M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch ECO Large Arbor Fly Fishing Reel (3/4wt 5/6wt 7/8wt) and Pre-Loaded Fly Reel with Line Combo review and price compare 2025
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Product overview
Brand | M MAXIMUMCATCH |
Material | Aluminum |
Color | Black Fly Reel (Without Line) |
Handle Material | Aluminum |
Fishing Line Type | Fly |
Bearing Material | Aluminum |
product features
- ONE-YEAR-WARRANTY – we as a 13 years fly reel factory, offer “No Hassle” warranty for all our reels. If you are not 100% satisfied with our reel, you can return it in any time.
- Strong All-aluminum construction, Large arbor design for rapid line retrieval
- Rugged disc drag for putting serious pressure on the fish
- One-way bearing for quick and easy left-to-right hand retrieval switch
- Color: Silver, Black, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout anf Brook Trout
Product Description
- Large arbor design for rapid line retrieval
- Rugged disc drag to put serious pressure on your catch
- Rugged disc drag to put serious pressure on your catch
- Rugged disc drag to put serious pressure on your catch
Maxcatch ECO Fly Reel Large Arbor with Diecast Aluminum Body Fly Fishing Reel(2/3wt 3/4wt 5/6wt 7/8wt)
Our ECO fly fishing reel is designed for beginners while still remaining advanced enough for an angler's backup. It is die-cast and made entirely of strong aluminum. The rugged Teflon drag makes the reel extremely stable and strong enough for big fish.
- The reel comes in three weights:
- -1/2: 3.3 oz, 2.4" diameter, recommended WF1F + 33 yard 20 lb backing line
- -2/3: 3.8oz, 2.7" diameter, recommended WF2F + 38 yard 20 lb backing line
- -3/4: 4.9 oz, 2.95" diameter, recommended WF3F + 60 yard 20 lb backing line
- -5/6: 5.6 oz, 3.35" diameter, recommended WF6F + 60 yard 20 lb backing line
- -7/8: 6.5 oz, 3.74" diameter, recommended WF7F + 90 yard 20 lb backing line
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Size | 3/4/5/6/7/8wt | 2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9wt | 1.77''x 3.94''x 5.91'' | 7.5ft, 9ft, 12ft, 15ft | 1X+2X+3X+4X, 3X+4X+5X+6X | 39.4''x 7.9''x 10.8'' |
product description
product details
- Package Dimensions : 3.94 x 3.94 x 0.79 inches; 3.21 Ounces
- Date First Available : February 4, 2019
- Manufacturer : Maxcatch
- ASIN : B08S2M4R7S
important information
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Questions about M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch ECO Large Arbor Fly Fishing Reel (3/4wt 5/6wt 7/8wt) and Pre-Loaded Fly Reel with Line Combo
Q:
How is the noise level when reeling in line? Is it loud or quiet?
Answer: reeling in the line, there is no sound. also you can "palm" the reel for more rapid retrieval of line "like you see the pro's do" on the fishing shows. there is the usual clicking with pulling line off the reel. Had a fly fishing pro try the reel and he was impressed. Hope this helps. M
Answer: Seriously .....for that cost!
Answer: VERY QUEIT NO CLICKING!! RAY
Answer: It's fairly silent
Q:
What's the diameter of the 2/3 wt reel?
Answer: 3 inches in diameter on a 3/4 it on a 4 wt . It will hold over a quarter inch of backing plus a full 4 wt fly line.
Answer: I have no clue, I have the 7/8 wt reel.
Q:
What is the "blc" model? it appears to have a click drag. if so, will the 2/3 be stocked in the disk drag model?
Answer: I ordered the pre spooled 3/4 version a couple of years back. It was disk drag and the quality wasn't that great. Do yourself a favor and spend 20 more dollars and pick up an okuma slv 2/3. It has a disk drag and is a stellar bargain.
Answer: Not sure
Q:
Has anyone been successful in getting the Seller to provide the line that is supposed to come preloaded on the reel? Box said it was preloaded?
