Waterworks-Lamson Force SL II Fly Reel Review

Jan 29, 2018 · 3 min read

Waterworks-Lamson Force SL II Fly Reel Review

Olive anodized aluminum Waterworks fly reel close-up showing perforated large-arbor spool and textured drag knob

Please remember that there are no ads on this page and 100% of our funding comes from your purchases, so if you find this review to be informative, please help us keep the reviews coming by purchasing your next fly reel from us. The Force SL has been Lamson's flagship reel series for some time. It's known for minimalist design and super light weight. We knew this was a good looking trout reel, but can it stand up to the rigors of saltwater fishing? Read on to find out!

8-Weight Shootout Full Results

Weight

Can a fly reel be too light? I’m not sure, but if there’s a reel in this test that is, it’s this one. At 3.8 oz, the Force is BY FAR the lightest reel in the test. If you’re looking to ‘balance’ out an 8-weight, it’s going to be to light for even the lightest of 8-weights. But who cares about balance anyway?

Drag

Olive-green anodized aluminum skeletonized fly reel frame with central spool hub and knurled drag knob

Nothing to write home about here. The drag on the F3 maxes out at very trout sized 4.1 lbs, but because it’s got a hard stop on the top end, it’s all usable drag, which puts it squarely in the middle of the pack. At the halfway mark, it’s got 1.34 lbs or 32% of the max – a solid adjustment range. On the bottom end, you’ll find .11 lbs, which is not enough to prevent the reel from free spooling. Finally, like most of the reels in this test, the Force didn’t have any startup inertia to speak of when set to max drag. Oddly, though, when we tested it at half drag, it exhibited quite a bit of startup inertia. Since this is an apples-to-apples test, we didn’t dock it any points, but thought it was worth mentioning.

Drag Test Graph

Blue line chart on white grid showing drag test of Waterworks Force F3 SL II fly reel, force stabilizing around 4–4.5 lbs

Sound

Like other Lamson reels, the Force sounds great, but for a saltwater reel, it’s just a bit… trouty.

Spool & Retrieval Rate

At 9.64 inches per turn, the Force picks up line wicked fast. It’s also HUGE. Even if we take out 10-20% for the curvature, this reel has plenty of room for backing and any line you’d like.

Looks & Ergonomics

The Force rocks some space age looks. There’s no denying that it’s got a super cool minimalist design. It’s frameless, so if you’re used to a more traditional design, you might find it a little tougher to grasp. It’s got a solid handle, but it’s a little too thin to beat out the likes of Nautilus. Similarly, the drag knob is a little too thin, but the bigger issue is that the design of the frame means that you can only turn it about one-third of a turn at a time. Not ideal if you have a big fish on the line.

Finish and durability

Silver anodized aluminum fly reel with perforated spool and tightly wound white fly line

The Force with its Type-3 finish and super lightweight stands up to dragging and dropping better than just about any other reel out there (check the photo!). It’s one of the things we love about Lamson reels: you can beat them up, and they still end up looking great!

Warranty

Lifetime to the original owner + $30 fee. Price: $550

Conclusion

The Force SL feels like a one-trick-pony, but it delivers on more than just weight. It’s got great line pickup and awesome durability. We’d like to see Lamson upgrade the drag to match the stronger and smoother Litespeed, however. If a minimalist design and light weight are what you seek, look no further. If you're looking for a more well-rounded big game reel, there are better options, but all weigh a LOT more.

Buy it with Free Shipping here.

Silver machined aluminum Waterworks fly reel with ported spool and three-arm arbor, lightweight

Pros

Super, super light
Great finish and durability
Quick retrieve

Cons

Not as serious a drag as we'd like for a saltwater reel
$550 seems like a lot for this reel

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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