Piscifun Crest Fly Fishing Reel Large Arbor Fully Sealed Drag Saltwater CNC-machined Aluminum Alloy Fly Reel 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 (Green,Black) review and price compare 2025

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Product overview

Brand	Piscifun
Material	Aluminum
Hand Orientation	Ambidextrous
Color	Black
Handle Material	Aluminum
Item Weight	0.32 Pounds
Fishing Line Type	Fly
Bearing Material	Aluminum

product features

Lifetime Warranty - Piscifun offers Life Time Warranty for all Crest fly reels without Human Damage problem. The Crest fly reel has been set at the factory for left-hand retrieve. To convert your reel to right-hand retrieve, please contact us for guide.
Fully Sealed Carbon-to-STAINLESS DRAG - Impervious to water, sand and grit, requiring no maintenance except for simple rinsing. Can be used for both fresh and saltwater fishing.
Precisely Cnc Machined - Strong yet lightweight anodized 6061 T6 aluminum, sports a heavily ventilated spool to shed weight yet keep its strength.
Large Arbor Design - The U-shaped arbor limits line memory and, paired with the large, flared cranking handle, allows for rapid line pick-up. The fast line pick-up gives you the edge over freshwater and saltwater species.
Click Drag And Silent Retreive - Click drag design provides accurate adjustment. The Crest reel features an innovative crew free spool disassembly design, easy to change the hand retrieve.

Product Description


Requiring no maintenance except simple rinsing after each use for both fresh and saltwater fishing. Sealed drag and close machining tolerances-Sand and small gravel could not find its way into the reel.	Innovative disassembly design helps disengaged spool from reel body effortlessly, so you can switch spools easily. Innovative fully sealed drag system makes reel maintenance easier.	High purity 6061-T6 aluminum alloy, cold forged and tempered for superior strength and rigidity, makes it more durable and corrosion resistant than ordinary aluminum.	Strong yet lightweight, sports a heavily ventilated spool to shed weight yet keep its strength. The machine work and finish polishing is highly professional, not a tool mark to be seen anywhere.


The drag is alternating carbon, Teflon and stainless design, more than ample drag strength. There is a pleasant, very subdued click out going. Multi-disc cork and stainless steel drag.	Hard anodizing treatment, standard for surface oxidation of automobiles, increases 30% abrasion resistance and weather fastness. Larger CNC hollow design makes the reel lighter than ordinary fully sealed drag fly ree	Click Drag provides accurate and repeatable drag settings. The drag system has a knurled surface, makes it easy to adjust with a fish on, better for heat dissipation and smoothness.	The knob is knurled for easy gripping, ported to reduce unnecessary mass. Double screwed, smooth rotating, damage-proof handle with slight grooving for enhanced grip.

Specifications of Piscifun Crest Fly Fishing Reel

product description

product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 4.21 x 2.91 inches; 5.12 Ounces
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ September 29, 2017
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Piscifun
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0761R1WPQ

important information

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Questions about Piscifun Crest Fly Fishing Reel Large Arbor Fully Sealed Drag Saltwater CNC-machined Aluminum Alloy Fly Reel 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 (Green,Black)

Can I buy just the spool?

Answer: Yes. Just go to their web site and choose fly reels. Scroll down to the Crest reel. All the specifications are listed for each of the Crest reels. H and width, weight and backing and line capacity for each size reel. Than scroll down a little further and you will see a option for a reel, line extra spool combination, hit the extra spool picture. And the extra spool page will come up to buy the spool only. You can buy the spool at that point. Easy.

Answer: Yes, please contact Piscifun Customer Service(cs@piscifun.net) if you would like to buy the spool. We will help you out once we receive your message. Thank you so much. From Piscifun

Does it come prespooled?

Answer: Mine didn’t come spooled

Answer: No. You have to put your own backing and line on it.

Answer: No

Answer: No.

Is the finish going to be shiny as pictured?

Answer: Yes, the reel is shiny. However, due to light, it may not be as shiny as the picture. Hope it could help you.

Answer: I bought this..it is not super shiny although when sun hits it the right way it does cast a nice crisp shine of green but not overwhelming..it has worked flawless for me in the salt for schoolie stripers..I purchased the 7/8.. hope this helps it is a attractive reel.

Answer: It's more of a matte finish

Answer: Yes they are really pretty. I have the green 7 wt one and am very impressed with it. Smooth drag, much like my more expensive reels.

