Nautilus FWX 5/6 Fly Reel Review

Jan 31, 2015 · 2 min read

Black machined aluminum Nautilus FWX fly reel with red anodized drag knob, white fly line and large-arbor ported spool

The Nautilus FWX is the little brother to the much-loved NVG. The so-called 'FeatherWeight eXtreme' is deigned to be lighter weight, but still heavy on performance. It's also more geared towards the freshwater market, so we expect it to be a hit in this test. Read on to see how it does. 5-Weight Challenge Full Results

WEIGHT

4.5 ounces - one of the lighter reels in the test, but no where near as light as Nautilus claims (3.75 oz).

DRAG

At 4.5 lbs, the FWX doesn't turn any heads, but is plenty for the trout angler to get excited about. As with all Nautilus drags the FWX is EXTREMELY smooth and exhibits virtually no startup inertia.

SEALED?

Yup.

DRAG TEST GRAPH

SOUND

While the FWX is an upgrade over the NVG in terms of sound, it's still way too muted for our tastes.

SPOOL & RETRIEVAL RATE

The FWX doesn't quite have the same specs as the NVG, but they are pretty close. It's about average in terms of spool design and retrieval rate. It picks up line at 7.3 inches per turn - a little slower than the NVG - but it's also a little narrower.

LOOK & FEEL

Nautilus makes a great looking reel. It's very well machined and we like the ability to choose between custom colors and parts. They've also added some great features like a fully ported spool so your backing dries extra fast. Nautilus didn't cut any corners with the FWX.

ERGONIMICS

Handle: The handle is excellent, just like the NVG. It's long enough to be comfortable and has a curve in just the right place. Drag Knob: The drag knob was a little too small to be easy to grasp. Definitely a slip up in the design. Spool Change: The spool is very easy to change.

THE DROP

Average. Though this Nautilus was black, it fought off scratches quite well. It didn't do so well in the divot category, with some fairly large gashes. No Damage.

WARRANTY

Lifetime to the original owner + $20 fee. Price: $275

CONCLUSION

Third Place! The FWX is an excellent reel. Smooth Nautilus drag combined with a light weight design check two of the three key design points. That makes for a very good reel. Further, the Nautilus FWX combines that with good looks and great Nautilus build quality at half the price of the NVG. Highly recommended. Keep us reviewing. Buy yours here.

PROS

Silky smooth drag
Solid erognomics
Supurb Nautilus craftsmenship

CONS

Drag knob should be bigger

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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