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The Mirage USA has been out for quite some time, and the 8wt placed highly in our 2018 8-weight Shootout. We loved it for its substantial drag, cush ergonomics, and bombproof construction. Four years later, the Mirage lives on without any significant upgrades. Going into our Tarpon Reel Shootout, we questioned whether it had grown a little long in the tooth. Once more, would the Mirage’s performance in a lighter size transfer to a monster gamefish-ready reel? Relax, grab your favorite beverage and read on to see how the Mirage stacks up against the rest of the competition.

Big Game Reel Shootout Full Results

Weight

We expected the Mirage USA to be heavier, but at 9.6 ounces, it was around the middle of the pack, not much heavier than the 8wt!

Drag

The Mirage features a single-turn drag, which isn’t our favorite since they don’t tend to offer enough adjustability. The Mirage’s drag is fully sealed and saltwater ready, so there is nothing to worry about here. Even though it maxes out at a decent 10.3 lbs, once you turn it halfway, you’re at a mere 1.5 lbs, which is only 14% of the Mirage’s usable drag.  By comparison, the Hatch Iconic has around the same amount of max drag but offers a MUCH more linear 43% at its halfway mark. On the positive side, the drag adjustments stop at a very reasonable .3lbs, so you do not have to worry about free spooling.

Drag Test Graphics

Sound

Nothing special here. It’s not bad, but it’s pretty muted in both directions.

Spool & Retrieval Rate

The Mirage’s 4.18” diameter spool picks up nearly 11 inches per turn, middling at best. The ported spool is relatively wide at 1.20” but ‘only’ holds 285 yards of backing. This should be enough, but it puts it in the bottom half of the shootout.

Looks & Ergonomics

Orvis delivers a great-looking reel that lives up to the quality we’ve come to expect. The Mirage has a dependable drag knob that, while not as big as the Thermo’s, is still easy to use even when needing to make adjustments on the fly. The reel handle is not too shabby, either. We’ve always been impressed with the Mirage’s durability and build quality too.

Warranty

Orvis reels are guaranteed for life against defects in materials and workmanship.

Price: $798

Conclusion

Orvis gets a lot of things with the Mirage, and it's a solid option for big game species in the salt. We love its ergonomic design and the bombproof Type 3 Anodize construction resistant to corrosion. The reel looks clean, feels comfortable to hand, and is reliable.

Even though the Mirage’s sealed carbon drag is solid, it finishes a little below the top reels in the shootout, and its line pickup was merely average. However, the Mirage is a dependable workhorse that will take a beating and keep on screaming (albeit a little quieter than we’d prefer).

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Pros

  • USA Built
  • Great Ergonomics 
  • Type 3 Anodize is bombproof

Cons

  • Average, non-linear drag 
  • Line pickup was average at best