Answer: Yes it is in my opinion.

How do I reverse reel

Answer: From Piscifun website: The Crest fly reel has been set at the factory for left-hand retrieve. To convert your reel to right-hand retrieve you basically flip the bearing, but check this 4 minute video first. Super easy to do>

Answer: Don't know if you can, it has a drag and its pretty simple, you want to reverse it loosen the drag and pull it out by hand then retighten the drag, I like the drag, it does prevent bird nests which I'm so good at making I ought to have feathers.

Answer: not sure i use as the came call the co sure they will respond great folks

Why is the Platte around $50 more than the Crest? Which is better?

Answer: The Platte is better. They are all fully sealed CNC-machined fly fishing reel,. However, the platte has a pleasant, very subdued click in and out going. The crest only have a click retrieve. Moreover, they have different drag design. Hope it helps! Please feel free to contact us again if you have any issues when you order it and we are happy to assist you. Thank you so much.

Any word on how to get another spool?

Answer: No

Spare spools available?

Answer: They are available. Please contact Piscifun Customer Support if you need Spare spools of the crest fly reel. Thank you so much.

Is the drag one way or will I have to reel against it?

Answer:

Answer: It is setup as a Left hand retrieve and it can be reversed if you need. Please contact us for guide if you have any issues to convert your reel to right-hand retrieve. We are happy to assist you at any time. From Piscifun

Answer: It is setup as a Left hand retrieve, but I think it can be reversed.

Is the sealed drag on the crest reliable or is it prone to the same backing out/free spooling issue that the Sword series are reported to have?

Answer: I have not had a free spooling issue with the Crest. I'm using it on a 9 wt. rod for stripers. Drag is set for decent sized fish. Don't see how free spooling could be an issue. Only difficulty I've had with the reel is that removing the spool is very difficult. You just have to pull it off the reel. First time I needed the help of a friend to get it off.

Are spare spools available for the Crest 9/10 reel?

Answer: yes - https://www.piscifun.com/collections/fly-fishing-reels/products/piscifun-crest-fly-reel-spare-spool

Is the Lightweight designed for saltwater only?

Answer: No, it is designed for saltwater and freshwater. Hope it helps! Please feel free to contact Piscifun Customer Support again if you have any issues. We will always be here if you need us.

Answer: Does it have a two way clicking sound? Both in and out?

Which would be the best choice for fishing streamers to trout, the Lightweight or Platte in 5/6 wt.?

Answer: I use a 5/6 wt. rod set up for trout ...... have landed over 20 " trout with my 5/6 wt. lots of times . and I love throwing streamers . also I use it for salt water and catch halibut , salt water bass , corbina etc. these fish were good size up to 30 " . and Get them all the time again on streamers ..... So what ever 5/6 wt. you get you can throw streamers at them all day with it ....I do .

Answer: It amounts to a personal choice. If you like to know more there is an open forum for fly fishing aficionados https://www.theflyfishingforum.com they cover and discuss every single thing there is to know about fly fishing.

What Is the diameter of the arbor on the 5/6 crest vs the 5/6 sword?

Answer: The diameter of the 5/6 Crest fly reel is about 3.5inch. And the diameter of the 5/6 sword fly reel is about 3.4inch. Hope it helps! Please feel free to contact Piscifun Customer Support if you have any issues. We love all our customers and we will always be here if you need us. Thank you so much.

How do you remove the spool from the reel? I see that others are available, but I need to get the original one off first. thanks.

Answer: The spool simply pulls off. it is a friction fit (o-ring) on a shaft with a flat on one side. you may have to pull hard - if you grab the frame with your fingers and use your thumbs to push from the back of the spool it will come off.

Would this reel in 9-10 be good on a 13' 7wt spey rod? i'm planning to use skagit shooting line and mono running line. capacity is a concern. steves

Answer: I do not fish with a spey rod. I can tell you I am impressed by the drag. I have used it in salt and fresh water with no problems whatsoever.

Answer: I believe that it would work well with a mono running line.

Any word on how to get another spool?

Answer: No

What is the diameter of the 9/10?

Answer: The diameter of the 9/10 Crest fly reel is 4.05inch/103mm. Hope it helps! Please feel free to contact us if you have any issues and we are happy to assist you.

Answer: I actually purchased the 5/6 so I'm not sure. If you ask the people at piscifun, I'm sure they will get back to you pretty fast

will a 9wt saltwater floating line work on 7/8 size reel?

