The Nautilus GTX Fly Reel is the largest and strongest reel Nautilus builds, and the only one in the GT Series sized for fish that can empty a spool before the boat comes about. Nautilus rates it at line class 12 and up, publishes over 25 pounds of maximum drag pressure, and describes the reel as engineered beyond IGFA regulations. The frame measures 5 inches across, the spool is a narrow 1.05 inches wide, the reel weighs 9.9 ounces, and it carries 300 yards of 30 pound Dacron behind a WF12 line or 500 yards of 60 pound braid. Those figures describe a reel bought for drag heat capacity, backing volume and sealing against sustained immersion rather than for saved ounces, which is the correct trade offshore where the fish of the trip eats once. Nautilus designs, machines, anodizes and assembles it in Miami, and builds it in one size only, so the decision here is which finish rather than which model.
Narrow Giga Arbor Spool - The GTX pairs a 5 inch frame with a spool only 1.05 inches wide. Diameter is where the capacity and the retrieve rate come from; narrowing the spool is what keeps a reel of that diameter from stacking backing into a wide, loosely packed bed. Nautilus states the narrow geometry holds consistent drag under maximum load, and that matters on a long run, because backing that beds down unevenly under high pressure changes the effective spool diameter as it goes and makes the pressure at the rod hand climb without the knob moving. The spool floor is grooved so the bottom of the backing can breathe and dry, which is the difference between a reel that gets rinsed after a week offshore and one that stores wet salt against metal.
GripTorq Drag Knob - The GTX uses the largest GripTorq knob Nautilus makes at 1.9 inches in diameter, against 1.5 inches on the GTS and GTR. It is machined on four axes, which Nautilus says is what lets the knob be light and strong while offering more grip than anything else in the category. Size is the functional point on a bluewater reel: drag on a big fish is a control you work during the fight, adjusted with a wet hand while the rod is loaded, and a small knob makes that a two hand job.
The Hooker - A red anodized machined aluminum button that threads into the reel seat and gives you somewhere to hook the fly other than a guide or the frame gap. Nautilus supplies it as standard on every GT Series reel, so it comes on the GTX.
Left or Right Hand Retrieve, Converted at Home - Nautilus lists the GTX as one of the models that converts between left and right hand retrieve without a trip to the factory. Set the drag to minimum, back out the three stainless hex screws at the base of the brake hub with the supplied 1/16 inch hex key, lift the hub off, twist the one way clutch bearing off the drive shaft, turn it over and reapply it, then check the hub O-ring is seated before you tighten the screws back down. Nautilus recommends keeping the hex tool clear of the frame, or laying a cloth between tool and frame, so you do not scrape the anodizing on the way.
Spare Spools - Because Nautilus builds the GTX in a single size, there is only one GTX spool, and the Nautilus GTX Spare Spool we sell separately fits any GTX regardless of finish. The spool release cap carries the Nautilus shell logo, backs off counterclockwise, and stays captive on the spool rather than coming free in your hand over open water.
Anodized in House in Miami - Nautilus anodizes under the same roof it machines and assembles in, which is unusual at any price and is the reason its color finishes are consistent from part to part rather than batch to batch. On a saltwater reel the finish is structural rather than cosmetic: anodizing converts the surface of the aluminum instead of coating it, so a scratch does not open a path for salt to sit under a film. We list the GTX in Black and Silver, and Nautilus currently anodizes the model in Carbon Black, Brushed Titanium, Fathom Blue, Purple Haze and Nauti Red.
Machined Aluminum - Frame and spool are machined aluminum, cut and finished in Miami. Nautilus does not publish an alloy designation for the frame or spool, so we do not quote one; the only alloy the company specifies on this platform is the 6061 series aluminum used for the Hooker button. Machining rather than casting is what a sealed reel of this size depends on, because a seal only works if the surfaces it rides against are cut to a tight band, and a 5 inch spool only stays free of play at 25 pounds of drag if spool and spindle are matched.
