Piscifun Sword Fly Fishing Reel with CNC-machined Aluminum Alloy Body 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 Weights(Black, Gunmetal, Pink, Space Gray)

First and foremost, let me state unequivocally that I was not paid to write a positive review for this company. I purchased the item through Amazon Prime and am concerned that Amazon is allowing vendors to manipulate reviews by giving products away for free or at a reduced price. It doesn't matter if they claim to be giving a "fair and balanced" review; you still have to give them a discount for their enthusiasm. For comparison, I own about 20 premium, moderate, and low-cost fly reels, and I purchased this one (along with a few others from China) out of curiosity. br>br>This reel is extremely well machined, especially considering the price; I used to work in a machine shop and have a keen eye for poorly machined metal. This Sword reel (of which I own the green one) does a fantastic job. I'm not convinced the Sword is hard anodized or has a cork disc drag, but I believe the finish will hold up well over time, and the drag feels smooth right out of the box. br>br>The drag system is one of my two reservations about this reel. The drag adjustment dial is loosely threaded, allowing it to spin freely and quickly transition from light to heavy drag. I wouldn't want to be adjusting the dial while fishing for a big steelhead and accidentally bump it or lock it down. Second, there are no instructions for disassembling the complex drag system in order to clean it, and figuring this out on your own is difficult. Because the drag is not fully enclosed like on more expensive reels, the drag washers on two other inexpensive Chinese fly reels need to be cleaned and lubricated on a regular basis. I use another one from Piscifun for trout fishing on occasion, and if I don't clean the drag every few times, the oxidation on the washers causes it to lock up. It's ridiculous to claim that the Sword drag is comparable to reels that cost five times as much. If you buy a Lamson fly reel, for example, you get an almost maintenance-free drag system that works the same way every time. br>br>I also have an Okuma SLV reel, which is a few dollars more expensive than the Sword but has a better multi-function system. The disc drag system is simple to disassemble and clean, and it has proven to be reliable in the face of large saltwater fish. The SLV isn't as pretty and has a little more play in the parts, but it's tough and has been proven to work in harsh environments. Although the Piscifun Sword is more attractive and has tighter tolerances, I'd rather use the Okuma when money is on the line. If you're not angling for fast-moving fish or are a casual fly fisherman, this reel will look great on your rod and will most likely perform admirably. If you're a serious fly fisherman, I'd recommend going somewhere else. br>br>Recent changes: br>br> 16: This is the third time I've used it to catch monster cutthroat trout (3-times). 13lbs) at Pyramid Lake, Nevada, and have concluded that the drag is a waste of time. It has inconsistent startup inertia and spins with inconsistent tension when the fish runs; however, I was using 12lb tippet and cutthroats aren't big screamers, so none of this caused me to lose any of the big cuts. At this point, it's buried in the depths of my reel drawer.

Marceline McIntyre

| Jan 05, 2021

It has always struck me as odd that a $60. A $60 fly fishing reel was regarded as cheap, while a 00 spinning reel was regarded as good. Why? Isn't it true that a spinning reel has more moving parts? "It's machined from a single block of Aluminum," the seller will claim. " It appears that this reel is as well. They'll say things like, "But it has a better drag system. " You'll have to take their word for it, because most of us aren't aware of the differences between drag systems. And, surprise, surprise, surprise! We hardly ever use it in the first place! Because I have 20 feet of stripped line between me and the reel, my "drag system" for most fish that I catch is my hand on the line! For the most part, all we want is a reel that keeps our line under control and has enough drag to handle a larger fish on occasion. It must also be light in weight and attractive enough to complement our overpriced rod. This reel is effective on every level. Excellent value for money!.

Berkley Hahn

| Feb 18, 2021

In September, I purchased this. On the salmon river nys, I was fighting a salmon. Fish tore through my fly line and into my backing as they raced down the stream. The fish was snapped in half by me. As I began to reel in my line, the reel began to wobble and eventually broke into two pieces. Hardware nuts, washers, and other small parts have been found in the river. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The reel appeared to be well-made. It's clear that it isn't the case. It's not something you should buy. I contacted the company and requested a free upgrade reel replacement. They're only offering to send me replacement parts for the reel that snapped in half. That's a complete no-no! Piscifun, you've had a bad day. Customers who receive a defective product should not be treated in this manner. Please accept my apologies and your best reel as a substitute. bought. The Reddington behemoth outperforms the Piscifun reel by a long shot.

Coen Tate

| Dec 03, 2021

This was purchased in preparation for our annual Alaskan salmon fishing trip. I'd been going by another moniker- I had some problems with the other one, namely its small size and lack of drag. When a salmon is hooked in the river, it immediately runs away. If you catch them in the tail, they will flee downstream quickly. Most fly reels have little drag because smaller fish don't require it. The Piscifun has a large knob that makes lowering the drag simple. This year, I simply pointed my rod at the fish and let them take the line; the larger spool makes controlling a large fish easier to crank. This purchase has exceeded my expectations, and I plan to purchase it again (as a spare setup). This review was not compensated in any way.

Iris Carter

| Dec 26, 2020

I've been flyfishing for over 30 years and have a lot of experience as a guide. Flyfishing reels, particularly those for trout, do not excite me. I figured since reels are just for holding line, I'd give this one a shot. Although the drag and reeling appear to be smooth, the drag system loosens up after reeling in line. As a result, when you try to remove line from it again, it backlashes because the drag has loosened. It's a case of getting what you pay for.

Margaret LEES

| Feb 13, 2021

In case of an emergency, I have a back-up reel for my second rod, or simply a second set-up. If a friend or family member needed someone to go fishing with, I would step up. I was blown away by the quality, especially considering the price. The drag on this thing is just as good as the one on my Redington Behemoth, and it's as smooth as Michael Jordan hitting a 15-foot jumper. I wouldn't mind using this as my main reel for my set-up if I needed to. It's not only functional, but it also looks good. I've had several people approach me asking about the reel, thinking it was another brand; after showing them this guy, they were equally impressed with the quality of the product; this appears to be one of those rare products where the quality outweighs the price; the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that I haven't rigorously tested the product day in and day out. As I previously stated, I've used it as a backup. Whether it's a borrower or a set-up, it hasn't seen the use of my go-to set-up. Even so, I believe that if it were used more frequently, it would continue to produce as it should.

Anika Byrd

| Sep 04, 2021