Best Click And Pawl Fly Reels

Ross Colorado LT Fly Reel

As will all Ross reels, this was designed, machined and tested in and around the river of Colorado. It is made from machined aluminum for durability while being featherweight in hand.

The reel comes with an extra-large arbor for a great retrieve rate while keeping a good line capacity. The extra-large arbor also gives you a bigger area to palm on when you hook that brown of a lifetime.

The reel features machined marine-grade bronze bushings which rotate on a stainless steel spindle with a quick release spool and easy left-hand to right-hand retrieve conversion. The connection between the spindle and the spool is airtight and creates a seal around the internal mechanism. This will stop any dirt or water getting in there and corroding the inside.

The drag is set to a nice tension and is perfect for freshwater fishing while the handle had been made with a rugged epoxy layered canvas post for increased grip and reduced weight, eliminating the need for a counterweight.

Overall this is an awesome reel and worth the highish price tag.

OKUMA Sierra Diecast Aluminum Fly Reel

This is a nice little reel from Okuma. It is designed to be very light for easy, comfortable all-day casting. The reel is made from die-cast aluminum and will dent if you drop it but it will be durable over time if you look after it. It comes with a standard arbor giving you an average retrieve rate and a good line capacity.

It features a one-way roller bearing that only allows the drag to engage in one direction so you won’t have any resistance when winding it in. There are no ball bearings in this reel and it uses a brass bushing drive system but is still very smooth.

It converts easily from left- to right-hand retrieve and has a smooth drag that is easily changeable. The drag can fail after a whole and it can start to make some odd noises on the spool.

Orvis Battenkill Reel

Orvis has always put thought into their reels and this one is no different. The reel comes in a number of sizes and they have even added some for Spey rods, so you can chase salmon and steelhead with a click and pawl.

The reel and spool are made from machined aluminum, making it very durable and corrosion-resistant. It will stand up well to bangs and scrapes. The finish is a little rough around the edges but this doesn’t affect the reels performance. While being machined, it is still lightweight and will be a delight on those long days of swinging flies.

The click and pawl drag comes with 4 positions so you can choose the right tension for you. It has been designed to work with the palm of your hand which you’ll use when a salmon takes a blistering run downstream. The drag is smooth but you can only adjust it internally which is very fiddly and annoying to do when fishing.

It has been made with a narrow spool to reduce line stacking and large diameter to up your retrieve rate. The spool is easy to pop out and you can switch the retrieve side without any issue.

Redington ZERO Fly Reel

This reel from Redington is a stunningly light reel that is perfect for targetting trout. You’ll enjoy casting with this all day. It’s made from die-cast aluminum which is usually not as durable as machined aluminum but this is a little different. Redington uses a special design that can not be machined and retains its durability when die-cast.

It comes with a quick change spool so you can switch from floating to sinking or intermediate lines swiftly and easily. It’s also easy to change from left to right-hand wind.

The drag is a click and pawl, is smooth and easily changed. The reel comes in a large arbor for a quick pick up when winding and has a good line capacity. It’s also covered by Redington’s lifetime warranty. 

Pflueger Medalist Fly Reel

This is a remake of one of Pfluegers original reels. They have done a good job but it doesn’t quite have the same feel and finish. If you’re an enthusiast of old Pfluegers, bare that in mind.

It’s made from machined aluminum which is very durable. It won’t bend or scratch if you drop it by mistake or clip a boulder walking up a river. This does make the reel a little heavy, despite it being noted as being a little small in size for some anglers. This may make it tiring to cast with all-day and unbalance your setup a little.

The reel comes in standard arbor size, or medium. This gives a good line capacity and an average pick up rate which is more than enough for targeting smaller freshwater species. The click and pawl drag is easily adjustable, smooth and not too noisy.

The reel comes with a lightweight and durable polymer handle and is easily changed from left to right-hand retrieve. Overall it is a little expensive but that is due to the machined aluminum and Pflueger trying to recreate one of their classic reels.

Daiwa Lochmor

This a well made reel that comes in at a great price point. The reel is made from aluminum but the process used is not described. Based on the price and look of the reel, it’s most likely been die-cast. This makes it light for easy casting and durable but it will scratch and dent easily.

The drag is smooth and can be changed using a knob on the outside which is much more convenient to have to remove the spool. The spool is large arbor, giving you the best medium between line capacity and pick up rate. You’ll be able to pick up any slack without issue. The reel uses bushing rather than ball bearings but is still smooth while you wind.

The clicker on this reel is very noisy. All click and pawl reels have a clicker but this one is particularly loud. If that kind of thing annoys you then stay clear of this one. It’s easy to change the reel from right to left-hand retrieve and overall it is a good piece of kit at a great price.

Sage Fly Fishing - CLICK Fly Reel

This is a beautiful reel and you’ll love using it and seeing it on the base of our fly rod. It is expensive though as click and pawl reels go. The reel is made from machined aluminum and its very tough. You can drop this and not worry about it, just don’t drop it from too high up.

It comes with a large arbor spool which gives you a good retrieve rate and a sufficient amount of line capacity. This also gives extra space to palm the reel if you need to add some manual drag when you’ve hooked a big fish.

The drag is adjustable using a knob on the outside so you can add some extra pressure to prevent over-spooling. The click and pawl system on this reel is a little different. Usually the clicker slots into a gear on the spool but in this design it slots into the inside of the actual spool. This gives more torque and therefore more drag with less force. 

It’s a stunning reel that will last a lifetime but it’s a little expensive.

Bodhi Die Cast Clicker Fly Fishing Reel

To start with, this reel is very pretty. Bodhi has made a beautiful reel here, but does it do the job, or should it just sit in a display. First off, it is light for easy all-day casting and is made from die-cast aluminum. It’ll stand up well to corrosion and be durable if you don’t bang it around.

It comes with a medium arbor which is good for your line capacity, pick up rate. The reel can easily be switched from left to right-hand retrieve, handy for change lines quickly.

The drag is of course click and pawl, it is smooth to start with but when you increase the drag it becomes rough and coarse. Overall the drag system feels a tad fragile and may not last very long.