Redington Ace Tactical Edition Fly Reel

The Redington Ace Tactical Edition Fly Reel takes the Ace platform, built around a spool geometry nobody else in the industry was making, and finishes it to match the blacked-out EDC Tactical Edition rod. The headline is the lattice-patterned spool: rather than drilling conventional round ports into a solid spool, Redington built the spool as a lattice structure. That gets you an extremely lightweight reel that is genuinely stronger for its weight, with far more open area for air to move through, so backing dries instead of sitting damp under a fly line for weeks.

Design

The lattice spool sits in a rigid frame, and the rigidity is what makes the lightweight spool usable, since a flexy frame under a hard-running fish is how spools start rubbing. Redington increased the palming rim size over the previous generation, which gives you more surface to lay a hand on when you want to add pressure beyond the drag setting and also makes the rim itself more durable against knocks. A snap-fit spool lock handles spool changes, so swapping takes a press rather than a fiddly threaded knob you can drop in the river.

Finish

This is the Tactical Edition treatment, a blacked-out finish intended to pair with the EDC Tactical Edition rod. Beyond the look, a dark finish keeps reflection down, which is worth something on the kind of clear-water sight fishing this setup is aimed at. The underlying anodized aluminum construction handles freshwater grit and stands up to saltwater use as long as you rinse it.

Materials

Frame and spool are fully machined aluminum, and the aluminum is cold forged before machining. Cold forging aligns the grain structure of the metal before any material is cut away, which raises structural integrity, and that matters more here than on a conventional reel: a lattice spool removes a great deal of material, so what remains has to be genuinely strong rather than merely adequate.

Drag

Type - The Ace uses a carbon fiber disc drag with an improved braking system, and it is built to actually stop a fish rather than just slow one down. Two details around the drag are worth calling out. The drag knob carries a line guard that prevents line from snagging under the knob, which is the sort of failure that costs you a fish at the worst possible moment. The clicker has been upgraded for better audible feedback and a longer service life.

Materials - Carbon fiber is the right material for the drag stack because it sheds heat well during a long run and does not lose consistency as it warms. That is what keeps stopping power even from the first turn of the spool through the end of a fight, instead of fading partway through.

Arbor Size

This is a large arbor reel, so every turn of the handle recovers a meaningful amount of line when a fish runs at you. Redington shaped the arbor with a V profile, which is the clever part: the V gives you more backing capacity than a straight large arbor of the same diameter, and it encourages backing to lay across the spool rather than stacking up in one place and jamming under load.

Warranty

The Ace Tactical Edition carries Redington's limited lifetime warranty. It covers defects in materials and workmanship, and it does not cover damage from misuse, neglect, fire, theft, loss, modification, intentional damage or incidental damage. Claims go through Far Bank's customer service department with proof of purchase.

More Info

• Best for: All-water trout fishing, nymphs, dry flies and streamers, paired with the EDC Tactical Edition rod
• Arbor Size: Large arbor with a V-shaped profile
• Drag: Carbon fiber disc with an improved braking system, drag knob line guard and upgraded clicker
• Spool: Lattice structure, machined from cold-forged aluminum, snap-fit spool lock
• Retrieve: Convertible right or left hand
• Included: Nylon reel case, and backing is included on this edition