Tibor Backcountry Fly Reel

Fishing the sulphur spinner fall on the Upper Delaware or taking a light approach to tailing bonefish in the Bahamas, Tibor’s redesigned Backcountry Reel is ready for it all. Taking the reliable and classic Tibor approach to craftsmanship, their new Backcountry Reel has a sweet look and is held to the same quality standard as their Billy Pate and Signature series reels. Made and assembled in the United States, Tibor’s Backcountry Reel takes a no-nonsense approach to getting the job and has few parts to streamline things and ensure that you can depend on this reel for the long run. Delicate enough for small stream trout fishing yet tough enough to handle the salt, Tibor’s Backcountry gives solid versatility with a look (and sound) that puts a smile on your face no matter where you are.

Design

Tibor’s new Backcountry Reel is built with the same strict attention to detail as all of their other reels. Utilizing an approach that’s backed by decades of confidence, this reel combines a grease-impregnated cork disc drag system with a polished drag surface to give smooth, reliable strength no matter what fish is pulling. The Backcountry sports a completely open look to make for quick line drying and to give a lightweight hand that weights in at 6 ounces, and while it’s only available in one size (that suits 5-7 weight rods), it comes in those timeless Tibor colors of Frost Silver and Frost Black. 

Finish

Frost Finish - The newest version of Tibor’s Backcountry Reel has a frost finish. Available in both Frost Silver and Frost Black, Tibor’s frost finishes are super durable, saltwater safe, and have a matte appearance, which is a huge benefit to fishing finicky fish that are turned off by even the slightest reflection of metal. 

Materials

Solid Aluminum Bar Stock - Tibor crafts their new Backcountry Reel from Solid Aluminum Bar Stock and minimizes the amount of parts used. With a machined Aluminum Bar Stock build, the Backcountry is designed to resist corrosion while being lightweight and excessively durable. Quite possibly a reel that lasts a lifetime, Tibor’s material selection and construction process are intelligent choices that can hold their own no matter what water you’re fishing.

Drag

Multi-Disc Drag System - Like everything else from the Tibor brand, their Backcountry’s multi-disc drag is a well-considered system that’s simple and just plain works. To make things easy and straightforward, this reel’s drag cannot be set overly tight and its spool won’t run over should you need to quickly pull out line. These features, coupled with a multi-disc drag construction, removes those potential headaches and gives a drag that’s not only smooth and aurally pleasing, but it also lets you stop those fast runs in short order, especially when pursuing speedsters like bonefish. 

Materials - The Backcountry’s drag system utilizes a grease-impregnated multi-disc construction that’s paired with an ultra-polished drag surface. This all comes together to reduce friction, prevent heat buildup when targeting fast fish like steelhead and bonefish, and remain smooth from your first strip of line to the strongest run of your reel’s lifetime. 

Arbor Size

Large Arbor - While it’s not the overly large arbor size of, say, a Billy Pate, Tibor’s Backcountry has an arbor that’s large enough to quickly pick up line and can hold 150 yards of 20lb Dacron. A great arbor size for freshwater pursuits running from trout, smallmouth, and steelhead and then into lighter saltwater species like bonefish, small snook, and redfish, the Backcountry lends itself to excellent incoming or outgoing line management without bogging your rod down. 

Warranty

Tibor Warranty - As of April 2021, Tibor’s reels carry a limited lifetime warranty for the original owner that covers repair or replacement of any of the reel’s parts due to defect in materials or workmanship. Tibor’s warranty does not cover damages caused by accidents, misuse, improper maintenance, neglect, or normal wear and tear. All Tibor warranties require a $35.00 service fee. 

More Info

Best for: All Water, Dry Flies, Nymphing, Small Streams, Stillwater, Flats, Surf

Arbor Size: Large