Saltwater Fly Fishing Reels

Your Reel Is About to Earn Its Keep

Hook a 16-inch trout and, most of the time, you can strip that fish to your feet without your reel doing much more than looking pretty. Hook a bonefish, permit, redfish, tarpon, or another saltwater freight train and the relationship changes rather quickly! Suddenly the reel that spent most of its freshwater life patiently holding your fly line is spinning at several thousand RPM while a fish attempts to empty it of backing.

Saltwater is where a good fly reel earns its keep.

A quality saltwater fly reel needs to do three things exceptionally well: withstand a brutal environment, provide a smooth and powerful drag, and hold enough line and backing to give you a fighting chance when a fish decides that Mexico sounds nicer than wherever you happen to be standing.

At Ascent Fly Fishing, we carry saltwater-capable reels from Lamson, Hardy, Ross, and Galvan, giving anglers options for everything from stalking bonefish across skinny flats to putting the brakes on permit, tarpon, barracuda, and other powerful gamefish.

What Makes a Good Saltwater Fly Reel?

Freshwater tackle lives a comparatively pampered life. Saltwater gear gets sprayed with salt, baked in tropical sun, rattled around boats, dunked on flats and then asked to perform flawlessly when the fish of your lifetime finally eats.

That is why corrosion resistance and a dependable drag system should be near the top of your list when choosing a saltwater reel. Sealed or highly protected drag systems help keep salt, sand, and debris away from critical components, while a smooth drag protects your tippet when a fish accelerates from zero to GOOD LORD, LOOK AT THAT THING GO! in about two seconds.

A large-arbor design is another major advantage. Larger arbor reels retrieve more line with every turn of the handle and can help you regain line quickly when a fish suddenly changes direction and comes racing back toward the boat.

Then there is backing capacity. Trout anglers may spend years never seeing their backing. Saltwater anglers can become intimately acquainted with it before breakfast. Pair your reel with sufficient fly line and backing for the species you intend to chase.

What Size Saltwater Fly Reel Do I Need?

Match the reel primarily to the weight of your saltwater fly rod and fly line, but also consider the size and strength of the fish you are pursuing.

As a general starting point:

• 7–8 weight setups are excellent for bonefish, redfish and lighter inshore fishing.
• 9 weight setups are extremely versatile for redfish, snook, permit, smaller tarpon, and larger flats species.
• 10 weight setups provide additional muscle for permit, barracuda, larger snook and many tarpon situations.
• 11–12 weight setups step into serious big-game territory for large tarpon, Giant Trevally (GT), and other powerful saltwater species.
  

There is plenty of overlap because fish stubbornly refuse to read fly-fishing equipment charts. Conditions matter too. Wind, fly size, current and the average size of the fish you are targeting can all push you toward a heavier setup.

Build the Rest of Your Saltwater Setup

A saltwater reel is only one member of the team. Pair it with the right saltwater fly rod, a species-appropriate saltwater fly line, strong saltwater leaders and tippet, and a box of flies selected for the fish and water you'll be exploring.

Chasing bonefish? Take a look at our bonefish lines and leaders along with our bonefish flies. Headed someplace where you aren't entirely certain what is going to swim past the bow? Browse our complete selection of saltwater flies and build a box capable of handling whatever shows up.

Because that unpredictability is half the fun of saltwater fly fishing. One minute you're looking at an empty flat wondering whether there is a fish within three miles of you, and 30 seconds later your guide is yelling “Permit! Eleven o'clock! Sixty feet!” while your heart rate triples and every casting lesson you've ever taken abruptly leaves your brain.

Why Buy Your Saltwater Reel From Ascent Fly Fishing?

We are fly fishers first, and we believe good equipment recommendations start with a simple question: What are you actually going fishing for?

The best reel isn't automatically the most expensive reel on the page. It is the reel that balances your rod, carries the necessary backing, provides the drag performance your target species demands and fits the way you intend to fish.

If you're building a saltwater setup and aren't certain whether you need an 8, 9, 10 or 12 weight—or whether one reel makes more sense than another—reach out to us. We'd much rather help you put together the right setup before your trip than have you discover the limitations of the wrong one with 150 yards of backing disappearing through your guides.

Saltwater Fly Reel FAQs

Do I really need a special reel for saltwater fly fishing?

For occasional light-duty use, some freshwater reels may be rated for saltwater, but a reel specifically designed or approved for saltwater is the safer choice. Salt, sand and powerful fish place considerably greater demands on a reel, making corrosion resistance and a reliable drag particularly important.

Should a saltwater fly reel have a sealed drag?

A sealed or well-protected drag system is highly desirable because it helps keep saltwater, sand and other contaminants away from the drag components. It is especially valuable for anglers who travel frequently or fish harsh saltwater environments.

How much backing do I need for saltwater fly fishing?

It depends on the reel and species, but saltwater setups generally require considerably more backing than typical trout rigs. Bonefish, permit, tarpon and other saltwater gamefish are capable of long runs, so backing capacity should be considered when selecting both your reel size and backing.

What size reel should I use for bonefish?

Most bonefish anglers fish 7- or 8-weight rods, making a reel sized for the corresponding line weight a great starting point. Look for a lightweight reel with a dependable drag and enough backing capacity to handle the long runs bonefish are famous for.

What size fly reel should I use for tarpon?

Tarpon tackle varies considerably with the size of the fish. Smaller tarpon may be targeted with 9- or 10-weight equipment, while large adult tarpon commonly call for 11- or 12-weight rods and appropriately sized reels with powerful drags and substantial backing capacity.

Whatever species is calling you toward the salt, choose a reel you can trust when that carefully practiced cast finally comes tight and something considerably stronger than you decides to leave.

Tight Lines, Friend!