Answer: No. When I ordered it, the description said it would come preloaded and it was also checked on the box. Company hasn't responded to email requests. It compared in price to another seller who was offering the preloaded reel for the same price or just the reel for $17. I bought from this seller because they were able to get it to me before Christmas. I noticed they changed the Amazon description after Christmas, probably because of all the confusion.
Answer: Mine did not come preloaded with line, though I don't think when I ordered that that was promised, I am happy with the reel. Excellent reel for the price.
Answer: It doesn’t come with line unless you pick the option to do so. That price is not offered for every size reel
Answer: The 5/6 I just ordered and received did have the line pre-spooled as advertised
Answer: Didn’t notice when I purchased mine. You can get line, leader, tippet from Maxcatch for around 15.00
Answer: I couldn’t even get them to get me one that works.
Q:
Does maxcatch no longer offer extra spools?
Answer: I could not find them listed on Amazon no matter how I searched. When I contacted the seller they did send a link which did work.
Q:
What weight fly line is pre-loaded on the 5/6weight reel?
Answer: None
Q:
can this reel be used for a saltwater speargun like will it have to be dissassembled then rinsed after each use??
Answer: Absolutely disassemble, rinse and oil each time
Q:
Does it come with sinking line?
Answer: Floating line is what comes on the pre-spooled reels. They do have their own brand of floating line to purchase separate. Companies like WildWaterFly that have more accessible customer service can sometimes customize the pre-spooled reels.
Answer: If you select the reel WITH LINE , it comes loaded with fly line appropriate for the reel . I have ordered two reels of different weights. The drop down selection tab on the listing has choices of reels loaded and unloaded . Be careful what you select. Not sure what you mean “sinking line” . The reel with line was loaded . It had fly line and leader. Fly line doesn’t sink , just the leader.
Answer: No. It comes with a standard floating line. You will need to purchase a sinking line separately.
Answer: No, line was NOT include details , and no one responded to my requests for assistance.
Answer: Greetings - My reel cane with floating fly line. That is all I can tell you and be perfectly accurate. Thank You.
Answer: I ordered the brown trout reel it with a 3 wt weight forward floating line hope this helps.
Q:
What specific line weight comes preloaded on the 7/8 weight reel? Is it a dedicated 7 weight line or 8 weight line?
Answer: The reel I got did not have any line, I bought my own line. I no bought a 3/4
Answer: It did not come with line
Q:
this listing is for a 2/3 wt but the reel size chart shows 3/4 as the smallest reel... what is the size of this reel?
Answer: I have the 3/4 and I run it on my 2 at with no problem If If was to size this reel I would say it's a 3 wt
Answer: I bought the 8 st. Plenty big for that size rod.
Q:
How much line can u put on ? A 100 feet of backing an then 4 weight fly line?
Answer: The reel will take a 100 feet of backing and 4wt line and it's a good reel
Answer: Yes, I used 100ft backing and 6wt fly line, no problem
Q:
how do you reverse these for left handed?
Answer: Pull the spool.. there is a bearing that is held in by a little star clip you need to flip the bearing around .. that should do the trick
Answer: I believe this video is the same for either reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaND6m-nqd4
Answer: Turn it around.....
Answer: Turn it around on the rod.
Answer: Instructions included
Q:
Can you add a clicker?
Answer: I think you just have to turn the clicker on
Q:
how do you reverse these for left handed?
Answer: Pull the spool.. there is a bearing that is held in by a little star clip you need to flip the bearing around .. that should do the trick
Answer: I believe this video is the same for either reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaND6m-nqd4
Answer: Turn it around.....
Answer: Turn it around on the rod.
Answer: Instructions included
Q:
Is this a complete reel or just the spool
Answer: Complete reel.
Answer: It is the complete reel and for the price you cant go wrong
Answer: Looks complete minus line
Answer: Not complete
Q:
Do they ship with righr orleft hand retrieval ?
Answer: Mine came left hand retrieve but easy to switch to what ever side you like
Q:
Why hasnt it shipped yet?
Answer: It doesn't come loaded with any line at all
Q:
Where was this reel made?
Answer: I looked all over it and found no markings for where it is made. It has done well for me. All my other reels are Lamson, made here in the US. I have been satisfied with the reel.
