10 Best Budget Fly Reels (Reviewed & Compared)

Our team has personally purchased every one of these fly reels and dozens of others to extensively review and compare them here on the channel to bring you this list of The Best Budget Fly Reels On The Market This Year!

It's taken us a long time, but we're happy with our list and we hope you find it useful.

Check Out The 10 Best Budget Fly Reels On Our Blog:

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
0:42 How We Reviewed & Tested The Reels
2:55 The Overall Weight
3:09 The Material
3:23 The Weight
3:51 Line Capacity
4:14 The Drag System
4:26 Line Retrieval
4:44 Introduction to Top 10
4:52 #1 Maxcatch Eco
5:36 #2 Orvis Clearwater
6:19 #3 Orvis Battenkill
6:58 #4 Redington Behemoth
7:45 #5 Sage Spectrum C
8:26 #6 Redington Crosswater
9:04 #7 Piscifun Sword
9:35 #8 TFO NTR Series 1
10:18 #9 Echo Base
11:01 #10 Maxcatch Avid
11:45 Outro

The List:
*Please note: The links to order are affiliate links which means we receive a commission.*
1. Maxcatch Eco

2. Orvis Clearwater

3. Orvis Battenkill

4. Redington Behemoth

5. Sage Spectrum C

6. Redington Crosswater

7. Piscifun Sword

8. TFO NTR Series 1

9. Echo Base

10. Maxcatch Avid

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Until next time...

Tight lines!

[jaydeer]

I know this video is 5 mo old and I'm a little late to the party. I own several Okuma SLV reels in sizes 2-3 and 4-5 that I have fished heavily for over 10 years. Of course, I think they are great reels and wouldn't be writing this comment if I thought otherwise. Back when I purchased them I paid $40-$50. Now, you can still find them in the $55-$65 price range. Well worth taking a look at in your next budget reel evaluation.

[stevenschoppmann]

I purchased a 3/4 Piscifun Sword after watching a review from one of your previous videos. I paired it up with my 6'6" 2 wt from Maine Fly Co for small creek fishing for brookies here in the Northeast and couldn't be happier with the purchase. Very good quality and a great value.

[nypatriot]

I feel like the lamson liquid should be on here also

[JustinUrHed]

Good timing here too! I watched your budget rod vid and was looking at the Matchcatch Premier rod. They have a bundle with the Avid reel for 110 or their Toro reel for 123, Avid with a bunch of lines for 128. Think I'm going with the 128 bundle as my 1st setup.

[keithhunter]

I like the two TFO NTRs I have as much as my Bauer and Ross reels. The NTR is smooth, light, durable, and has a great drag.
I just ordered a Maxcatch Avid Pro 5-7 for Sea Run Cutthroat. It's slightly heavy compared to higher end reeels, but it balances really well my 10'6" two-hander.

[brian]

I still use two Pfleuger Medalist reels that are 50+ yrs old. Bought them then for $20 each.

[ToddSloanIAAN]

You did the research and it feels like what little follow-up I have to do is just to decide which...

[mikemcgeehan]

Perfect timing. I’m deciding on a new reel. Good review. Just subscribed.

[bigdrumnc]

The Maxcatch premier combo is a really nice set up. It’s easily comparable to more expensive set ups. The free line they give you….not so much😂

[soundbwoikilla]

Super cheap (but able to afford expensive) fly guy here. For about $50 I think the Maxcatch Avid is the best all around reel by far (I have several Maxcatch reels, including Avid, ECO, Tail and classic clicker). I'd follow this by the Piscifun Sword (I have several including Sword, Sword II, Aoka and Aoka XS). Honestly for 5 wt and under, you shouldn't need to spend more than $75. But the best cheap reels I have were from a guy, Jonny K (rest in peace) that ran Angers Roost in NY. Unfortunately, he and his shop are gone but he had the best $50 CNC reels, in black, silver and titanium. I can't find them anywhere since. Closest reel would be the Maxcatch Avid.

[alfredoverno]

I subbed because you asked nicely and the content was great.

[RugerCarbine]

Okuma SLV ..B has a large center shaft, light weight and a great drag $48.99 at Bi- mart in size 7/8 🎣

[MiguelTheFirst]

I just got a cheeky preload 2.0 300. Any experience with it?

[johnkinsfather]

Piscufun reels are hard to beat, great value. I fish the Sword in 3 sizes.

[kansasscout]

I was pleasantly surprised at how good this was.

[andrewhancock]

My max catch avid just had the drag disk disintegrate after fighting some medium sized snook

[stephanmenzel]

Most of expensive brand flyreels are made in China, - or parts of them, - I agree. So I bought some reels by TEMU for freshwater fishing. Only one of five comes in with a little problem - the ball-bearing in false way out. Ideal for an left hand caster. TEMU accept exchange, problem solved.

[davidbrattain]

Unless you are fishing; Skagit, Spey, for Salmon, most saltwater species, pike, musky, lake trout and the like: You should expect to spend no more than 30%-50% the cost of the rod. I currently have 15 reels after 50 years of fishing and fished probably twice that many (even a Pflueger automatic I bought years ago as a joke for 40 bucks) and I will say that Orvis reels are absolutely the best in the business.

[Bannflyfisher]

Dont buy the max catch eco... I bought 2 of them. 3-4 weight and 5-6 weight.. pieces of shit.. they both fell apart when casting. Had to retrieve all my line by hand on several occasions.. absolute piles of scrap.

[funk]

Wait... the sound of my 1/1 platinum plated diamond encrusted orvis reel doesn't bring in more fish???? I thought fly fishing wasn't for the poors. What the fuck tom.