Answer: It will probably fit, it is not uncommon for some people to put a heavier line on to help them in casting. However, I have found that it is better to learn how to cast properly than to rely on a heavier line. If you are trying to use a smaller reel on a 9wt rod, it may work just fine, however, I would not do it as the 9 wt rod is designed for heavier flies and fish, the 7/8 will wear out earlier than it should. That said I really like the Piscifun reels, I have a multiple in 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8 and have found them very nice and the company a pleasure to work with.

Answer: The 7/8 reel should be ok. It’s more important that you have a 9wt rod to go with your 9wt line.

Answer: it will, especially with this large-frame reel. However, you will have less line capacity overall due to the larger diameter of the 9 wt line.

Answer: Yes I have backing, running line & switch rod shooting head system on mine

What is the diameter, and the weight of the 7/8 reel?

Answer: The diameter is 4.06inch and the weight is 5.6oz. Hope it helps! Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any issues of our Crest fly reel. We are happy to assist you. From Piscifun

Can I just buy a saltwater reel and use it for freshwater too ? why do I need both fresh and Salt ?

Answer: You don't need to have separate reels for fresh and salt water. A saltwater reel has a sealed drag system designed to keep salt from getting in and causing rust. Fresh water reels have no sealed drag, so you can use them in fresh water only. You can use a saltwater reel in either fresh or saltwater.

Answer: Generally they refer to a larger reel as a Saltwater reel and the smaller reels as freshwater reels. It really doesn't matter which you use it for in my opinion. I have a couple of the larger reels that are called "saltwater" reels in freshwater here in Alaska, the fish are larger than you would usually see in freshwater fly fishing. It works great!

Answer: YES...ONE REEL CAN BE USED FOR BOTH. THE ONLY REASON THEY DISTINGUISH IS THAT SALTWATER FLY FISHING IS HARDER ON THE FINISH AND BEARINGS/DRAG IF YOU DON'T RINSE WITH FRESHWATER AFTER EACH USE. (ROUTINE LUBRICATION OF THESE PARTS IS RECOMMENDED EVERY SO OFTEN). i USE THE SAME REELS FOR BOTH..

Answer: A saltwater reel will work just fine in freshwater. Usually a saltwater reel has more line capacity than might be needed in freshwater.

Answer: That's what I am thinking of doing. All the good gamefish like snook and redfish have been hurt by the red tide. So, I'm hoping to find a good panfish pond for tilapia, crappie and largemouth (for the fight)

Answer: Some inland lakes have high alkalinity, so an extra bit of protection is a plus.

Does it click when reeling in?

Answer: No - the retrieve is silent, but when line is pulled off it will click quietly.

Product reviews of Piscifun Crest Fly Fishing Reel Large Arbor Fully Sealed Drag Saltwater CNC-machined Aluminum Alloy Fly Reel 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 (Green,Black)

dave prescott : Impressed!

I have yet to put my new crest to the test, but I am beyond impressed with it's fit and finish. A very handsome and well-built reel.

G. Tilley : Very clean looking, works great!

This is a fairly lightweight reel considering it is machined. I bought this and paired it with a Piscifun 7WT rod for some Northeast bass fishing. The drag is easy to adjust (maybe a little too easy) but held as it should when catching small mouth and pickerel. I do agree with other reviews that I wish the drag had a little heavier click feature so that it wasn’t so easy adjust from light to heavy drag but with a few days of fishing I got used to it and it was not a problem. This is beautifully made and I have seen no defects in the machining. This is a great product for the price, as is the rod. I will likely purchase another one of these for my brother to get him into fly fishing and probably another one for myself in a 5WT.

Malinda : Nice reel....nice price

I ordered my reel on Christmas eve late and didn't get a confirmation email so monday morning I called about that and 2 hours later it was delivered! I was amazed at how fast that was because I received it on the day that I expected it to start out! As for the product I am very happy...last week I returned a reel that cost twice what this one was because the drag kept freezing up....I fished with this one today at 18 degrees f and no problem.....its light and well built but I wish it had a little more backing capacity for using heavy spey lines but it held an 8wt. Short belly spey line w/ a 500 grain shooting head and about 120 yards of pound backing so it'll do the job for our steelhead

Donald R. : This reel like all my piscifun reels is tight

This reel like all my piscifun reels is tight, smooth the drag works good and looks aren't bad at all.

jay woodhams : i have several different styles of piscifun reels and love everyone of them

i have several different styles of piscifun reels and love everyone of them . this one is top quality probably going to become my favorite.

