TFO BVK II Fly Reel Review

When most people think TFO, they think about fly rods. More specifically, they think about great value fly rods. When you mention the name TFO BVK, people are definitely thinking about the award-winning fly rod series. And if you tell them that you're talking about a reel, your likely response is going to be something like, "They make reels?" They do. Like the rod, the BVK reel is TFO's highest performance reel. Let's see if it too stands out from the competition. 5-Weight Challenge Full Results

WEIGHT

4.91 ounces. Average.

DRAG

I must confess, when I first picked up this reel, I thought it wouldn't hold up at all in this test. I assumed that every reel that looked like it came out of the same Korean factory, would perform the same, and poorly. As it turns out, not only are the drags different across reels, but they are also quite good. at 3.5lbs, it's not best in test, but very solid. The only downside is that it was a little stickier than we'd like with about half a pound of startup inertia. Overall, the drag was in the middle of the pack.

Sealed?

And it's sealed too!

DRAG TEST GRAPH

SOUND

The BVK has a decent click on both the outgoing and incoming.

SPOOL & RETRIEVAL RATE

This is where the BVK shines. It had the 3rd fastest retrieve in the test at 8 inches per turn. It picks up line FAST. Better still, it holds over 200 yards of backing.

LOOK & FEEL

In terms of look and feel, the BVK is not great. Sure, it's personal taste, but to me, a lot of the reels made in Korea have a very similar look and feel, and this is one of them. You just don't get the sense that it's a high end reel.

Ergonimics

Handle: Nothing special here. It works. Drag Knob: Easily the worst feature on the BVK. It's really hard to grab and turn, particularly if it's cranked down. Spool Change: Quick release.

The Drop

Above Average. The BVK looks pretty good after we beat it up. It's got some scratches and divots, but they are minor. One minor dent on the spool, which didn't impact use.

WARRANTY

Lifetime to the original owner + $30 Price: $250

CONCLUSION

The BVK was one of those middle-of-the-pack reels that would have been great with a few changes. Namely, I think this would be an amazing reel at the ~$150 price point and with a new drag knob. It does have a great spool design, but it's not enough to compensate for some of its shortcomings in other areas. I'm pretty sure Lefty won't be selling his Seamaster... Like this review? Support us here.

PROS

• Super fast retrieve
• Large volume

CONS

• Drag knob
• Felt like a poor value