Answer: There is no place that says where it is made. However there is some Chinese writing on a sticker on the box it came in.
Answer: China
Q:
Does this reel have an aluminum reel foot, or is it plastic?
Answer: Mine was aluminum
Q:
I lost one of the two screws on the spool cap for my 3/4 wt reel. Any idea what size type of screw those are so I can get a replacement?
Answer: Not sure on the size but I think it’s a machine screw.
Answer: I’m not sure. I’d get ahold of MAXIMUMCATCH, they should be able to help you.
Answer: I would go on their website and inquire. I'm sure that would be the best solution.
Q:
Is it prespooled?
Answer: Yes it is but beware of the cast metal spool itself. I returned mine because it still had flashing left all over it. The flashing shredded the fly line. Poor quality control. Hopefully they have fixed that problem. Good luck.
Answer: The one I got was this does not appear to be. I had option to choose what it was spooled with. Hope this helps
Answer: Nope doesn't come with any line but for the price you can't beat the reel
Answer: No
Q:
can you purchase a spare spool?
Answer: Yes
Q:
Is flyline, floating?
Answer: yes it is.
Answer: Yes
Answer: Yes it does
Q:
I purchased this reel on july 17 2020 because of the header line "preloaded fly reel with line combo". Where is the fly line and backer?
Answer: Mine didnt either
Q:
Do you sell the part of the reel to add another line? (For example a sinking tip, i dont know the name of that parte of the reel in english)
Answer: No it's one frame and one spool but I think you can buy extra spools
Q:
I bought one and it was stuck.in free spool. When you tighten the drag, it gets harder to reel in, not harder to pull out! They sent another....is
Answer: Flip it around
Q:
Does this come with the backing and all already on it?
Answer: Yes, it is pre-spooled with WF line, backing line, and tapered leader line
Answer: No, mine came, blank reel in a box. I am not sure if I would want some no name fly line, I am kind of picky about line, not so much about the reel.
Q:
I have a 5 wt rod. Would either one of these options work
Answer: Should try and find a weight reel/line combo suited to your rod. You say you have a 5 wt rod, should find a 5 or maybe max of 6 reel. 8 eight defeats the light action of your rod.
Answer: The 5/6 wt reel is what you want for a 5 wt rod
Answer: Ideally no. You need a 5/6 weight reel
Answer: I would stick with the same wt reel
Q:
the 3/4 line is it a 3 or a 4?
Answer: Both the reel is able to handled the 4 wt line as well it will work for both 3 at and 4 at with no problems
Q:
I have a 2/3 wt rod is this ok?
Answer: If you get the 3/4 wt reel it will work ok, but it will probably be a little heavy for your 2/3 wt rod. The reel and line should be sized for the weight of the rod. The idea is to get a well balanced setup to improve casting and reduce fatigue. You can check you setup buy assembling you rod (line, rod, reel) and balancing your rod on you index finger just above the handle of your rod. Your setup should be balanced horizontally.
Answer: It comes with 6 wt line
Answer: Should be fine with the correct weight line
Answer: Should work great
Q:
where to buy extral spool?
Answer: At the current price just buy another reel.
Q:
It doesn’t show 2/3 weight
Answer: Mine said the size
Q:
Is the 3 a 3/4? The picture of the 5 reads 5/6.
Answer: The drop down window in "select" gives the option.
Answer: Yes, that is the way they number them
Q:
What weight fly line is pre-loaded on 7/8weight reel?
Answer: None
Q:
Is the reel machined or cast?
Answer: It is cast. But solid reel. Maxcatch Avid is machined and under 80.00
Q:
What is the disc drag made out of?
Answer: Without the packaging, I'm guessing it's a very light metal alloy / with a baked on paint. <:-)
Q:
Significado de los dos precios que figuran en el articulo publicado
Q:
what weight line does this come loaded with. 5 or 6?
Answer: Its sold with 5 weight line. It is NOT preloaded. Mine was shipped separately.
Answer: It does not come loaded with any line I spent $115 online and backing after I bought it
Answer: I ordered reel with no line....as a option! Only order what you want.
