Fly Fishing 101

Best Fly Reels for Trout: 7 Reels Compared, and When to Buy One

Daniel Bowman Updated November 4, 2026 11 min read

Most reel lists online rank ten reels and link to a store. This one does something narrower. It puts seven widely sold trout reels side by side, with every number taken from the maker's own product page on one date, and it explains the three specs that actually change how a reel fishes.

It also answers a question those lists skip: should you buy a reel before your first guided trip, or after? Our answer, and the reasoning, is near the end. If you just want to fish, our trip finder will match you to a river, and the gear comes with the trip.

What does a fly reel actually do on a trout stream?

Two things: it holds your line, and its drag slows a fish that's pulling line out. Orvis's Tom Rosenbauer puts the balance well in a short lesson on drag: "A trout reel is mostly a line-holding device." Then he adds the exception: "if you fish in a river where you may occasionally hook a big one, you'll need a reel with a smooth drag, especially when fishing with light tippets."

That exception is why the reel matters more on some Georgia water than others. With small fish, you'll strip most of them in by hand. On our private water on the Soque, rainbows average around 17-18 inches with some much larger, so a fish can take line off the reel, and a rough drag can snap the thin tippet the fly is tied to.

How do the 7 reels compare?

Here's each reel in the size that fits a 4, 5 or 6 weight rod, with specs from the maker's own page, checked November 4, 2026. "Not listed" means the page didn't say.

A few notes on the table:

• Stock moves. On the day we checked, every Redington Zero and every Sage Spectrum C 5/6 showed as sold out, and some colors of the Ross Colorado and Hatch Iconic did too. Check the maker's page before you count on one. Prices are the ones posted on each maker's page on November 4, 2026; Lamson's page showed $159.99 as a sale price.
• The Ross Colorado stops at 5 weight. It comes in 2/3 and 4/5 sizes only, so it doesn't fit a 6 weight rod.
• Lamson sizes span three line weights. Lamson says its reels "are sized for one line weight up or down," so a -5+ fits 4, 5 or 6 weight lines.

All seven are large arbor, so that choice is already made for you. The rest of this guide explains what that means and which of the other specs to care about.

What does each maker say about its own reel?

In their own words, from the product pages linked in the table:

• Redington Zero: "Claimed as the lightest reel in its class," with "die-cast construction and a durable clicker drag."
• Orvis Clearwater II: "Packs a ton of value with a die-cast design and sealed disc drag you won't find in similarly priced reels."
• Redington Behemoth: "a die-cast fly reel with a heavy-duty carbon fiber drag and a durable, interlocking large-arbor spool."
• Lamson Liquid S: a "Pressure Cast Aluminum Frame and Spool" with a "Sealed Conical Drag."
• Sage Spectrum C: "a multi-purpose large-arbor reel that combines a machined die-cast frame with Sage's sealed carbon one-revolution drag."
• Ross Colorado: a "lightweight click pawl reel," made in Montrose, Colorado.
• Hatch Iconic 4+: "If you're looking for the perfect reel for your 9' 5 weight rod then look no further," made in Southern California.

Those are the makers describing their own products, so read them as claims, not test results. One outside note: Field & Stream's trout reel review, not Ross, says the Colorado "has limited line storage, which may not suit anglers who need extra backing capacity."

What's the difference between click-and-pawl and disc drag?

How the reel slows a running fish. A click-and-pawl reel uses a simple clicker. A disc drag uses friction pads you tighten with a knob.

Lamson's reel buying guide describes click-pawl as "a minimalist, classic system using a two-way clicker for light resistance," with "additional stopping power" coming "from palming the spool," meaning pressing your hand on the rim. It calls it "not for every application, but incredibly fun and pure to fish."

Orvis's guide to choosing a fly reel says trout reels are "the most varied on the market" because "the fish are smaller, powerful drag settings aren't crucial." It adds that "many anglers still love the old-style 'click and pawl' reel," where "you can place your free hand on the rim of the reel to use it as drag control."

In the table:

1. Click and pawl: Redington Zero, Ross Colorado.
2. Sealed drag, per the maker's page: Orvis Clearwater II, Lamson Liquid S, Sage Spectrum C.
3. Carbon drag, not called sealed on the product page: Redington Behemoth ("Carbon Fiber" drag), Hatch Iconic ("carbon-filled drag material"; Hatch's design page mentions "improved sealing" but doesn't name the drag type).

A sealed drag keeps grit and water out of the friction pads. A click-pawl is lighter and simpler, but you do more of the slowing with your hand. Neither is wrong for trout. If you like the idea of feeling every run through your palm, try a clicker. If you want to set the drag once and let the reel do the work, pick a sealed one.

What does "large arbor" mean, and does it matter?

It means the spool is wide in diameter, so each turn of the handle brings in more line. Orvis's large arbor explainer gives the numbers: an old-style 5 weight spool about 1 1/2 inches across retrieves "1.6 inches of line per each revolution" when empty, while a modern large arbor spool "2 1/2" or bigger retrieves 8 1/2 inches of line per crank."

Sage's reel technology page adds a second benefit: because the spool stays wide even as line goes out, "the change in drag resistance is minimized." And Lamson says large arbor reels "reduce line memory, resulting in fewer coils."

Since every reel in the table is large arbor, you don't have to decide this one.

Does a cast or machined reel matter?

