With so many options available, finding high quality, long lasting fly fishing equipment can be difficult. Fortunately, there are plenty of great fly reels made in the USA. As with most things the price ranges are how much do you want to spend. Here is a list of companies that feature fly reels made in the USA. 

• Abel
• Aspen
• Bauer
• Hatch
• Nautilus
• Ross
• Solitude
• Teton
• Tibor

Abel Fly Reels is a Montrose, Colorado-based company that was founded as an aerospace machine factory in 1980 and has since devoted its engineering technologies to make high-quality fly reels. With all parts of their products made inside the United States, Abel Reels contain stainless steel and aluminum. They are then manufactured through Computer Numerical Control (CNC) devices — devices originally for aerospace engineering, but now generally popular in making fly fishing reels.

Abel Fly Reel designs are mountain-themed with highly stylized finishes. Their Super Series fly reel is a perfect example; it incorporates a large-arbor (the arbor is the center spool) component and an aluminum frame with a smooth cork drag (the drag is the “brake” on a fly reel) retrieval system. Perhaps most stunning is its beautiful tricolor Wild Trout finish. 

Aspen Reels is one of the divisions of the Barrel Service Company, a machine manufacturer based in San Diego, California. Getting its start in 2009, Aspen Reels produces solid aluminum fly reels — a product of long-time machining experience complemented by a near company-wide enthusiasm for fly fishing.

The Aspen 325 Large Arbor Reel is a perfect example — a large-arbor reel with a stainless steel and Teflon disc drag, and a dual (left/right) retrieval system. It is indeed an ideal reel for small creeks and streams.

If you are looking for a saltwater reel, the Aspen 400 Mid Arbor Reel has similar features on a lighter-constructed reel. It was designed with light saltwater fishing in mind, a testament to Aspen Reels’ manufacturing versatility.    

Bauer Fly Reels is a company that manufactures its equipment by hand in Twin Bridges, Montana — in association with the R.L. Winston Rod Company. Nicknamed the “Swiss watch of fly reels”, this company boasts a large-arbor reel with a carbon-fiber drag system, a design pioneered in the 1990s by founder Jon Bauer.

Their SST Reel has a star-shaped drag knob centered inside an anodized aluminum frame, while their RX Spey Reel is tailor-made for freshwater trout fishing. Like all Bauer Fly Reels, they are made for exceptionally smooth retrievals. 

Hatch Fly Reels are produced by Hatch Outdoors, a company based in Vista, California. Family-owned and operated, Hatch Outdoors produces heavy-duty fly reels for both freshwater and saltwater fishing.

Their reels have an amazing range, from the mid-arbor 4 Plus Gen 2 Finatic, with a spool capable of carrying mid-tier line weights for trout fishing, to the 11 Plus Gen 2 Finatic a saltwater-ready reel intended for Giant trevally and tarpon. These reels are also available in a stunning variety of colors on anodized aluminum. 

Nautilus Reels produces fly reels out of a Miami, Florida-based factory. The company’s experience spans decades and they are devoted to making high-quality reels with carbon fiber, cork, and Teflon-based drag systems.

The X series from Nautilus is a rock solid reel that I am certain you will love. But if you are looking to level up your reel, the CCF-X2 are amazing. They also offer extremely well made reels at the $150 price point.

The Nautilus drag system is a patented design with ceramic bearings and a titanium drag shaft. 

Ross Reels is a Montrose, Colorado-based fly reel manufacturer that has been producing reels since 1973. Over the years, the company has never swayed from producing hand-made reels for the sake of meeting quality standards — and not automating reel production. Their Gunnison fly reel is a perfect example, with a spool made out of a company-specific aluminum alloy and a stacked-disc drag system offering high-pressure resistance at greater ease. The reel is also heavily-constructed — but is lightened by numerous porthole-like openings in the sides. If you are looking for a well-crafted meeting of design, functionality, and performance, definitely consider looking at Ross Reels.  

Solitude Fly Reels are manufactured by a company based in Mount Vernon, Washington. Located in the Skagit Valley (north of Seattle), the company produces corrosive-resistant reels with Teflon and cork drag systems. Their SR4 and SR5 reels are fitted with very large drag discs and strong springs, giving the reels a total drag weight of 17 pounds. They have the option of a large-arbor spool and are coated with a mirror-type finish. With highly water-resistant frames, these reels would be perfect for freshwater, saltwater, and surf fishing. Their smooth drag and body are intended to last for years, even after heavy-duty use. 

Teton USA provides the most value for the dollar. You may remember the original manufacturer went out of business in 2009 and Teton USA bought the rights to make the reels. They offer 3 models in 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 weights and extra spools for each reel. The 3/4 is regular size arbor and the other two are large arbor.

Tibor Reels is a fly reel manufacturer based out of Delray Beach, Florida. Its founder, Tibor “Ted” Juracsik, is a Hungarian-born machinist and avid fisherman who developed the Billy Pate Reel, a saltwater fly reel with incredibly resistant anti-reverse technology. This reel became the go-to fly reel for saltwater anglers and its namesake, who landed a 146-pound striped marlin with it. Consequently, Billy Pate Anti-Reverse reels were developed for fish such as salmon, billfish, and tarpon. It has a large-diameter main drag, a solid aluminum frame, and a satin gold frame finish, making the Billy Pate Reel one of the most durable (and popular) fly reels in the sport. With the predominance of its parts made in the USA, the Billy Pate Reel exemplifies the quality of innovations in fly fishing on a national level. Its record-breaking performances on different fish species show us that fly fishing is still a sport where innovation is key.