Answer: Depending on the size reel and the line you order with it
Q:
Is the 3 a 3/4? The picture of the 5 reads 5/6.
Answer: The drop down window in "select" gives the option.
Answer: Yes, that is the way they number them
Q:
Can I choose a 4wt fly line?
Answer: You can choose pretty much anything between 1-6, but you should be aware, it is a large bore reel so it does not hold very much line. The heavier lines Iike 4-6 have a large line diameter so a 90 yard 6 wt will take up more reel space than a 90 yard 3 wt.
Answer: Does not come with line. It is designed to handle 3 or 4 wt line.
Answer: On a 5/6 feel you will need to add more backing
Answer: Of course
Answer: No clue it broke before we could use it
Answer: Yes.
Q:
Does the line come with welded loops? Does it come already spooled on the reel? How many feet of fly line?
Answer: Yes it comes spooled with welded loops .
Answer: Just got the 7/8 weight, no welded loop
Q:
Does this come preloaded or not? Don’t want it if it doesn’t.
Answer: You can by it either way. So sites offer it as just the reel and others preloaded.
Answer: only if you order the preloaded reel
Answer: some models come loaded - click on different reels and some are loaded and some just the reel
Answer: Pre-loaded with line? No. This is just the reel.
Answer: If your asking with line no it doesn't
Answer: NO, IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY LINE PREINSTALLED.
Answer: No it does not
Q:
Is it a left hand retrieve?
Answer: I think it is reversible but you may have to rewind it to do so the preloaded feature may not be applicable for you
Q:
How do I contact max catch
Answer: Click on the seller name, then click "ask question." I bought a fly rod from Max Catch and they were really good about sending out a broken replacement section, for free.
Answer: Not sure best bet would be to contact amazon
Q:
What weight fly line is pre-loaded on the 3/4 weight reel?
Answer: WF3F moss green color fly line
Answer: Mine didn't come with line.
Q:
Xtra spools available fot the 5/6 wt
Answer: I originally could not find the extra spools on Amazon. When I contacted the seller, they did give me a link for ordering one.
Q:
The description notes "pre-loaded with fly line, backing and leader". what weight line, and is it loaded lh or rh?
Answer: Loaded with what you want
Q:
Where is this reel made?
Answer: POS. Your line tangles up super easy. There is zero resistance in the reel which causes issues letting out and taking in line. The good reviews of this product are made up in my opinion. Years ago I bought an all in one $40 rod whose reel could run circles around this one.
Answer: hi, We made it in China
Answer: Im guessing Asia. You can have mine. I'll probably throw them away.
Q:
Are spare spools available for the ECO series?
Answer: I am not sure. The reel is so inexpensive that you should consider buying a second reel to get the spare spool Or you will have a second reel all set up.
Q:
Can this be used for saltwater as well?
Answer: I use mine is salt water but remember like any other salt water fishing gear it's good practice to always wash or rinse with fresh water when done
Product reviews of M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch ECO Large Arbor Fly Fishing Reel (3/4wt 5/6wt 7/8wt) and Pre-Loaded Fly Reel with Line Combo
Mr. Sauer Kraut : Do NOT order this reel if you expect it to arrive preloaded with fishing line (it won’t)
I ordered this reel, for my son, preloaded with 5/6 weight line. The reel arrived without line. I’m very disappointed.
CO gal : Quality and affordable
Fly fishing isn't cheap but this reel will save you $. Great finish, great feel, excellent drag. Great buy!
CO gal : Quality and affordable
Fly fishing isn't cheap but this reel will save you $. Great finish, great feel, excellent drag. Great buy!
uncle stevie : very slick on the retrieve
the drag goes from a "little to a lot" quickly other wise for the minimal amount of money rather serviceable and that is the only reason for a 4 and not a 5
uncle stevie : very slick on the retrieve
the drag goes from a "little to a lot" quickly other wise for the minimal amount of money rather serviceable and that is the only reason for a 4 and not a 5
JimE Walker : Great Value
So far so good. It's a great value reel. It works as expected.
Andreas B. : Light Weight Cheap But Does not Last
The bearing or whatever keeps the spool centered was loose/broke/bent and does not function properly when reeling in. Maybe a bent spool spindle? The spool does not spin freely it makes a grinding noise as if it’s hitting something internally.
