9 Best Large Arbor Fly Reels of 2026, From 2 to 10 Weight

Our verdict

Large Arbor Fly Reel Top Picks

A large arbor fly reel has a wide spool hub, so each turn of the handle brings back more line than a small-arbor reel of the same size. The nine reels below are all sold as large arbor (or “super large” and “extra-large”) by their makers, and each review links one exact size: from Lamson’s -3+ for 2 to 4 weight rods up to Lamson’s -9+ and Redington’s Behemoth 9/10 for 8 to 10 weight rods. Every figure is the maker’s own, for that size, unless we name another source. The spinning-reel sizes that also show up in this search (a 4000 or a 10,000) are not fly reels, and we leave them to our fishing gear section.

Compare the picks

Compare the 9 Large Arbor Fly Reels

Maker figures for the linked size unless a cell names another source. Backing is the maker’s capacity with the line it names.

How We Chose These Large Arbor Reels

The bar each reel had to clear

• Large arbor by the maker’s own word, on the maker’s product page, not only in an Amazon title.
• One exact size per pick, with the line weight, diameter, weight, backing and drag the maker lists for that size; “not published” where the maker gives no figure.
• In stock on Amazon when we checked, sold by the brand, Amazon.com or a named shop at or below the maker’s list price, with the seller named in the review.
• No duplicates of a sister post’s lineup: the Lamson Liquid S appears here in the -3+ and -9+ sizes, not the -5+.

Who the sources are

Who the sources are

Outdoor Life ranks first for this search; its editors and contributors fished the reels; it sells no reels but earns affiliate commissions. Hatch Magazine reviewed the Behemoth 7/8 in 2015. FlyLife tested the Liquid S in its 5+ size. Into Fly Fishing and Trout and Steelhead are affiliate guides by working anglers. Man Makes Fire fished an Ion 4/5 that Echo sent. MidCurrent‘s Kubie Brown, who has guided, wrote about the Clearwater in 2024, size not stated. Flylab picked four trout reels, including the Guru S. Posts from r/flyfishing are owner opinions, labelled as such.

Large Arbor Fly Reels: Detailed Reviews

Lamson Guru S -5+, Machined 4-6 Weight

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Outdoor Life: Guru S, size not stated.

Lamson’s page lists the -5+ at 3.55 inches across, 1.00 inch wide and 4.41 oz, for a WF6 line and 100 yards of 20 lb backing. Lamson says it built the Guru S by “increasing the arbor to a larger diameter and making the spool narrower”, with a “Sealed Conical Drag System” and a “fully CNC machined frame and spool”. Flylab’s Kirk Deeter lists the same -5+ figures and chose the Guru S as one of his four trout reels, writing: “I still haven’t found a company that packs more disc-drag performance into fly reels at lower cost to consumers than Lamson does.”

Outdoor Life names the Guru S its workhorse reel without naming a size. Its writer made the earlier Guru a go-to reel while guiding in Alaska and says the new Guru S “feels tougher and more dent-proof than its predecessor”; he adds that the sealed drag lets you fish salt now and then with a freshwater rinse. He also writes: “I’d look elsewhere, though, if you need a daily driver for saltwater fishing.” Its one con is that the “Handle and drag knob are a bit smaller than some of other other reels.” Against the Liquid S below: machined rather than pressure cast, at a premium tier. Sold by Lamson’s own Amazon storefront at the time of writing, at Lamson’s current sale price.

Specs (linked: Lamson Guru S -5+, Blackout, standard frame)

• Arbor: large; diameter 3.55 in; width 1.00 in (Lamson)
• Line: 4, 5 and 6 weight rods; max line WF6; backing 100 yd of 20 lb (Lamson)
• Drag: sealed conical (Lamson)
• Price tier: $$$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Redington Behemoth 7/8, Heavy-Drag 7/8 Weight

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Hatch Magazine: Behemoth 7/8.

Redington’s page lists the 7/8 at 7.5 oz with a capacity of 200 yards of 20 lb backing, a “Deep V-Spool for increased backing capacity”, a die-cast frame and a “Lifetime warranty”. Redington calls the drag the “most powerful drag in its class”; that is its claim, and its page publishes no drag figure. Redington does not list the diameter; Into Fly Fishing gives 4 inches for the 7/8.

Hatch Magazine’s Chad Shmukler took the 7/8 steelheading in 2015 and reports: “The 7/8 BEHEMOTH packed on 150 yards of backing, a running line, and every fat skagit and sink-tip combo I threw at it.” Hatch quotes a Redington drag rating of 30 lb that it did not verify, and gives the trade-off plainly: “The BEHEMOTH’s drag is capped, not sealed.” Into Fly Fishing, which picks the Behemoth for budget saltwater, adds that its drag and spool knobs “do feel a bit wobbly and cheap.” Against the Behemoth 9/10 (#7): the same reel in a lighter size with 20 lb rather than 30 lb backing; against the Echo Bravo 7/9 (#8): 1 oz lighter with a capped rather than saltwater-safe drag, per the makers. Sold by Far Bank Enterprises, Redington’s parent company, and shipped by Amazon at Redington’s list price at the time of writing.

