Fiblink® Fly Fishing Reels with Large Arbor 2+1 BB, CNC machined Aluminum Alloy Body and Spool in Fly Reel Sizes 5/6, 7/8

Ok for what it is worth:Just got it, yet to fish it. Let's face it, a fly reel really isn't rocket science is it:? I have paid outrageous amounts for a reel and ya know what , it's freaking jewelry, Some would have your believe there are huge differences, persnickety charlatans. Fish don't care what your rod looks like or your reel either.It doesn't have an absolutely perfect finish, to be honest most would not know what a perfectly machined part would look like anyway, soo reallydoesn't matter. Its shiny, the finish isn't horrible , it's good enough. Shiny Good! I would say and most people do like that.it is a very impressive reel , not considering the cost.with the cost advantage it is awesome.beside the price is rightDon't pay attention to those who can't figure out how to reverse the drive .At any time there are always a few meatheads commenting in any product review, who are not quite there. Could be a bad day, hangover, mind occupied on the physics of intergalactic flight, which sexual orientation is ok for Wednesday, location of nearest food source, beer source or public facilitates.... who knows.Is CRAZY kind of weird , yeah but who cares? I think of Kill Bill and now it is the CRAZY 7/8, makes we feel better some how. Katanas and fly rods are somehow correlated in my mind( ?). It has to be some kind of Chinese luck incantation ( along with fiblink) now really doesn't it? Who Can't use more luck fishing. ?If you dunk it in salt water and don't take the time to rinse in fresh, will it corrode. Yeap... most everything does. Nothing is maintenance free , except for rock maybe? Hard to fish with that. It does have some o-ring to help with that, but you will have to look after them. Anything with aluminum and stainless is subject to galvanic corrosion, don't forget.I paid more for a crappy Cortland reel 20 year ago , with plastic parts. it was street dog ugly but it caught fish. I am thrilled with this shiny thing , Can't wait to warn up those Chinese luck incantations and fish it.... I did say the price was right? Interesting enough the Cortland still works, caught a fish last week on it.Did I say the price was right? Thank you China. Capitalism ain't all bad; is it now?

I am usually of the mind set that a fly reel's most important job is too hold the line. That said, these reels are machined pretty well. They do have a smooth drag, although they sometimes loosen a bit and must be reset. They wind forward with no clicker allowing you to spin the spool and pick up line faster.

I was looking to replace an old composite reel for my soft action Orvis 8'6" five weight with something a little nicer. the drag was a little on the rough side on that reel. The rod is one of several in my quiver and gets used mostly if I know I will need to do a lot of roll casting. It gets some use, but is not my go to rod. So I did not want to spend a lot on a reel for a rod only used several times a year. I have not fished it, just loaded it and played with the drag a bit. But I will post my first impressions and try to add to it after I have a few Trout and Panfish on it.Fit & Finish: I got it in Silver in the 5/6 size. It is somewhere in between silver and gunmetal. It is not a super bright finish but looks great. The weight feels accurate and I think it will be durable. It should hold up to a drop or light bang into the rocks. There are no overly sharp edges There is a little play on the spool but nothing excessive. I have had had much more expensive reels with more play. Just be careful with the cap you twist to remove the spool since it can come off. Certainly looks and feels like a much more expensive reel. One minor issue is the spool is not perfectly straight. Seems to be warped slightly but less than a MM and barely noticeable.Drag: the drag seems to work well. It seems to work smoothly with a wide range of adjustment. The start up inertia is fine compared to how you set it. There is plenty of resistance for a trout or bass fishing on a five weight. It can be cranked down if need be. The adjustment knob is large and has a a barely audible click when tightening that is a little louder when loosening. I wouldn't mind a little more knurling on the adjustment knob for wet fingers but that is a minor issue. The reel spins freely and silently on retrieve and has a soft click when going out. It is not a screamer. Seems like it will get the job done.Value: It would be nice if spare spools were available, but for $23 bucks, just buy a second reel. If the drag wears out or breaks, you have a back up. I will be buying a second one for a sink tip. This reel reminds me a lot of an Orvis Battenkill Mid Arbor I used to own that cost about $100 20 years ago. You put a brand name on this and this is easily about a $100 reel.Would I trust this as my main every day reel, probably not. But to complete a situational or back up outfit, absolutely. Seems well made to reasonable tolerances. It looks and feels like a reel two or three times the cost. I will try to update after a few trips, but so far this has exceeded expectations.

Nice reel but the spool seems a bit loose..tried to tighten it with no luck..Not a bad reel gor the price.

Very good reel. It dont get any better than this for the money. I've used for solid year and its still works great. Best $38 ive spenf on fly fishing gear! Questions about warranty or spare spools are ridiculous! Just buy another one! I spent more on the line than the reel! I river fish around 90 days a year and have beat this thing up. If you bury in the sand under water, clean the sand out of it! It takes all of a minute. Ive sprayed the inards out with wd40 a few times and keep some spray white lithium grease from the rv on the bearings and it runs like a fidget spinner. I fish more in one year than most have in their life. Hiking miles up rivers and leaving my gear on the bank or in the water. I havent destroyed this yet. I did smash the smaller one i bought when it got between me and a rock during a fall. After a pair of channel locks and dremel jts good as new. I have a pile of broken reels that cost way more than this one that didnt last a year. As far as im concerned buying a new 38 dollar reel every year would be cheap, but this one is still going!