Fly Reels

The alternatives

Other contenders

• Cheeky Burst 350

  For a 6-weight setup, choose the Burst 350. Its stated 5- to 6-weight line fit covers that rod, with a sealed disc drag and a 4.7 oz reel weight; the Mirage LT II stops at 5 weight.¹³⁴⁸

• Cheeky Drip 325

  For a 2- to 4-weight setup, choose the Drip 325: it brings the sealed disc-drag approach to the smaller line class, with a machined aluminum frame.¹¹¹²³⁸

• Cheeky Drip 425

  For a 7- to 9-weight line, the Drip 425 gives you the larger line-class fit with a sealed stacked-disc drag; choose the Spray 400 instead when you need an explicit saltwater rating.¹⁴¹⁵¹⁶

• Cheeky Spray 400

  For a 7- to 9-weight saltwater setup, choose the Spray 400. Its stated saltwater use is the reason to pick it here; a sealed drag on another reel does not by itself establish saltwater suitability.¹⁶

• Hardy Averon

  For a Euro-nymph setup with thin running lines, choose the Euro Averon 5000 EN. Hardy uses a closed frame on this size for those lines, with a narrow, large-arbor spool; check its line and backing capacity for your setup.¹⁹

• Hardy Averon Cassette

  For changing fly lines on the same reel, choose the Averon Cassette 4000. Two extra cassette spools are included, and its cassette system also accepts previous-generation UDC spools; check this size’s line and backing capacity for your setup.²⁰

• Orvis Battenkill Click

  For a 1- to 3-weight rod, choose the Battenkill Click I when you want a click-and-pawl check and prefer to palm the spool as a fish runs. This size has a stated line fit for that smaller setup.²⁶²⁷

• Orvis C.F.O.

  For a 4- or 5-weight rod, choose the C.F.O. III when a traditional click-and-pawl check and palming a running fish are part of how you want to fish. The current III weighs 3.6 oz and fits 3 to 5 weight lines.⁵⁶

• Orvis SSR Disc Spey

  For a 6- to 8-weight switch or full-length two-handed rod, choose the SSR Disc Spey IV. Orvis explicitly designs this size for those setups, with a sealed disc drag.³⁶³⁷

Buying advice

• Match the reel to your fly-line class first. The 2- to 4-weight Drip 325 and 7- to 9-weight Drip 425 cover different setups. The Mirage LT II covers 3 to 5 weight; for a 6-weight line choose a reel that explicitly covers it, such as the 5- to 6-weight Burst 350.¹⁴¹¹¹⁴
• On a 5-weight rod, the 3.6 oz C.F.O. III is 0.7 oz lighter than the Mirage LT II, with a click-and-pawl check you can supplement by palming the spool. The 4.3 oz Mirage LT II has a sealed disc drag and is 0.4 oz lighter than the Burst 350. Choose the drag mechanism and rod balance together; the C.F.O. III and Orvis II sizes here cover 3 to 5 weight lines, while the Burst 350 covers 5 to 6.^123456283032

How they compare

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