The 5-weight is the most popular fly fishing outfit in the world, and the reel you pair with it matters more than most anglers think. A great 5wt reel balances the rod, runs smoothly when a wild brown trout rips line off the spool, and holds up season after season. Whether you fish western tailwaters or eastern spring creeks, you'll be reaching for this reel more than any other.

Drag performance, weight, arbor design, and real-world value were the lenses we used to evaluate 40+ 5wt reels. The market is crowded, and there's a wide gap between the best and the rest - we've done the sorting for you. See the reviews below.

Echo Ion Fly Reel Review

Echo Ion Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
The Ion is Echo’s mid-priced, all-purpose freshwater reel, but keep in mind t...
Hardy Resonate Fly Reel Review

Hardy Resonate Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
Introducing the Hardy Resonate, Hardy’s new high-performance click & pawl...
Redington Ace Fly Reel Review

Redington Ace Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
Redington has replaced the beloved Rise fly reel with the new Ace: their late...
TFO NTR Fly Reel Review

TFO NTR Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
TFO has built a strong reputation as the everyman’s fly rod manufacturer over...
Echo Base Fly Reel Review

Echo Base Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
In a world where fly reel prices seem to climb higher every year, finding a r...
Lamson Purist II Fly Reel Review

Lamson Purist II Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
The Purist has been a staple in the Lamson fly reel lineup for many years, re...
Sage Spectrum C Fly Reel Review

Sage Spectrum C Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
The Sage Spectrum C has been a staple of Sage’s fly reel lineup for quite som...
Orvis CFO Fly Reel Review

Orvis CFO Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
For longtime fans of Orvis Fly Reels, the CFO model is a cherished heritage r...
Tibor Backcountry 2 Fly Reel Review

Tibor Backcountry 2 Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
Tibor has replaced the original Backcountry reel with the new and improved Ba...
Echo Shadow Click Fly Reel Review

Echo Shadow Click Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
The Shadow Click is Echo’s click-and-pawl fly reel featuring surprisingly sol...
Redington Run Fly Reel Review

Redington Run Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
Redington’s niche is creating high-performance rods and reels at a very reaso...
Ross Cimarron Fly Reel Review

Ross Cimarron Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
Ross Reels has brought back the Cimarron fly reel, a USA-made freshwater reel...
Sage Trout Fly Reel Review

Sage Trout Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
The latest iteration of the Sage Trout fly reel is here, featuring a blend of...
Redington Zero Fly Reel Review

Redington Zero Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
Redington has long been known to produce functional products for a reasonable...
Hardy Sovereign Fly Reel Review

Hardy Sovereign Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
Hardy is one of the most iconic names in fly reels, having produced beautiful...
Sage Click Fly Reel Review

Sage Click Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
The Sage Click fly reel series has been around for quite some time, and since...
Lamson Remix S Fly Reel Review

Lamson Remix S Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
Like its predecessor, the Remix S features a machined frame with a cast spool...
Lamson Liquid S Fly Reel Review

Lamson Liquid S Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
Here at Trident, we are longtime fans of the Lamson Liquid reel series. Havin...
Greys Fin Fly Reel Review

Greys Fin Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
Greys is a household name in the UK, but more and more North American anglers...
Ross Evolution LTX Fly Reel Review

Ross Evolution LTX Fly Reel Review

Patrick Blackdale
The Ross Evolution series is a longtime crowd-pleaser due to its durable natu...
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