Its an affordable reel but unfortunately you get what you pay for. I ended up paying $50 more for a Reddington Zero and have and no issues with it. Save yourself the trouble and don't get stuck in the field with a rod and reel that you cant use.
Michael Stevens : The item shipped was not complete, MaxCatch is awful!!!
Reel looks great!! Except no backing or line like the description said. After the Amazon rep.assured me that my purchase was supposed to come preloaded with backing and fly line, they shipped new reels, WITHOUT line and backing. MaxCatch is a joke!!! The MaxCatch email showed my purchase comes preloaded, and then asked me to pay the difference!!! Soooo disappointed!!!
Amazon customer * : REEL NOT LOADED WITH LINE ! BE CAREFUL WHAT OPTION YOU SELECT
The reel is great ! Ordered the silver one . Please be aware , even though the description says it’s a combo , it IS NOT UNLESS YOU SELECT THE REEL THAT IS LOADED ! I truly thought that since it said combo in the main description it would come with line , NOPE! The seller responded same day and explained that the loaded line was an option I didn’t select . I feel this was not made clear. Hope this helps someone . Line is expensive.The box the reel came in says “ preloaded with fly line, backing, and leader for your convenience “ . The seller responded that they use the same box for both , just the reel and preloaded .
David Sharp : You get what you pay for
Having previously purchased a Maxcatch rod, I was expecting more from this reel. The spool does not spin evenly on reel and looks like it has been dropped.
The reel also has a few casting defects. I don't think they will effect the use.
If this was going to be more than a backup to my other setups, I would return it, but wanted to let people know not to expect a lot from this reel. Next time I will get an Echo Base for a few dollars more.
Steven G. : Very impressive little bargain!
Excellent little real wonderful beautiful paint job of the trout. I hope it doesn't chip away. I will probably always worry about that for the price the real was. I think it will be a great reel!
Caddylackn : Ok for the price.
The reel works, it catches fish, spools line, about what you expect. The drag is super sensitive and didn't seem to hold my exact setting in place and required re-adjustment often. The difference in one click on the drag is vast. The handle roller sometimes grinds but that could be from silt/sand picked up from fishing. The handle is small, and hard to grab and find when fighting a fish.
Not a lot of quality reels out there for the $20 - 25 price range. This is about the best quality reel I have used in that price range. It lasted a five day fishing trip and it still works. Finish is durable.
Thomas Epich : Not pre-loaded
Ad and box says: "Pre-loaded with fly line, backing, and leader for your convenience". NOT TRUE. NOT PRE-LOADED! Rip off.
Larry : Nice reel, great price.
Nice compact reel. Just a tad bit wider than some others I have seen in this line weight size. Built with lots of ventilation so line will dry well. The break and drag system if fairly smooth, there is a little pulsing. Very nice reel for its price. I wanted small and light, that is what it is, as well as built well. I should add the spool removal system is easy to use. I had bought another small reel and it was a compression system. Had to pull so hard I was afraid I would bend the spool. This one has a switch, move it, spool comes off.
Information to all : $22.00... How is this even possible?
When I picked up my new 8 weight fly rod I knew I would need a 7/8 reel also. What I was looking for was a basic, budget reel. I stumbled across this Maxcatch reel and said "F-it, I will give it a shot for $22.00", not expecting much I received the reel today. To be honest I am super happy and super surprised, this is a nice reel! The finish is clean and the tolerances are great, the drag is nice and smooth and the reeling action is excellent. I can't say I will use this reel forever but it is a reel I can see lasting so I can pass it down to a young fly fisherman years down the road. Thanks Maxcatch, I can't wait to try out some of your other products!
CJLevesque : Great Fly Reel ????
This is a great reel for the price! For those of you who can’t afford a $100. + reel this will fill The bill. And it look great!
rita martinez : This is a well balanced very nice reel!
The reel is light and solid, comparable to my very expensive reels. The price is excellent!
PCMirage : Large arbor barely holds a 90 foot line with no room for backing.
