Fly Fishing Gear: A Simple and Inexpensive Hack To Improve Your Fly Reel

An Upgrade for Your Fly Reel That Delivers

I wish fly fishing companies paid more attention to the handles on their fly reels, adding a little size to them, giving them some texture or tact, and shaping them in a way that is easier to hold. These are the little details that make a big difference when performance matters.

Why Does It Make a Difference?

A custom handle gives me better connection and control when I'm fighting a fish. Your world can go from zero to one hundred in a split second, and you need to be able to grab the handle of your fly reel to gain control of the line and the fish. Having a handle that is beefy, built in a shape that is easier to grasp, and has a texture that gives you better purchase—how is this not a good thing? It all works to your advantage when it's most crucial.

When Fly Fishing Against the Elements: Give Yourself an Advantage

If you've spent time outdoors fly fishing, then you know that being in the elements isn't always easy on your fingers, especially if water is involved. In early spring, when temperatures are low and the water is ice melt, standing in a river can be bone-chilling. You lose feeling and control in your fingers. When fly fishing, you can't simply tuck your hands into your pockets while casting and retrieving. Your hands become wet and may even get slick from fish slime. If you're fly fishing in saltwater, your hands can get cut from coral, oysters, or even some fish. However you end up there, your fingers take a beating, yet they are crucial for connecting to your line and reel. Providing yourself with a comfortable, slightly larger handle makes the whole act of reeling, easier. . 

Search the Internet

The best handles I've found to date are made by Xue Vang, a fly angler in Wisconsin who sells his work on Etsy.  He custom designs and finishes each fly reel handle by hand, after printing them on a 3D printer. It's not a "one handle fits all" proposition; he crafts each handle to fit specific fly reel models, and he's able to accommodate most reels on the market. They are affordably priced at about $9.99 each and are of excellent quality. Most importantly, they enhance performance in actual fishing scenarios.

“The gods do not deduct from man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.” - Herbert Hoover