Echo Ion Fly Reel review and price compare 2025

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Product overview

Brand	Echo
Material	Stainless Steel
Color	One Color
Handle Material	Stainless Steel
Item Weight	0.56 Pounds
Fishing Line Type	Fly
Bearing Material	Stainless Steel

product features

Maintenance-free Rulon disc drag
Low start-up resistance protects light tippets
Stainless steel internal components
Positive position, click-drag knob
0

product description

With a large arbor for quick retrieves and a hybrid machined/cast design, the Ion is a great choice for balancing single-hand and two-hand rods of all sizes. Designed primarily for freshwater use, they can be used in the salt with a little additional care. Six sizes make sure that there is an Ion reel to suit your fishing situation. An optional solid brass drag knob helps balance even the longest spey rods.

product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 5 x 3 inches; 8.96 Ounces
Item model number ‏ : ‎ Echo
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ June 12, 2014
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Echo
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BISVLZ6

important information

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Questions about Echo Ion Fly Reel

Does it come with a soft case?

Answer: The reel comes with a cloth bag.

Answer: it comes with a cloth bag with draw strings

Does mainenance free drags mean sealed watefproof drags?

Answer: no, the echo ION is not a sealed drag. I only use my ION reel in fresh water. It is a very good reel for the price. Their customer service is also great, they sent me replacement rubber seals when one broke.

Answer: This listing is for the spool ONLY. This is not a sealed waterproof drag.

Answer: yes, you only open the other side to reverse the side you want to reel on. You need not deal with the drag system one the opposite side.

Is this reel left hand or right hand retrieve?

Answer: Great question. This particular reel can be converted from Left to Right Hand Retrieve. Please contact us at the fly shop once ordered to let us know the correct retrieve required. Our number to the fly shop is 937-434-8472. Have a great day.

Answer: This reel comes set up left hand retrieve but can easily be changed over to right hand retrieve.

Answer: Install spool either left or right hand retrieve.

Answer: This reel is made for right hand casting and left hand reeling.

Answer: It will go right hand or left hand. Just let us know what you would like when you order.

is it right or left handed

Answer: The reeling knob for mine is left handed so it's on the left side. I believe I ordered it that way though. Check the drop down options to choose your preference. I've had it for a year and it's been fantastic.

Answer: The reel comes set up for left hand retrieve however, it can easily be changed over to right hand retrieve.

Answer: Out of the box it is left hand wind. There is a piece inside that you flip to make it right hand wind. I've done this on all my reels and it is very simple.

Answer: Either one, you would just need to let us know and we would be happy to switch it over either way.

Answer: Either.

Answer: Both

Add states this is for a spare spool. Does not sound right. Is it for a spool or reel?

Answer: This is a spool only. To be clear: it's the part that holds the line. It does not attach to the rod. It needs an Ion reel to work.

Answer: This is for the reel not just the spool.

Answer: This is a spool.

Answer: Ad is wrong. Reel. Spools are $35. I thought the same thing when I bought it.

can this reel be used for spey rods ?

Answer: You can certainly use this reel for spey outfits.

Answer: I do not recommend it. It is way too light and the balance is not right. To make it work correctly you must purchase a counter weight and insert it in the reel. I have one counterweight which I use but do not like it.

Answer: I use mine on a switch rod with no problems. It should be ok on a Spey rod.

Answer: yes on lighter rods or any rod it balances

Answer: absolutely

Answer: Yes

Product reviews of Echo Ion Fly Reel

Samuel : 2 reels locked up

Bought one of these for my fishing trip in salt lake city. It failed within 2 days. Started to get very difficult to reel and eventually completely locked up. I took it back to the fly shop and assumed I had just gotten a lemon. They gave me a one for one replacement and the second one locked up in the first 2-3 hours of use. I'm sure I just got into a bad batch but it pretty much ruined the fishing trip.

Grady Graves : Wish I'd spent double the money.

Good reel for the money. Clicks a little loudly for my taste.

Laketime : Reel advice

I have fly-fished all over the US for a lot of years and I can honestly say I'm not that good. I blame it on bad equipment.
Pros: This reel has a great drag system. I think that might be the most important part of a fly reel, they reel'y aren't engineering marvels but a bad drag will ruin your day. I would recommend this one.
Con: To be determined.

Timing3435 : Four Stars

Great value

David Kanchuk : You don't have to pay a bunch of money for a good product!

Bought the echo carbon xl fly rod matched perfectly with it great combination

Laketime : Reel advice

Amazon Customer : It appears to be sturdy enough for atlantic salmon and has a smooth drag

Will wait for spring to try it out. It appears to be sturdy enough for atlantic salmon and has a smooth drag. Looking forward to using it

Mr Boxboro : Works as expected, the spool is a little wide ...

Works as expected, the spool is a little wide. Could definitely use on a 6 wieght as the capacity is very large.

J. Lindsey Flexner : Can't beat it for the price.

The design of this reel is awesome as it holds 150 yds of backing and a 5 wgt. line. This reel can easily hold a 6 wgt. line and plenty of backing as well. Balances out on a sub 3 oz 9 ft 5 wgt. quite nicely. Fished it 4 days last week and it preformed flawlessly. Caught lots of fish and with a fair number of 16 to 18"ers. Drag is smooth and built out of qualiity parts and the best thing is it cost the price of a really nice fly line. My philosophy has always been that a trout fly reel is something to hold the line. We survived years with just a click and pawl drag system. Now we have beautiful CNCed works of art that are incredibly light and machined perfectly but cost an arm and a leg. Hey if you can afford them go for it- they are worth it; but if you want to save some money buy a really good fly line and put it on this reel. I think you will be happy. This reel costs less than a replacement spool for most new machined CNC type large arbors. If you smash it on the rocks or drop it over the side of a drift boat you can buy another. Buy the CNC reels for your saltwater 10 weight.

Mad Max : Three Stars

You get what you paid for!

Linda Lakes : Fine reel pickup for the price

Love the reels look and the drag is perfect. Only reason it doesn't get all 5 stars is I would consider slightly heavy, but your not beating the reel for the price. I just got back from a steelhead trip and used this reel all day, no rod fatigue and perfect adjustable drag, really love the click sound that lets you know your tightening and loosening the drag, I'm to the point I know my drag without even tugging on the line.

Kindle Customer : Outstanding at this price point!

I bought this reel for my wife who is just getting into fly fishing. My first impression is that it looked pretty wide on her rod. Almost too wide. I quickly got used to how wide it looked and decided to let it's perfomance speak for it. Turns out the wide design is a boon in disguise. It's not at all overly heavy as I've seen some people say. It's well made, has clean lines, adds a nice balance, and looks pretty good on the rod. More importantly, it performs REALLY well. The drag is actually adjustable (unlike many reels in this price range), it strips evenly, and it remains consistant (so far). Long story short, this is a lot of reel for this price range. I'd highly reccomend it.

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