Stalking tarpon in saltwater may well be the ultimate test for a reel. Go with a fly reel that's not built to hold up to these great gamefish and when you’re miles from shore with no backup your dream trip can quickly turn into a heartbreaker. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that the fly reels we’ve chosen from Hatch, Nautilus, Tibor, Abel and Sage are all built for the rigors of tarpon fishing. You can’t go wrong with any of these reels. we actually use them all ourselves just so we can honestly say how well they hold up.
In the market for a fly rod, too? Be sure to check out our picks for some of the best fly rods for tarpon fishing, too.
| Reel | Line weights | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hatch Iconic 11+ fly reel | 10wt-11wt | $998.00 |
| Tibor Signature fly reel | 8wt–12wt | Starting at $769.00 |
| Nautilus CCF-X2 6/8 fly reel | 8wt–12wt | $605.00 |
| Nautilus CCF-X2 Silver King fly reel | 5wt–12wt | $770.00 |
| Abel SDS fly reel | 8wt–12wt | Starting at $995 |
| Lamson Litespeed M fly reel | 8wt-12wt | $679.99-$779.99 |
| Orvis Mirage fly reel | 3wt-15wt | $598.00-$898.00 |
