Fly reels used to play second fiddle to rods, at least in the fly-fishing world. Volumes have been written about the nuances of bamboo, fiberglass, and graphite fly rods. But the reel? “It’s just a ...

Fly fishing is unique among rod-and-reel angling, in that you can cast, set the hook, and land a fish without ever using the reel. In fact, that’s quite common—even in saltwater. I’ve landed many a ...