Charlie's fun size tarpon. (photo credit: Kyle Zempel, Black Earth Angling Co.)
SALTWATER SPECIFIC REEL LINEUP:
DISCLAIMER: The reels mentioned here are listed in no specific order. They are all high quality, dependable and trust worthy options for your saltwater specific needs.
SAGE REELS:
THE SAGE ENFORCER: Sage has done a wonderful job with this reel. Cosmetically it's very appealing to the eyes and audibly sounds wonderful to the ears. Absolutly love the clicking sound this reel makes. I could compare it to the sounds of a Nautilus CCF-X2, which I also love. I also love the big One Revolution drag knob. It makes it real easy to adjust drag tension when needed. I hate fidling with a small drag knob personally, especially on larger reels.
The ENFORCER has plenty of power, reliability, and durability, just holding it in your hands you can feel the quality of it. Designed for peak performance, the ENFORCER offers everything the flats angler needs in a reel, taming the explosive runs of double-digit Bonefish or maybe you need to put the brakes on Redfish and Stripers. To put it simply, this is an amazing saltwater reel for flats and heavy-duty fly-fishing applications.
Coming in at a GREAT price for what you get, dare I say that the reel is better than the price tag indicates! Comes in all the sizes you'd need to cover most applications:
- 7/8 wt - (8 pounds of drag at the arbor)
- 9/10 wt - (15 pounds of drag at the arbor)
- 11/12 wt - (17 pounds of drag at the arbor)
Look at the stunning Sage ENFORCER reel. Just sexy with its rounded smooth edges and all!
Would you like to go on a saltwater fishing trip with me? Why Yes Please!
THE SAGE THERMO: When you're big game on the flats or in bluewater where behemoths roam, heavy-duty is the name of the game to be successful. Your lifetime tarpon, or monster GT, or massive shark could come into sight in the blink of an eye, and for the angler hunting these big game fish, knowing your tackle can handle the fight is mega important. Think THERMO - and know that it's heavy-duty in every sense. Designed to tame any tippet-busting, finger-cutting, hard-charging fish one may encounter. With the stopping power to keep a Giant Trevally out of the reef and the smoothness and endurance to outlast a blue marlin, the THERMO’s robust heat dissipating SCS drag, rigid frame, and burly feature set will have you covered like never before.
The THERMO brings 0 to 20lbs of drag at the arbor with unparalleled consistency of drag pressure throughout the entire run of the fish. Smooth with no drop-off, nor skipping, the THERMO handles the extremes easily, as the drag efficiently dissipates the heat across its fully sealed extra-large carbon brake discs. There are 20 easy-to-see drag settings that sit atop a large-diameter drag knob, which I love, making it incredibly easy to grip and adjust when needed, while 39 detents allow for fine tuning adjustments for any leader and tippet combination.
The extra sturdy frame and spool are designed to hold up to the battles of boat fishing where a knock on the gunwale or bouncing while on a pounding run through breakers is not unusual. With a hefty large diameter ergonomic handle for maximum grip and control, and large arbor spool for quick pick up and 500+ yards backing capacity, the THERMO is the ultimate powerhouse of big game fishing reels. If you need the security of lots of backing, this is your reel.
Go big or go home...Go THERMO!
NAUTILUS REELS:
THE NAUTILUS GTX: Although the GTX from Nautilus Reels is in a class of its own, they have somewhat been hard to get ahold of. After winning a "Best of Show" award at the AFTA show a few years ago, they have been slow to fulfill the market and those who have been patient enough to wait for them, have been well pleased with the product. This reel has been designed to be fished beyond IGFA regulations, with a maximum drag of 25+ pounds, the GTX is built to put the brakes on the fastest and strongest fish on the planet. Think huge Tarpon, tackle busting GT's and such. The GTX is up for the job!
The GTX is a 5-inch diameter reel with a narrow 1.1-inch wide spool that holds 500 yards of 60-pound braid. The GTX has a wonderfully designed GripTorq sized drag knob at 1.9" making it very easy to adjust when needed. The Nautilus GTX delivers just over 9 ounces of optimized fighting power at an MSRP of $1300.00 for the reel and $575.00 for the spool. Available in matte black or brushed titanium anodizing. As you can see in the photos below with all the performance specs, this is the "Beauty and the Beast" saltwater fishing tool!
Beauty and a Beast! The Nautilus GTX will get it done!
THE NAUTILUS CCF-X2: No stranger to the saltwater, the CCF-X2 has been a proven winner. Saltwater anglers everywhere have come to trust and depend on this reel. It covers a number of applications with it's four sizes:
THE CCF-X2 6/8: is a 4-inch large arbor 6-8 weight reel, that does well for light saltwater species.
THE CCF-X2 8/10: For more line pick up, the 8/10 is a great 8 weight with almost 12 inches of line pick up with a WF8 line per turn of the handle. The 8/10 is great for Bonefish, small Permit and Tarpon etc.
THE CCF-X2 10/12: The 4.5-inch 8/10 and 10/12 reels share the same frame and the spools can be interchanged for a set up that covers 8 to 12 weight lines with just an extra spool. This is a great feature and one that I have taken advantage of by also using the 10/12 as a Spey reel in addition to fishing saltwater when I have the chance. One reel, two spools to cover 8wt through 12wt.