Tom T. : Nice reel - nice sealed drag - easy to change LH or RH

Reel quality is top notch - changed to RH retrieve - very easy You Tube video... Loaded 30Lb backing - and a RIO Bonefish shooting head line - and salt water 9' tapered leaders... balance to a 10Wt is nice...

Jack Perry : I am amazed that a fully sealed

I am amazed that a fully sealed, machined, reel with such a smooth drag could be priced at less than $100. This reel is working great with the Sword 6wt. rod I also purchased.

A Widow's Son : Fly fishing Reel

The quality of this project is so good. I have purchased over 5 of these.

Gerald Shelden : Nice Drage system

Looks and feels like a top notch reel, very nice drag, not too sensitive. I would buy again if I needed another a fly reel.

Abdias Marroquin : Quality at a good price

Smooth and ease of maintenance. Switching from left to right retrieve is easy and done in 10 minutes. Definitely would recommend to purchase.

Frank : Well made easy left to right hand

Love this reel as soon as it came out of the box. Good quality for the amazing price. Installed it on my fly rod immediately. Feels good and very light for a 7/8/9 weight. Will buy again.

Austin Brown : Don’t spent $500 on a reel

Bought because of great reviews I saw on YouTube. 7 weight holds 100 yards of backing and 100 feet of WF7F line comfortably with a little room to spare. Drag system is awesome. Was easy to switch to right hand retrieve, and came well greased.

RastaDaddy : Great reel for the money!

I picked this up as I did not want to break the bank, but wanted a machine reel. This reel surprised me in both it's quality and performance. Drag is super smooth and the reel looks great too. I have been fishing it in the spring hatch for the past month and I am very happy with it. The only drawback is the spool is hard to remove.

LAPP : Impeccable

Super content de mon achat. Belle finition et qualité. Tout est très smooth et le frein est très progressif. Il me reste qu’à le tester en condition de pêche

Hugo muraco : Use your line or sit on the bank

It is smooth and eye pleasing. No problems from large to small catches. Salt water reels are superior to fresh water. I had to have two

Abdias Marroquin : Quality at a good price

Smooth and ease of maintenance. Switching from left to right retrieve is easy and done in 10 minutes. Definitely would recommend to purchase.

Bowman : Sweet Reel

The fit and finish on this reel is superb. It is light, smooth to operate, and has a very capable drag system. With an 8-wt Access Saltwater line, i put 125 yds. of backer on, and the spool still only looks half full. i could probably have gone with double or even triple that amount and still not filled up the reel completely. The value on this reel is superb!

Amazon Customer : Great product for the money

Very smooth operation, handled various species of spring run salmon with no problems

Amazon Customer : Great product for the money

Very smooth operation, handled various species of spring run salmon with no problems

Amazon Customer : Great value!

Great drag!

Lyn E Nowen : I t look good and feel great.

It's use for salmon fly fishing It does start till April.

Scott : A work horse

Can't say enough about Piscifun customer service. This reel is a work horse, I've banged them, dropped them, set down on rocks, layed in mud and dirt and still looks good after a rinse..save your money get one, you won't be dissapointed. I have three of them

R. Willms : Nice reel but matte finish

Nice reel but the one I recieved was matte black and on-line reviews of this product showed a gloss anodized finish.

Functionally it is great

Uinta Hiker : Super reel but a bit small for my purposes

I got the Crest 9/10, which is a nicely made reel with a smooth drag. Unfortunately, it's too small for a #9 saltwater outfit. I prefer about 150 yards of 30 lb backing and the Crest only allows 125 yards of 20 lb backing. I went with the Platte, which is ideal, and found Piscifun customer service excellent.

Jack Perry : I am amazed that a fully sealed

I am amazed that a fully sealed, machined, reel with such a smooth drag could be priced at less than $100. This reel is working great with the Sword 6wt. rod I also purchased.

kevin Stecher : Reel nice..

Nice reel for the price. Put it on a 7wt 12ft..I like it.

Joefred : Exceptional Fly Reel

I have fly fished for over 40 years - and I fish between 50 and 100 days a year. I needed to get a reel for a new streamer rod I purchased. The name brand fly reels have a total racket going with the prices they charge....my advice is don't buy a $200 plus fly reel. Buy the Piscifun Crest.....it is high quality, works exceptionally well on my fly rod, and has had no problems handling 5 pound plus brown trout. Since I have discovered this company there will be no more name brand fly reels for me.