This reel works fine and seems durable. I put it through its paces with some hard fighting wild rainbows and browns on the South Platte River in Colorado. It performed well and enabled me to land some big trout. My only complaint is the spool. The 5 wt fly line fills the spool almost to the frame. If your not meticulously careful reeling back line very evenly it will bind on the frame and worse case it can jam. From now on I’ll buy mid arbor reels.
Robin C. : Nice reel for holding my 4 wt line but there ...
Nice reel for holding my 4 wt line but there is very little play between too tight of drag and to loose. but at this price I guess I can live with it and for a light rod like this I won't be using the drag- I just don't like the spool to let line out too freely and to have to pull too hard to get it out with not much in between.
Duwa : Made for lighter weight
Very nice for inexpensive ree. Great for light weight lines. I had to remove 30 ft of #2 line to get it acceptable on reel.
Smith : Great Reel For the Money
This reel is a great reel for my euro nymphing rig. It's a little on the heavy side, which balances out my euro rod very nicely. I don't do really any casting with it, so can't speak to that aspect, but overall it's a great reel for the money. It's also a really cool pattern.
Nukmedman : Good Quality starter flyreel at affordable price
Fit and finish are good for a diecast flyreel. Close Inspection shows minor defects in surface finish. The mechanism is smooth and the drag adjustment is serviceable for the majority of fish you are likely to encounter. Overall a good starter flyreel.
BobGuy : Good for price, but inconsistent quality
First, let me say I bought this reel as a saltwater reel I wouldn’t cry over if I damaged it. Last time I fished from the beach, I dropped my spinning set up in the surf and couldn’t ever get the sand completely out of the reel or get the anti reverse to work again. I haven’t fished with this reel yet, so will post an update once I do, but here are my first thoughts.
My initial impression is that for under $20, I love the reel. It’s not perfect, but when you factor in the price, it’s nice looking, has an ok drag and seems to work well. The old saying, “Buy cheap, buy twice” definitely seems to fit, but for the purposes and price point I bought it for, I’m thrilled.
I wrote to Maxcatch after receiving my reel because there were some rough/slightly sharp edges on the spool. They immediately sent me a replacement reel, which is awesome. The only thing was that there was a huge difference between the quality and strength of the drag of the two reels (both 7/8 wt). The first reel had a solid, smooth drag, and every click of the drag knob made a gradual change in tension. The replacement reel required several clicks before the drag engaged and started increasing, but the intervals were much less gradual and the drag wasn't nearly as smooth. It went from virtually no drag to max drag too quickly, and the max drag was heavier than the first reel’s max drag.
Pros:
-Maxcatch is very responsive and stands behind their products
-pricepoint
-looks awesome
-has smooth bearings
Cons:
-quality control isn’t great—drag and fit inconsistencies between the two identical reels I have
-fit and finish aren’t perfect—some rough/semi-sharp edges and a tiny bit of spool wobble
-numbers on drag dial aren’t in a logical order (0, 3, 9, 6…hmmm), but who cares?
-(personal preference) the spool rotates freely to reel in line—there is no click on the retrieve or anything that keeps it from a free spin like a spinning reel
J. Jansen : Excellent value
Bought 2 more for my 4’2” and 6’ small stream rods. Rarely use drag but these reel has a good chatter-free and smooth drag. I like the width of this large arbor reel. Very forgiving on line retrieval. I don’t need backing when using 100’ fly-line. Would recommend to friends.
Justin : Not too bad
This is my second one great for the price. The casting is a little rough but I finished it off with a little file and some sand paper. I also have an avid reel and it’s really nice they make some good stuff for the money
Mr. Sauer Kraut : Do NOT order this reel if you expect it to arrive preloaded with fishing line (it won’t)
I ordered this reel, for my son, preloaded with 5/6 weight line. The reel arrived without line. I’m very disappointed.
Smith : Great Reel For the Money
This reel is a great reel for my euro nymphing rig. It's a little on the heavy side, which balances out my euro rod very nicely. I don't do really any casting with it, so can't speak to that aspect, but overall it's a great reel for the money. It's also a really cool pattern.
SLorenz : No line loaded
Really hard to write a review. Was supposed to come loaded with flyline and did not. Will expand on review waiting to hear about missing line.
