We're stoked to have been voted "Best of the Best" Best Fly Reel for our Backcountry fly reel by Field and Stream Magazine!
"I’ll be the first to admit that the fly reel isn’t exactly the most important component on a trout rig. In fact, it’s probably the least important—coming in third place after the rod and line—because, at the end of the day, its main function is as a line-holder. But that knowledge doesn’t keep me from wanting to fasten a kick-ass fly reel on my trout rig. And the Epic Backcountry Reel is the best new fly reel I fished with in 2022. I tested the 5/6 model (it’s also available in 3/4 and 7/8), which weighs 4.6 ounces and has spool capacity for about 100 yards of backing. This large-arbor reel is made from cold-forged tempered 6061-T6 aluminum (in other words—it’s tough) and has a sealed ceramic drag, which means the 7/8 model is suitable for fresh- and saltwater fly fishing. And as you can see in the photo, the Backcountry is a stunner. The reel has a low-sheen satin finish and, according to Epic, “is available in any color as long as it’s black.”
—Colin Kearns, Editor, Field and Stream USA
