MidCurrent Tested and Trusted: Orvis Clearwater Fly Reel
I love old fly reels, and have accumulated a collection of them over the years. I like the classic look and feel. I like their simple click and pawl drags and brass finishes that fit the casual yet elegant sport of trout fishing. But actually fishing with or (gulp) guiding with those classic reels is an entirely different story.
Old-fashioned fly reels have narrow arbors where fly line can easily get caught and tangled to hell in the blink of an eye, and many of them have spools or frames that are as delicate as a Faberge egg. Most of the classic drag systems just don’t have the gumption to stop a truly big fish or are simply too difficult for amateur anglers to figure out. All this to say: I recognize the need and enjoy fishing with modern, more advanced reels—at least to a certain point.
In the contemporary age where everything suddenly needs to be more high-tech and flashier, fly reels have gone from simple tools for holding line to gaudy monstrosities with neon paint jobs and over-the-top drag systems. I’m not saying these new reels aren’t cool or useful, but if I’m being honest, having a fly reel with a drag system that can stop a runaway 18-wheeler or a reel that looks like a hubcap from a car in The Fast and the Furious movies just isn’t necessary for trout fishing.
What I’ve always looked for in a trout reel, especially as a guide, is a reel that’s easy to work with, hard to break, and gives me a decent drag system whenever I need it. Though it took some searching, I did finally find the right combination of these elements when I bought my first Orvis Clearwater Fly Reel.
The Right Reel at The Right Price
The Clearwater reel almost seems to be a bottom-of-the-barrel type reel for many fly anglers. It sits at the lower end of the Orvis reel line with many flashier, much more expensive reels above it. But the Clearwater is a hidden gem with everything you might need in a fly reel. And at just $149, buying one or even two or three certainly won’t put you in the poorhouse.
Orvis Clearwater’s are made of a die-cast metal base with a matte gray powder coat finish that looks about as stylish as a fly reel can at that price point. It’s lightweight, and easy to carry and rig on just about any fly rod. Best of all, it also comes with a superior disc drag system with a large, easy-to-adjust dial. This drag allows you to make quick adjustments on the fly when you hook into a fish that’s bigger than you thought or when you may be just a little too tight during the fight.
One of the unique and awesome features of Clearwater reels is that they also have a large arbor. This is a rare thing at such an inexpensive price as most large arbor reels cost an arm and a leg. I personally love large arbors because they are easy to untangle, and they gain line quickly when you’re hooked into a big fish. So the Clearwater’s large arbor definitely sets it apart and makes it a perfect reel for anyone in need of a bigger spool.
Rugged Performance
One of the biggest issues with inexpensive or even semi-expensive reels is that they just don’t hold up when you do a lot of fishing. After a bit of time on the water, most of their actions get sticky, and their drags get full of sand and dirt, so they start grinding like a garbage disposal full of broken glass. However, the Orvis Clearwater reel’s action remains smooth and slick no matter how long you use them while the sealed drag system will keep the crud out no matter how often you drop the reel on the ground, boat launch, or beach. Even if you do manage to clog up the Clearwater’s spool, cleaning it is as simple as popping the spool off and wiping it clean. The sealed drag system ensures you won’t lose any tiny parts even when you take the reel apart.
Perhaps the best thing about the Clearwater reel is that they’re just tougher than hell. Whether you’re throwing them in the back of your truck, trying to teach a lot of kids or kid-like-adults to fly fish, or you’re just a clumsy angler who takes a lot of diggers on the bank, the Clearwater is a reel that can be bashed, smashed, and tinkered with constantly and never loses an ounce of its performance. While it may get scratched up and lose some of its cool matte-gray powder coating, even a beat-up looking Clearwater reel will perform like an old scarred-up boxer—taking a licking but keeping on ticking.
Reeling It In
While we may all have lavish ideas about fly reels, when it really comes down to it, all fly reels are just tools. Every one of them—from the space-age glow-in-the-dark modern reels with all the bells and whistles to the classic old-school reels that need to be treated like museum pieces—are nothing more than fancy line dispensers, at least in the trout fishing world.
Owning a reel with a bit of style and durability is never a bad thing. At the very least, it will make you look like you know what you’re doing on the water. So while you can have as big a fly reel assortment as you want, in the end the reel you’re going to fish with the most is the one that checks all the boxes. The Orvis Clearwater fly reel will do just that. It might even become the prize of your fly reel collection.