Dennis J. Kaufman : Good price and great value.
The reel works well and is a good value. The drag works well and seems pretty uniform in its operation.
The only challenge I have with the reel is there is absolutely no resistance on the spool when reeling. This causes a strange situation when casting where the reel free spoils and actually takes in slack. It is something I have learned to keep tension on the extra line or touch the spool with my hand when casting to prevent the free spool forward.
For the price this is something I can deal with, but the old click type reels solve this issue with a gear on the spool to always keep a small amount of tension on it.
Mr. Sauer Kraut : Do NOT order this reel if you expect it to arrive preloaded with fishing line (it won’t)
I ordered this reel, for my son, preloaded with 5/6 weight line. The reel arrived without line. I’m very disappointed.
PhilS : Touchy drag.
You get what you pay for. If you think a reel is just a holder for fly line than this reel might work for you. The drag is very touchy and has almost zero adjustment. it goes from no drag to complete stop very quickly. I found I had to adjust it constantly just to keep enough resistant to keep the line from spooling out too fast and fouling around the reel to making sure there was some ability of the fish to pull line without breaking off small tippets. For a cheap 3/4 reel you can make this work if you don't mind paying constant attention to the drag. An inexpensive click-pawl reel may be the way to go to reduce this frustration. It does look nice though...
AZHawg : Fantastic price for a quality reel!
Great reel at a better price! I caught some 26"-34" catfish, as well as some smaller rainbows. Drag works fine and is easily adjustable, depending upon the size of the fish, and it is relatively easy to adjust on the fly.
I put about 100 yards of backing and 10 feet of 5-weight line, and I still have plenty of room for leaders and tippet. It is a fine reel and Maxcatch's customer service is also great!
mrg923 : Easy choice for beginner or backup reel. Probably can’t beat the price point for a good basic reel.
I’ve had 3 of these in my hand and they all performed exactly the same. Retrieve was super smooth and fast, drag was decent, and adjustment knobs were tight and easily dialed in.
There’s nothing fancy or impressive about these, but at this price point I’m not sure if you’ll find a better bare bones reel or a backup.
Edward Wick : As expected.
This is a molded reel. It is not as clean as the one in the picture of it. The one pictured is CNC not molded. It took a while to remove the flashing to make it look better.
I have the 3/4 wt so all I was looking for was something to store the line with a drag if ever needed, and this fills the bill nicely.
AZHawg : Fantastic price for a quality reel!
Great reel at a better price! I caught some 26"-34" catfish, as well as some smaller rainbows. Drag works fine and is easily adjustable, depending upon the size of the fish, and it is relatively easy to adjust on the fly.
I put about 100 yards of backing and 10 feet of 5-weight line, and I still have plenty of room for leaders and tippet. It is a fine reel and Maxcatch's customer service is also great!
@ThatBeerGuy® : Great value for price
The paint quality isn't the best, but otherwise product looks great and has a good feel to it. Not the lightest or best reel out there, but for the price, you can't go wrong!
Andreas B. : Light Weight Cheap But Does not Last
The bearing or whatever keeps the spool centered was loose/broke/bent and does not function properly when reeling in. Maybe a bent spool spindle? The spool does not spin freely it makes a grinding noise as if it’s hitting something internally.
Its an affordable reel but unfortunately you get what you pay for. I ended up paying $50 more for a Reddington Zero and have and no issues with it. Save yourself the trouble and don't get stuck in the field with a rod and reel that you cant use.
BobGuy : Good for price, but inconsistent quality
First, let me say I bought this reel as a saltwater reel I wouldn’t cry over if I damaged it. Last time I fished from the beach, I dropped my spinning set up in the surf and couldn’t ever get the sand completely out of the reel or get the anti reverse to work again. I haven’t fished with this reel yet, so will post an update once I do, but here are my first thoughts.
My initial impression is that for under $20, I love the reel. It’s not perfect, but when you factor in the price, it’s nice looking, has an ok drag and seems to work well. The old saying, “Buy cheap, buy twice” definitely seems to fit, but for the purposes and price point I bought it for, I’m thrilled.
