reels use a cork drag system to smoothly slow even the fastest run. Ted believes in lubing his reels with ample amounts of grease so the reels are practically maintenance free.
Abel
another top, large arbor reel made in the USA machined from aircraft grade aluminum. With the frame and both sides of the spool ported, it is lighter than a comparable Tibor. Its premium cork drag system, lubricated with neatsfoot oil, has the ability to be cranked all the way down to stop a fish in its tracks or cause terminal tackle failure.
Orvis Large Arbor Battenkill
possibly the lightest reel for its size and definitely the largest arbor in its class, which mean faster line retrieval rates and a constant drag. Made in England from solid bar stock, aerospace grade 6262 T-6 aluminum, the reel uses an offset disc drag system that provides 200% more drag surface than the original Battenkill. Priced under $250, these are a great deal! Great for saltwater in line weights from 6 – 10.
**NEW**
The MACH by Orvis
The best mid priced reel on the market ranging from $285 to $350. Weight is comparable to the Large Arbor Batenkill but the Mach has better backing capacity. Deep spool is suitable for regular dacron or micron backing. With a beefed dup drag consisting of 8 bufolon to stainless steel drag surfaces, the start up is incredibly smooth and provides considerably more stopping power than the Battenkill Large Arbor. Saltwater sizes suitable for line weights from 7-12.
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