Please remember that there are no ads on this page and 100% of our funding comes from your purchases, so if you find this review to be informative, please help us keep the reviews coming by purchasing your next fly reel from us.

Nautilus fly reels are well known for being some of the most reliable and powerful in the world, and the GTX is their premium big game model. Featuring an insanely powerful sealed drag, the GTX can handle anything from Tarpon and GTs to Tuna and Marlin. Although competition is stiff in the premium fly reel market, there are a few features that differentiate the Nautilus from others. If you’re planning the trip of a lifetime to target trophy fish in harsh environments, read on to learn what makes the GTX unique and why it might be the right choice for you.

Big Game Reel Shootout Full Results

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Designed and manufactured in the USA
• Extreme drag performance for big game pursuits
• Lighter than some premium big game reels like the Hatch Iconic and the Mako 9600B

Cons

• The most expensive reel in the Nautilus lineup. Is it worth the money?

Who It’s For

The Nautilus GTX is designed for taking on the biggest, baddest fish that can be targeted on a fly rod. We’re talking Marlin, Giant Trevally, and migratory Tarpon. With more drag pressure than you can reasonably use, this 10-ounce big game reel is an engineering feat that is overkill for most saltwater species. Its also incredible durable thanks to its ‘Activseal’ encased internals and anodized finish. Anglers who are shelling out big bucks to chase the world’s toughest fish in harsh conditions should consider this premium reel.

Weight

9.9 ounces. It's a little below average for this test, but it's really quite light for a tarpon reel. A few years ago, nothing would have touched it.

Drag

One of the new features on the GTX was its drag. It definitely looks rather different (from the outside) than either the Silver King or the NV-G. Nautilus claims 25lbs of drag, but we tested it to a whopping 34.7lbs!

Unfortunately, that's where the good news ends. While it does indeed have a massively powerful drag, without a wrench, you can only access about 10lbs of it (which is still fine more most anglers) and it's quite smooth as the drag graph below shows.

Turn it down to the halfway mark and you'll only have 1.6 lbs - about 5% of the max. Dial it all the way down, it'll free spool on you for sure.

In reality, the GTX's drag adjustment, much like the NV-G, comes from about 1/3 of a turn where it goes from 1 to 10 lbs - and every click is about a pound! The only spot in the test where the GTX lost points was in adjustability, and there's just not enough for our liking.

Drag Test Graphs

Sound

Like every Nautilus, the GTX sounds great. It's slightly different on the incoming and outgoing as well. Truth be told, I preferred the sound on the Silver King just a bit.

Spool & Cage Design

The spool on the GTX is great. It's actually a lot like the Mako but is just a hair thinner. You're getting about a foot of line pickup per turn - which is massive. It also holds more backing than you'll ever want to reel in at 335 yards of 30lb Dacron.

Looks & Ergonomics

We've said this before - Nautilus reels look great. They are modern, sleek, and at the top of the class. The GTX is no exception and is definitely a great progression in reel design. Versus the NV-G, Nautilus has also upped the size of the drag knob to make it much more user-friendly, while keeping the already excellent handle.

The GTX lost a point vs the Silver King on the drag knob, because while a big upgrade from the NV-G, it's not *quite* as nice to handle as the one on the Silver King - something you'll notice as it starts to get really tight.

Warranty

Nautilus Fly Reel Warranty

Value

Price: $1,300.00

At $1,300 the GTX is the most expensive reel Nautilus has ever made. Many anglers (OK, maybe most anglers) will find this too expensive. And for most anglers, this is true, because most anglers aren't traveling halfway around the world to chase big game fish. When you take into account the time, effort, and money it takes to take a trip to, say, the Seychelles for Giant Trevally or Magdelena Bay for Marlin, why skimp out on your fly reel? The last thing you want to fail is your reel when you have the fish of a lifetime on the line. So, for serious big-game anglers who want the highest performance and the most durability, the Nautilus GTX is worth the price tag.

Conclusion

The GTX is an epic reel.. But you already knew that. It's a much more extreme and high-performing reel than the Hatch 9 Plus, and it's way lighter (and cheaper) than the Mako. Add to that a great sound and awesome ergonomics and you've got yourself a winner.

If you don't care about finely tuning your drag, the Nautilus GTX is the best of the best in tarpon reels. It's probably as good as it gets for anyone fishing heavier tippets.

Buy it with Free Shipping here.