It matters for weight, finish and price more than for catching trout. Most reels start one of two ways: molten aluminum poured into a mold (cast), or a solid block of aluminum cut by machine (machined).

Orvis wrote in 2016, in a reel buying piece, that "cast-aluminum reels, formed by liquid metal poured into molds, work fine and can last for years, but the highest quality reels are machined aluminum." Lamson says its Liquid S is cast and then "machined to ensure tight tolerances." Hatch's design page says it was "the first and now one of the only reel manufacturers to make the reel body out of one piece."

For a trout angler, a cast reel at $110 to $200 will do the job. Higher prices don't always mean lighter: in the table, the $109.99 Zero is the lightest. Compare the listed weights and construction reel by reel.

How much should you spend on a trout reel?

Somewhere between $100 and $200 covers a good trout reel. Orvis's guide says "spending a bit more on a reel ($100-$200) will relieve you of the frustration of faulty parts and subpar performance," and that "these reels also come with better warranties."

By price, the table sorts into three groups:

If you want a sealed drag at the lowest price, the Orvis Clearwater II (from $129) has one. The middle group adds the Lamson Liquid S and Sage Spectrum C. If you love the sound and feel of a clicker, the Zero and the Colorado are the two click-pawl options here, at very different prices.

What do the warranties say?

They differ more than the prices suggest. In the makers' own words:

• Orvis Clearwater II: "Your reel is unconditionally guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship."
• Lamson: its warranty page says "Our lifetime warranty is valid for any defect in material or workmanship for the original owner," and Lamson says reel repairs are a flat $35.
• Sage and Redington: Far Bank, the company behind both, describes an "original owner warranty against defects in materials and workmanship" on its warranty page.
• Ross: its warranty page gives a "limited lifetime warranty for as long as the product is on the market," for the original owner and "not transferable."
• Hatch: not listed on the pages we opened.

If a warranty matters to you, read the maker's full policy before you buy. Most of the quoted lines cover defects in materials or workmanship.

How do you match a reel to your rod?

By line weight. Orvis says "the most important aspect of picking a trout and bass fly reel is to match the size of the spool to the size of the rod," and that "matching a 5WT rod with a 4/5 WT reel or a 5/6WT reel is a good strategy."

So the steps are:

1. Find your rod's line weight. It's printed on the rod, near the handle.
2. Pick a reel sized for that weight. A 5 weight rod takes a 4/5 or 5/6 reel.
3. Check that the reel holds your line and backing. Our fly line guide for trout covers the 20-lb. Dacron backing Orvis lists for trout. Most makers list line and backing capacity on the product page; if one doesn't, ask the shop.

If you don't own a rod yet, our guide to the best fly rod weight for North Georgia trout covers which weight to start with. On the Tuckasegee, we say "a 9ft 5wt or 6wt with floating lines" is ideal if you bring your own.

When does the reel matter on North Georgia water?

It depends on the water and the fish. Here's how the reel's job changes across the kinds of fishing we guide:

That last row is a different reel entirely. For stripers, we say "8 and 9 weight rods and intermediate or sinking lines are recommended," which takes a reel sized to match. None of the trout sizes in the table are meant for that, though Orvis does make a Clearwater II Size IV for 7-9 weight lines.

On the private water, the drag earns its keep during the fight. Orvis's older reel buying guide says that in trout fishing "the fish is not going to pull a great deal of line off the reel, but a proper drag setting is still imperative in protecting your tippet." Our guide to fighting and landing a big trout covers what to do with your hands when that happens.

What should you check in the store?

If you're holding the reel, a few quick checks tell you more than a spec sheet:

• Spin the spool by hand. It should turn smoothly, with no catch or grind.
• Pull line off against the drag. On a disc drag, turn the knob and feel the resistance change evenly.
• Mount it on your rod. Field & Stream's trout reel review says a rod and reel combo "should balance around the handle."
• Check the line weight on the box. It should match your rod.
• Read the warranty. The makers' terms above differ.

Our article on leaders and tippet explains the thin line a smooth drag is protecting.

Should you buy a reel before or after your first guided trip?

After. On a guided trip with us, you don't need one. Our rates page lists the gear that comes with every trip: "rods, reels, flies, waders, boots." Your guide also provides "all flies, leaders, and tippet."

That makes the trip a free test drive. A few reasons to wait:

• You'll learn which rod weight you like before you buy a reel to match it.
• You'll feel a drag on a real fish. On our private water, fish often run 17 inches and up, which is where a smooth drag earns its price.
• You'll find out how much you'll fish. The table runs from $109.99 to $679, so it helps to know how often you'll use the reel before you pick a price.

Already have a rod and reel you like? Bring them along on the Etowah or Soque; we're glad to fish your gear, and ours is there for anyone who needs it.

What's the best gift for someone who wants to fly fish?

If you're not sure of their rod weight, a trip, not a reel. A reel has to match the rod, and a guess can be wrong. A gift certificate covers "private water, expert guides, all gear included," and it starts at $400 for a half day on our private water.

Our certificates never expire and are good for any trip except the Dragonfly. The recipient can fish the gear first, and pick a reel later if they get hooked.

Daniel Bowman

Owner & Head Guide · Bowman Fly Fishing

Daniel has guided fly fishing trips in North Georgia for more than 10 years. He runs Bowman Fly Fishing with a team of 10 guides on the Toccoa, Soque, Etowah, Noontootla, and Tuckasegee — including private water access most anglers never get to fish.