Description
The Cortland Retro Click Fly Reel serves as a testament to the golden age of angling, stripping away the complexities of modern disc drags to deliver a pure, tactile fishing experience. Designed specifically for the trout bum and the small-stream enthusiast, this reel balances a vintage aesthetic with modern machining precision to solve the problem of balancing ultra-light rods. It is an ideal choice for pairing with fiberglass, bamboo, or light graphite rods, offering a lightweight solution that protects fine tippets without overpowering the rod's natural action.
Design
Engineered with a narrow spool and a classic aesthetic, the frame features aggressive porting that significantly reduces overall weight while maintaining structural rigidity. The exposed rim allows anglers to apply manual pressure for palm-drag control, a critical feature when fighting energetic trout on light gear. The precision machining ensures tight tolerances, eliminating the wobble often associated with true vintage reels while keeping the soulful look intact.
Finish
The reel is treated with a durable hard-anodized black finish that provides a sleek, understated appearance suitable for any rod build. This protective coating guards against scratches and minor abrasions common in rocky stream environments, ensuring the reel maintains its sophisticated look through seasons of hard use in freshwater environments.
Materials
Cortland constructs the Retro Click series from solid aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum. Choosing fully machined aluminum over die-cast alternatives ensures a higher strength-to-weight ratio and superior durability, providing a solid feel in hand that ensures the reel can withstand accidental drops better than composite alternatives.
Drag
The heart of this reel is its classic adjustable click-and-pawl system. Unlike sealed disc drags designed to stop heavy saltwater species, this system is built to prevent spool overrun and provide a consistent check against the run of a fish. The internal mechanism utilizes a durable steel pawl and gear system that produces the audible, nostalgic "purr" traditionalists love, while the external adjustment knob allows for fine-tuning the resistance to protect the lightest tippets during sudden strikes.
Arbor Size
Featuring a traditional standard arbor design, the Retro Click maximizes backing capacity for its compact size. While large arbors are the modern standard for line retrieval speed, this classic profile keeps the reel center-weighted and physically smaller, perfectly suiting 0 through 3-weight lines where massive line pickup speed is secondary to balance and capacity.
Warranty
Cortland backs this reel with a limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for the original owner. This coverage ensures that if the reel fails due to manufacturing errors, it will be repaired or replaced, though it does not cover direct damage caused by misuse, negligence, or normal wear and tear over time. A fee may apply for return shipping and handling.
More Info
- Best for: Freshwater Trout and Panfish
- Arbor Size: Standard
- Retrieve: Convertible left/right
Reel Specs
| Reel Model | Line Weight | Stock |
|---|---|---|
| 2/3 | 2, 3 | Out of Stock |
| 4/5 | 4, 5 | Out of Stock |