Redington Rise II 5/6 Fly Reel Review

Feb 01, 2015 · 2 min read

Bright blue anodized aluminum Redington Rise II 5/6 fly reel with vented spool, machined circular ports and dark handle knob

Redington is well known for making great value-priced products, including great rods like the CPS and the Classic Trout. We test the the Redington Rise II in our 8-weight shootout, and it didn't do so well. It wasn't that it was a bad reel, it was just up against some pretty stiff competition. Let's see if it does better as a trout reel. 5-Weight Challenge Full Results

WEIGHT

5.4 ounces. On the heavy side.

DRAG

The biggest issue with the Rise is its drag. It's weak, with only 1.8lbs, and sticky, losing 21% of its drag (.38lbs) to startup inertia. It had this in common with most of the reels that finished near the bottom.

Sealed?

No.

DRAG TEST GRAPH

SOUND

The Rise sounds a lot like a lot of the other offshore-made reels and its Sage cousins. It's fine, but I'd prefer an Animas.

SPOOL & RETRIEVAL RATE

The spool on the Rise is a little outdated for this test. While I'm not sure I'd consider it a mid-arbor, it only picks up line at 7.15 inches per turn. That means it took 18th place. It's also fairly small and wide. It holds an estimated 120 yards of backing.

LOOK & FEEL

One thing I will commend Redington for, is that this reel definitely looks better than all of the other reels in its price range. It just seems to be cut with a lot more precision, and we like the ability to choose a color that stands out.

Ergonimics

Handle: Nothing special here. It works. Drag Knob: The drag knob on the Rise is actually pretty good. It's oversize and easy to grab. Spool Change: Quick change spool works perfectly.

The Drop

Average. The reel was very susceptible to scratches and so when we dragged it across the pavement, you could tell. Divoting, however, was not too bad. There was also a minor bend in the spool, which didn't impact use.

WARRANTY

Lifetime to the original owner + $30 Price: $180

CONCLUSION

It feels like I've got deja vu. The Redington Rise did just about as well this time as it did last time we tested it, which is to say, not very well. And yet again, I feel like this reel is better than the results indicate. When it comes down to it, the Rise is average across most of the categories, and has a way below average drag. Like our review? Buy it here.

PROS

Best looking reel under $200?

CONS

It's time to re-design the drag

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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