THE CCF-X2 SILVER KING: The Silver King is the largest of the CCF-X2 line up and is the world’s lightest 5-inch diameter true big game reel on the market. This reel dominates all things silver and picks up 14-inches of line per turn of the handle and will reel in your prize with trust and confidence. Perfect for large Tarpon and such.
The Nautiuls CCF-X2, another beauty ready for work!
TIBOR REELS:
Since 1995, Ted Juracsik's Tibor Reels have become a favorite of saltwater fly fisherman. With a large arbor spool significantly increasing line pick up and retrieval speed giving the fly fishermen a greater control over species like Bonefish, Permit, Wahoo and Tuna. The impregnated cork disc drag system delivers the strongest smoothest and most reliable performance in the water. Proof is in the World Records set by anglers over the globe while using Tibor reels...
In 2019, Tibor Reels earned 6 new world records according to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). This brings the Tibor’s World Record count to over 950 more than any other fly fishing reel in history. Each is capable of delivering a lifetime of virtually maintenance-free fishing enjoyment for which Tibor Reels are famous.
“The finest saltwater reels I have ever used. They are the prized possession of every fisherman who owns one."
Lefty Kreh, IGFA Hall of Fame fisherman, on Tibor Reels.
Although Tibor reels are designed and engineered for saltwater use, they are at home on freshwater as well. I personally own the Signature Series 9/10 that serves double duty as a Spey reel for freshwater Salmon and Steelhead and of course is used when heading to the salt.
THE EVERGLADES: Designed for 7/8/9 weight rods with backing capacities very appropriate for chasing Steelhead, Salmon, Bonefish, Permit, Dorado, Bluefish, and Striped Bass. The Everglades will hold 200 yds. of 20 lb. Dacron with a standard WF8F but will hold nearly 300 yds. of 65 lb. Gel Spun backing.
THE RIPTIDE: Created for 9/10/11 weight rods for pursuing species such as Stripers, Drum, Large Salmon, Tarpon, Dorado, and Shark. Holding plenty of backing at 200 yds. of 30 lb. Dacron with a standard WF10F fly line and up to 300 yds. of 65 lb. Gel Spun backing.
THE GULFSTREAM: Intended for 11 through 15 weight fly rods designed for the "Big Boys" of saltwater such as Tarpon, Sailfish, Marlin, Shark, Roosterfish, and Tuna. This reel will hold up to 300 yds. of 30 lb. Dacron backing with a standard WF12F or up to 400+ yds. of 65 lb. Gel Spun backing.
THE PACIFIC: This is the biggest of the line up, intended for larger spieces such as Sailfish, Marlin, Tuna, and Larger Tarpon. This is the reel used when the amount of backing is paramount. Imagine needing 600 yds. of 40 lb. Dacron (even more if using 30#) with a WF14S fly line or 600 yds. of 80 lb. Gel Spun (even more if using 65#)!
100% Made in the U.S.A.!
GALVAN REELS:
THE GALVAN GRIP: Features a fully sealed drag system. The Grip offers a similar drag as its predecessor the Torque but they've added a fully sealed hub that completely seals the drag unit. Cosmetically pleaseing to the eye and yet durable in design and performance. I especially like the larger than normal handle, making it easy to find when fighting your trophy. The Galvan Grip is sure to satisfy your saltwater specific reel needs.
It's offered in the following sizes from G-5 up to the impressive G-12 to cover a wide range of species, including doing double duty in the Spey world if desired. Backing capacities, while not as large as some of the other reels on the list, will work great when backing is not as paramount.
- G5 - will hold up to 125 yds of 20# Dacron
- G6 - can hold up to150 yds of 20# Dacron
- G7 - up to 150 yds of 20# Dacron
- G8 - can hold up to 200 yds of 20# Dacron
- G10 - will hold up to 250 yds of 30# Dacron
- G12 - can holds 300 yds of 30# Dacron.
The Galvan Grip - Made in the U.S.A.
ROSS REELS:
THE EVOLUTION R SALT: Fishing a saltwater environment is demanding on gear to say the least. Ross has engineered the Evolution R Salt to withstand these demands. And if you are looking for a saltwater reel that is a bit lighter in weight compared to others on this list, take a good look at the Evolution R Salt. Lightness meets power with up to 30 pounds of drag pressure. Reels made for 7wt through 12wt to cover most bases. Backing capacity will vary depending on the type of backing and the fly line used on the reel, with that said, these reels will hold enough backing for most species you're after.
The Ross Evolution R Salt in all it's splendor.
LAST CAST: Tis the season for gearing up for saltwater expeditions. Having the right gear for the job is very important and enhances the enjoyment of the journey. Knowing that your gear will perform well and in the intended manner that it was designed for, gives you that trust and peace of mind of one less thing to worry about. If you have any questions at all, we love fly fishing and we love talking about it, give us a call at 541-386-6977. Or if you prefer, drop us a line at info@gorgeflyshop.com, you can also visit the Gorge Fly Shop website: www.gorgeflyshop.com
Thanks for reading,
Gorge Fly Shop Team
John G.
"The Gorge"
Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977
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