Pike and predatory fish fly reels

The characteristics of reels suitable for fly fishing for pike and predators are:

• Lightweight, while ensuring the balance of the rod/line/reel combination.
A model that is too heavy will tire your arm and reduce your endurance, which is important when prospecting, where you cast for long periods of time.
A reel that is too light will affect the balance and therefore the performance of the rod.

• Large capacity for thick lines and good backing reserve.
Note: We are not dealing with fish that make long runs.
Even trophy pike and catfish rarely take out the entire line.
These fish fight powerfully in a tight space, usually seeking to return to deeper water and the obstacles found there.

The advantage of a spool well filled with backing is that it increases the retrieval ratio per turn of the handle, even for large arbor or mid-arbor reels, and limits line memory, which often affects casting distance, even when using a casting basket.

• A large or wide arbor will facilitate rapid line retrieval, which is essential to avoid jerks and other line jams when fighting large fish that are brought in on the reel as quickly as possible.

• Powerful and progressive drag: without having to be ultra-sophisticated like some reels designed for saltwater fly fishing, a simple and reliable drag system is recommended in order to quickly land large fish.
A prolonged fight means a greater chance of losing the fish and jeopardizing its survival, especially if the water temperature is high, which increases stress, never a good thing for pike, which is a fairly fragile species.

I offer a selection of compatible reels from the leading European and American brands in a wide price range.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you're unsure about your choice.