Nautilus X-Series XL Max Fly Reel Review

Mar 28, 2018 · 4 min read

Nautilus X-Series XL Max Fly Reel Review

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Black machined-aluminum Nautilus X-Series XL Max fly reel with open-spoke spool and red drag knob

When I asked Kristen Mustad which reel he thought would perform best in our shootout, he replied the XL Max. The X-series replaces the FWX as Nautilus’s lightweight and (more) freshwater oriented reel. That’s not to say that this isn’t a serious saltwater reel, but it’s just not as hardcore as the CCF and NVG.

8-Weight Shootout Full Results

Weight

At a mere 5 oz, the XL Max is a ridiculously lightweight 8wt reel. When you look back at previous X-Series reels, they’ve always been known for their lightweight design. Today, we finally have rods light enough to pair with this feathery reel series. The Atlas Signature, for example, would pair particularly well with the XL Max, due to its extremely light swing weight.

Drag

The XL Max has 6.3lbs of drag on the top end, which is pretty good, particularly for a reel this light. Unfortunately, most of that drag strength comes in the last quarter turn, so you only end up with about 2.3lbs that are readily accessible – nowhere near what we’ve become accustomed to from Nautilus. At the halfway mark, it drops down to .6lbs, or about 10%.

While these numbers aren’t that bad when you consider the weight of the reel, the XL Max suffers from one other malady: startup inertia. It was one of only 3 reels in our test to have any significant startup inertia. At the top end, this was over 1lb or 17%. Way too high for a high performance reel.

Drag Test Graph

Blue drag-test chart for Nautilus XL Max fly reel showing force (lbs) spike to ~7 then stable near 6 over distance

Sound

While not my absolute favorite sounding reel, the XL Max sounds great! It’s got a really nice click in both directions.

Spool & Retrieval Rate

One of the difficulties in using one frame for multiple reel sizes is that one of the sizes is going to win, and the other is going to lose. In this case the XL Max borrows from the XL, but they’ve reduced the arbor size in order to increase capacity to accommodate an 8-weight line. As a consequence, the retrieve on the XL is far slower than the other Nautilus reels (only 8.5 inches per turn). It’s nearing mid-arbor territory, but you do get the versatility of switching it out for a high-performing 6/7-weight reel.

Looks & Ergonomics

Black anodized Nautilus X-Series XL Max fly reel with red accents, large-arbor skeletonized spool

The design of the X-series reels is truly something to marvel at. Nautilus has managed to take a reel and strip it down to the bare essentials – all while making it look very cool. Sure, there are some downsides to such a minimal frame, but the reel looks undeniably great and you’re getting that same, super high quality Nautilus machining.

While you can certainly add Nautilus’ big game handle to the X, the stock handle isn’t quite as nice as that on the NVG and CCF. The drag knob too isn’t quite as nice as that of the CCF. It’s just a little smaller and more slippery.

Finish and durability

The finish on the XL is solid, but it didn’t fair quite as well in drop tests as some of the top reels with their super hard type-3 anodize. It’s also got a lot of sharp angles, this means that when the reel hits something, it’s going to do so with more force than you’d expect given its size. It did great when dragged!

While the XL does feature a ported reel foot, the reel is so light that it doesn’t really have an impact on its durability.

Warranty

As of 2023, Nautilus offers a lifetime warranty to the original owner + $0 fee. Note that this warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, misuse, improper maintenance, or modification.

Price: $455

Conclusion

Nautilus X-Series fly reel, black skeletonized aluminum spool and red anodized drag hub displayed disassembled

Nautilus switched up the drag materials in the X-series. Unfortunately, this caused a bit of startup inertia, which, ultimately, left this reel out of contention. If that’s not something you really care about, the XL Max offers a super lightweight reel, from a top US-based manufacturer, at a very reasonable price.

Buy it with Free Shipping here.

Pros

Made in USA
Extremely lightweight
Interchangeable with XL 6/7 spool

Cons

Startup inertia

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.

Comments

(1)

Christopher Jensen

Jan 5, 2026

I am assuming the XL has a larger arbor than the XL Max? If so, would that have a positive effect on startup inertia as well as a higher retrieval rate?

thanks!