Chris Lawrence : Great reel for the price

Great reel, have only used it during one practice session. Appears to be of great quality. Will buy another reel shortly

Stacy DeHart : Surf flyfishing

My favorite fish to chase are redtail surf perch off of Oregon's beaches. Saltwater and sand is really hard on flyfishing gear. I looked for an affordable reel for fishing in these harsh conditions. I love the Crest reel. I own 5 of them now for different rod and line configurations for fishing the surf. The Crest 4 balances really well with my 12 foot Echo Boost beach fly rods. Tough and easy maintenance. I highly recommend them for surf fly fishing!

JOHN : works

works

donald selman : The drag doesn’t function properly.

Its only good for line storage or fishing where you can hand line a retrieval as the drag will not allow for a winding in a larger fish.

Ethan Sanders : Great Buy

Great budget saltwater reel. I have the 9/10 and have used it for about 2 months now with no issues. Drag is completely sealed and seems strong enough for 20-30lb fish. I have only rinsed after saltwater use and reel is still smooth as butter. Even smoother than my buddies orvis hydros. I would highly recommend this reel for a starter set up for beginners in fly fishing. I have this paired woth the piscifun sword 9wt rod and it matches well. Great rod as well to start out fly fishing with.

STEVE GALASKI : Five Stars

love it looks feel etc.,

John : Piscifun fly reel

For the $ so far,very smooth real . Holds 200 yds backing +fly line.

Peter Smith : Ok, not what I was looking for

Ok quality, wasn't overly impressed so sent it back and bought a brand name reel for similar $ with well proven drag system and likely a more reliable warranty.

Joefred : Exceptional Fly Reel

Amazon Customer : Great value!

Great drag!

Kenny Blankenship : Very reasonably priced machined fly reel

Great reel for a reasonable price. Very smooth retrieve. The drag stays consistent. Ample line capacity.

Eric Wentz : Quality reel at a good price

Just got this reel recently and I am really impressed with its quality and construction. It is very light weight, the drag is smooth and it operates flawlessly.

I got the green version of the 7/8 weight and I am very happy so far with my purchase. I am going to pair this with the and Dacron Backing.

Until I get hooked into some big fish this is really my opinion of this reel based on my 25 years of fly fishing experience. I have used many different reels from different manufacturers and this is definitely a quality reel from what I can see and feel. I do wish the drag adjustment was a little more precise with defined clicks instead of being able to spin it relatively quickly without much feedback or tension. I can feel each adjustment click but it is too easy to move through the adjustments and the higher end reels I have used are more precise in that action.

I would also like to see a better quality material for the handle. This is such a nice looking and functioning reel that the handle seems out of place. Pulling the reel and spool apart wasn't immediately apparent to me as I have seen reels use levers or other mechanisms that hold/release the spool from the reel but in this design you just pull the two apart. I don't usually separate my reel from the spool too often so it is not a big deal but the directions failed to indicate the separation procedure.

I will update as I use this reel but first impressions are positive.

ITGuy : Unknown brand to me but AMAZING!

Amazing reel. I was nervous on purchasing this at first, as I never heard of this brand, but I’m glad i did.
The drag i think could go lower, but i like nearly zero drag on my reel while I’m fishing and palm the hub when i do need to apply drag. Also you can crank down on the drag for storage to keep the line from unwinding.
Has great weight and balances on my 5/6 rod perfectly. Just wish i could buy another spool via Amazon without going to their website.

donald selman : The drag doesn’t function properly.

Its only good for line storage or fishing where you can hand line a retrieval as the drag will not allow for a winding in a larger fish.

Bill Andrews : Good Value

This reel is a good value for the money. It isn't a $500 salt reel, but it's impressive for the price. Feels a little flimsy, but not cheap. Overall, I'd recommend it. The only real beef is the counter-balance weight. There's a gap where it meets the reel (see pic) that's the perfect size to catch a line. Come on guys, design!!

Josh : Great fly reel. :)

Great reel. I took it to the bass pro fly shop in Las Vegas Nevada and the guy behind the conter was so impressed by it he told me and my dad that he was going to go out and buy one himself. Smooth reel and drag system is Great. Would definitely buy another one and I already bought 2. :):)

charles : Great reel at a great price

I own two of these reels. Great reel at a great price.

you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you