Hatch 4 Plus Fly Reel Review

Jan 31, 2015 · 3 min read

The Hatch 4 Plus has been discontinued by Hatch. Check out its successor, the Hatch Iconic Large Arbor, or shop our full lineup of Hatch Fly Reels.

Silver anodized Hatch 4 Plus fly reel, open-arbor aluminum spool with blue accents and machined spokes

Hatch. One of the finest reel makers in the business. We know this, not because their made in the USA, not because we've spent hours with them on the flats, and not because we're Hatch fans (well, we kind of are), but because the 7-Plus won our 8-weight Reel Shootout. But, as we've said repeatedly, trout is a different game with different rules. We're eager to find out hot the 4 Plus measures up to its big brother. 5-Weight Challenge Full Results

WEIGHT

5.5 ounces. Heavier than we'd like to see.

DRAG

One of our favorite things about the 7-Plus, was its awesome drag. It's smooth and strong - just what we were looking for. This time around, drag was still a critical part of our test and the 4-Plus didn't do quite as well. 2.2lbs of drag is certainly enough for a trout reel, but in a test where the best reels top out at 7+ lbs, it's a little light to be a winning reel. We are happy to report, however that it was still very smooth, exhibiting a mere .19 lbs of startup inertia, which is about as much as the click mechanism.

Sealed?

The Hatch is sealed.

DRAG TEST GRAPH

SOUND

When we spoke to Andrew at Hatch about sound, he immediately told us how long they'd spent perfecting it. And we have to agree that it sounds pretty great.

SPOOL & RETRIEVAL RATE

The 4-Plus was in the middle of the pack in terms of spool design - not super narrow nor super fast. It retrieved line at 7.49 inches per turn and holds an estimated 98 yards of backing. The mid-arbor held roughly 180 yards of backing and retrieves line at 6.56 inches per turn.

LOOK & FEEL

One undeniable aspect of the Hatch is how great it looks. It's definitely the second best looking reel in the test after the Abel SD. It's bold and oozes made-in-the-USA quality. We also like the fully machined reel seat

Ergonimics

Handle: One thing that Hatch does differently is the handle - it's also fully machined. It's got a very solid feel, but is just a hair too short to beat out the top handles. Drag Knob: Easy to grab and easy to adjust. Spool Change: Quick change spool is very easy to use

The Drop

Above Average. The natural aluminum finish of the Hatch makes it virtually impervious to scratching. On the otherhand, it did divot. Minor bend in the spool - did not affect reel.

WARRANTY

Lifetime to the original owner + NO FEE! Price: $450

CONCLUSION

Don't get me wrong, we still love Hatch reels. The 4 Plus is a great trout reel and there's a lot to love about it: It's beautifully machined, it's made in the US by a company that really stands behind their products, and it's got a really smooth drag. A couple of minor modifications to the drag and the spool would make this a top contender. Help us review more gear! Buy the Hatch Iconic here.

PROS

The best warranty in the biz
Top notch looks

CONS

Heavy

Written by

Ben Freeman

Ben Freeman founded Trident Fly Fishing in 2012 to cut through the marketing fluff and provide anglers with the technical info they actually need. He’s built his reputation by putting gear to the ultimate test in the world’s most unforgiving fisheries. With fishing stamps from over 22 countries and 17+ states, Ben’s passport is a roadmap of bucket list angling—from landing a 25lb Golden Dorado in Bolivia and 150lb Arapaima in Guyana to sight-casting for Roosterfish off the beaches in Baja. Whether it’s battling 60+mph winds to land a 20lb Rainbow at Jurassic Lake or a full day of casting 8in streamers in Mongolia, Ben has spent decades ensuring his gear performs when a trip of a lifetime is on the line.

At Trident, Ben serves as the lead gear geek, specializing in the deep-dive mechanics of rods, reels, and lines. Over the past 15 years, he's reviewed 250+ fly rods and 150+ fly reels and is likely one of the most prolific rod reviewers in the world. But he doesn't just curate the catalog; he scrutinizes every taper and drag system through the lens of a traveling angler who knows what it's like to have gear fail a thousand miles from home. For Ben, the mission is simple: leverage his experience across nearly 100 species to ensure that when you head into the wild, you’re equipped with gear that has been vetted by someone who has actually been there.

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