These reels are not only beautiful workhorses ready to take on the meanest game fish, they are a reflection of who we are, our approach to the fish we catch and the lifetime spent on the water.
At Wade Fly Reels we believe in the simple things in life and that philosophy reflects in the design principles behind our fly reels. We set out to produce functional, reliable, hard-working and elegant fly reels. In essence a fly reel which is as much about function as it is about form.
Developed by guides for guides
Initially Wade partnered with FlyCastaway to develop a unique set of saltwater reels designed specifically for the harsh tropical fisheries of the Indian Ocean. FlyCastaway has been operating in the Seychelles since 2003 and is one of the leading guiding outfitters on the planet, their guides have an in-depth understand of exactly what is needed in fly reels made for the Indian Ocean.
Our first series of reels were designed for the harsh saltwater environment of the Indian Ocean Atolls. These fisheries are not only some of the most remote areas frequented by fly anglers, they also include some of the harshest environments on the planet, testing angler and gear to the maximum. The closest fresh water to most of these atolls is thousands of miles away, so you’d better have a well-anodized reel or the salt crystals will literally eat it up. For a reel to perform here it needs to meet the highest standards and perform on all levels. Guides demand a flawlessly functional reel. They need silky smooth drag systems that can very quickly increase to the maximum to stop a farm animal size fish in their tracks. They need to be big enough to store your fly line and enough backing to never worry about running out. They need to be light enough to ensure you do not get tired or throw your casting stroke off balance. Most importantly they need be durable and reliable so that they can be dragged through the sand, submerged for extended periods of time or bounced around on the deck of a boat and still perform flawlessly. We feel that we have achieved all of this in our new range of reels.
These reels have been in development since 2012 and have extensively been tested by 40 different guides and anglers at various locations in the Indian Ocean (mainly Farquhar and St Brandon’s Atolls), India, Cuba, The United States, Costa Rica, Zambia, Bolivia and the Mediterranean to name a few. We are now proud to present what we feel to be some of the finest fly reels made. There simply aren’t any better reels for the Indian Ocean. Best of all they are extremely durable and made to last a lifeteime.
In the end we believe it is the small things that will set our reel apart from other products on the market. Unique features like a tapered handle, Type 3 anodizing and a leader retention slot are just some of the features which make Wade reels the choice of the most experienced guides in the Indian Ocean.
For more information on individual models please go to www.wadeflyreels.com.
Fly lines, of course, must match the rod weight for the rod to cast well, so heavier rods require heavier fly lines, which may be floating, sinking-tip, or full- sinking lines. Specialized saltwater fly lines have unique tapers and a core designed for cold saltwater or warm tropical conditions. Just as with any other fly fishing, your reel must match your rod so that it balances the rod when you cast, and so that it can hold the weight of fly line that the rod requires. Therefore, the reels for off-shore fishing are much larger and stronger than the ones we use in fresh water. A word of caution: all of your gear will need to be rinsed in fresh water after you fish the brackish water in estuaries or the salt water farther out. Also make sure that your reels are anodized to help prevent the salt water from corroding them.