I wrote to Maxcatch after receiving my reel because there were some rough/slightly sharp edges on the spool. They immediately sent me a replacement reel, which is awesome. The only thing was that there was a huge difference between the quality and strength of the drag of the two reels (both 7/8 wt). The first reel had a solid, smooth drag, and every click of the drag knob made a gradual change in tension. The replacement reel required several clicks before the drag engaged and started increasing, but the intervals were much less gradual and the drag wasn't nearly as smooth. It went from virtually no drag to max drag too quickly, and the max drag was heavier than the first reel’s max drag.
Pros:
-Maxcatch is very responsive and stands behind their products
-pricepoint
-looks awesome
-has smooth bearings
Cons:
-quality control isn’t great—drag and fit inconsistencies between the two identical reels I have
-fit and finish aren’t perfect—some rough/semi-sharp edges and a tiny bit of spool wobble
-numbers on drag dial aren’t in a logical order (0, 3, 9, 6…hmmm), but who cares?
-(personal preference) the spool rotates freely to reel in line—there is no click on the retrieve or anything that keeps it from a free spin like a spinning reel
Sinbad : Great deal!
I know it's a cheap knockoff reel, but for the price it's really pretty good. I have Orvis, Lamson, Hardy, and mostly other high-end reels, and this one was purchased to stay in my roofrack flyrod case so I didn't really want to spend a bunch. Bought on a whim. I had no real expectations but the line cast well and floated fine, the drag was smooth and easily adjustable, and it handled the first fish, a 4-pound rainbow, with no issue. I was able to easily adjust the drag while the fish was on without screwing up. And it's pretty good looking too. We'll see how long it lasts but so far it's been a good purchase.
blaked386 : Inexpensive but great for the price
Not an expensive reel but it works great for a beginner. I gave it as a gift and then lost the spool to my sage reel so I threw it on my rod for a weekend trip and I loved it. The drag is pretty good and it looks clean but the paint does scratch easy
JimE Walker : Great Value
So far so good. It's a great value reel. It works as expected.
Dano : Great value
This is a 3WT reel and works very well have used 5-6 times and all good.
Drag adjustment is fine and catches fish well.
Chief : Great for the price.
The paint started wearing away pretty quick but I’m rough with my stuff.
Information to all : $22.00... How is this even possible?
When I picked up my new 8 weight fly rod I knew I would need a 7/8 reel also. What I was looking for was a basic, budget reel. I stumbled across this Maxcatch reel and said "F-it, I will give it a shot for $22.00", not expecting much I received the reel today. To be honest I am super happy and super surprised, this is a nice reel! The finish is clean and the tolerances are great, the drag is nice and smooth and the reeling action is excellent. I can't say I will use this reel forever but it is a reel I can see lasting so I can pass it down to a young fly fisherman years down the road. Thanks Maxcatch, I can't wait to try out some of your other products!
Caddylackn : Ok for the price.
The reel works, it catches fish, spools line, about what you expect. The drag is super sensitive and didn't seem to hold my exact setting in place and required re-adjustment often. The difference in one click on the drag is vast. The handle roller sometimes grinds but that could be from silt/sand picked up from fishing. The handle is small, and hard to grab and find when fighting a fish.
Not a lot of quality reels out there for the $20 - 25 price range. This is about the best quality reel I have used in that price range. It lasted a five day fishing trip and it still works. Finish is durable.
Justin : Not too bad
This is my second one great for the price. The casting is a little rough but I finished it off with a little file and some sand paper. I also have an avid reel and it’s really nice they make some good stuff for the money
CO gal : Quality and affordable
Fly fishing isn't cheap but this reel will save you $. Great finish, great feel, excellent drag. Great buy!
David L. Nagle : Cost
Works great and has a strong drag system
Mr. Sauer Kraut : Do NOT order this reel if you expect it to arrive preloaded with fishing line (it won’t)
I ordered this reel, for my son, preloaded with 5/6 weight line. The reel arrived without line. I’m very disappointed.
5137 : I like this reel a lot.
I like the size and weight of the reel. Just what I need for small streams in my area. The quality seems to be great.
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
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