ActivSeal - Nautilus fits a precision machined proprietary seal it calls ActivSeal to all of its current reels. The company describes it as actively repelling water, sand and salt to keep the braking system and bearings dry, and cites the same seal working in 20 degree Great Lakes steelhead weather and on 100 degree Seychelles flats. On a reel that will be submerged rather than merely splashed, that is the part doing the work between services.
Type - The GTX runs the Pentadrag braking system, which Nautilus states is fully sealed and is the most capable drag the company has built. Five independent braking surfaces work at once, and the reason for five rather than two is heat: a sustained run converts drag pressure into heat in the stack, and spreading that load across five surfaces is what Nautilus says prevents the fade and degradation that ends fights. Maximum pressure exceeds 25 pounds, which is past what most anglers can fish and past what IGFA class tippet will hold, so the working setting is a fraction of the range and the reel is chosen for what it does at the end of the run rather than at the top of the dial. Nautilus makes the claim plainly: the drag holds the same pressure at the end of a run that it held at the start.
Materials - The stack is three cork and carbon fiber surfaces plus two floating carbon fiber surfaces, topped with a Kevlar and carbon fiber hybrid precision plate that distributes pressure evenly across the whole drag surface. The mix is deliberate. Cork gives the smooth initial engagement and the compliance to compress evenly, and carbon fiber holds its coefficient of friction as it warms, where many synthetic stacks either fade or grab once heat builds. The hybrid plate is what keeps five surfaces loading together instead of the outermost one carrying the fight.
Giga Arbor, the Largest Nautilus Builds - Giga is Nautilus's large arbor geometry, and the company rates the design at more than a foot of line recovered per handle turn. On the GTX, at a 5 inch frame, that is the fastest pickup in the range, and it is the answer to the specific bluewater problem of a fish that turns and swims at the boat faster than you can strip. A large arbor also keeps the line and backing at a bigger coil diameter, so there is less set in the line and the drag pressure changes less between a full spool and a deep one.
Published Capacities - Nautilus lists the GTX at 350 yards of 30 pound Dacron with a WF10, 325 yards with a WF11 and 300 yards with a WF12, or 500 yards of 60 pound braid. If you would rather run gel spun, Nautilus recommends 65 pound gel spun or braid in place of 30 pound Dacron, which is roughly how the braid figure gets to 500 yards on the same spool. Trident installs backing free with the reel.
Nautilus Limited Lifetime Warranty - As of August 2026, Nautilus states that all Nautilus series reels carry a limited lifetime warranty covering any defect in materials and workmanship, and that a defective reel will be repaired at no charge other than shipping, handling and insurance. Coverage excludes damage caused by accident, misuse, improper maintenance, wear and tear, or modification. Nautilus's warranty request form carries a fee of $45.00, which the company states covers manufacturing warranty service, handling, insurance and return shipping to you; anything beyond that is quoted to you before work proceeds. Service goes to Nautilus Reels Repairs in Miami, shipped at your expense with a completed repair form, in a sturdy corrugated box, with the fly line and backing stripped off first. Nautilus refuses packages that miss those requirements, and does not take responsibility for line, backing or accessories left on a reel, for cosmetic wear from normal servicing, or for damage from a previous repair attempt elsewhere.
The Nautilus GTX made waves in the fly fishing world for being the first "production" reel to cross the $1000 barrier. Since then, there's probably been no reel that I've wanted to get on the testing machine more. When you pick it up, you can tell right away that it's an awesome big-game reel. It's big, narrow, and has tons of drag. It's no wonder that it finished in a 3-way TIE for first place. Read on to see why.
| Reel Model | Diameter | Weight | Line Weight | Capacity | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 5in. | 9.2 oz | 10, 11, 12 | 300 yds/30lb | Out of Stock |
| Silver | 5in. | 9.2 oz | 10, 11, 12 | 300 yds/30lb | Out of Stock |
Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 1 reviews.
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"Love at silver king and GTX❤❤❤❤"