Specs (linked: Redington Behemoth 7/8, black, 5-5506R78B)

• Arbor: large, deep V-spool; diameter not published (Redington); 4 in per Into Fly Fishing
• Backing: 200 yd of 20 lb (Redington)
• Drag: adjustable carbon fiber; capped, not sealed, per Hatch Magazine
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Lamson Liquid S -3+, Light-Line 2-4 Weight

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. FlyLife: Liquid S 5+ (5/6 weight).

Lamson’s page lists the -3+ at 3.35 inches across, 1.00 inch wide and 4.20 oz, for a WF4 line and 100 yards of 20 lb backing, with a “Pressure Cast Aluminum Frame and Spool” and a “Sealed Conical Drag”. Lamson says the “sealed drag can be used in fresh or saltwater and helps keep water and debris out.”

FlyLife’s Andrew Harding tested the 5+ (5/6 weight), not this -3+: “As a long time user of the Lamson Guru, I always maintained that reel was perfect in arbor size, not silly narrow, nor ridiculously tall, and it’s nice to see this sensibility carried over to the 5+ (5/6 weight model) I tested.” Outdoor Life names the Liquid S its budget pick, size not stated, and lists “Not ideal for saltwater” as a con: its writer has “had trouble in the saltwater with this reel”. On salt, Lamson’s page and Outdoor Life disagree; we would rinse it and keep it for fresh water. Against the Guru S: the same drag type, cast instead of machined, at a mid-range tier. Sold by Lamson’s own Amazon storefront and shipped by Amazon at Lamson’s price at the time of writing.

Specs (linked: Lamson Liquid S -3+, Smoke)

• Arbor: large; diameter 3.35 in; width 1.00 in (Lamson)
• Line: 2, 3 and 4 weight rods; max line WF4; backing 100 yd of 20 lb (Lamson)
• Drag: sealed conical (Lamson)
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Orvis Clearwater 5-7wt, Die-Cast Sealed 5-7 Weight

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Into Fly Fishing: Clearwater, 5-weight model.

Orvis’s page describes a “Large-arbor die-cast design with rugged powder-coat finish” and “An improved Carbon®-to-stainless, sealed disc drag”. It gives one line for the whole range, “For line weights 3–9, 5.6 oz., 3.4″ diameter”, without saying which size those figures belong to, and its per-size backing chart did not load for us, so the 5-7wt’s weight, diameter and backing are not published on the product page. Orvis’s guarantee reads: “Your reel is unconditionally guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship.”

Into Fly Fishing picks the Clearwater for value: “Danny, a long-time fly angler, has used the original Clearwater for years and recently tested the newer 5-weight model for a few months.” Its cons: “Not fully machined, some competitor reels have better stopping power.” MidCurrent’s Kubie Brown, a former guide, notes the large arbor “is a rare thing at such an inexpensive price as most large arbor reels cost an arm and a leg.” Neither names the III size. Against the Echo Ion: a sealed drag for a step up in tier. Sold by OutdoorEquipped and shipped by Amazon at the time of writing, within Orvis’s price range.

Specs (linked: Orvis Clearwater Large Arbor 5-7wt, Dark Pine, 3FT62110)

• Arbor: large, die-cast (Orvis)
• Diameter, weight and backing for this size: not published on Orvis’s product page
• Drag: sealed carbon-to-stainless disc (Orvis)
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Echo Ion 4/5, Entry-Level 4/5 Weight

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Man Makes Fire: Ion 4/5.

Echo’s page lists the Ion 4/5 at 3.4 inches across, 1.2 inches wide and 5.3 oz, holding a WF5 plus 150 yards of 20 lb backing, with a “Large arbor spool design for fast line pickup and low line memory” and a “hybrid machined/cast design”. Echo’s reel page calls the drag a “Maintenance-free disc drag with low start-up resistance” and says the Ion is “Designed primarily for freshwater use”. Its warranty is a “12 Month Limited Warranty”.

Man Makes Fire’s Chris Maxcer used the Ion 4/5 on a 5 weight: “Echo sent along its Ion 4/5 reel to use with its Carbon XL fly rod (review here) in a 5-weight configuration.” He found the drag “isn’t as smooth as more expensive reels I’ve fished, but it’s very smooth and very dependable,” and his con reads: “Not the best for saltwater (try the Echo Bravo instead).” Against the Okuma SLV-56b: 10 more yards of backing at the same 5.3 oz, per the makers, and a disc drag rather than cork. Sold by The Kingfisher, a fly shop, and shipped by Amazon at Echo’s list price at the time of writing.

Specs (linked: Echo Ion 4/5, black, ION45)

• Arbor: large; diameter 3.4 in; width 1.2 in (Echo)
• Backing: WF5 + 150 yd of 20 lb (Echo)
• Drag: disc, “maintenance-free” (Echo); Rulon, per Man Makes Fire
• Price tier: $ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Okuma SLV-56b, Super Large Arbor 5/6

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. r/flyfishing: SLV 5/6, generation not stated.

Okuma’s page lists the SLV-56b at 5.3 oz, holding a WF-5 and 140 yards of 20 lb backing, with a “Diecast Super Large arbor spool design” and “Multi-Disk Cork and Stainless Steel Drag Washers”. Okuma does not publish a diameter, and the reel “is backed by a 1-yr limited warranty.”

We found no independent test. In an r/flyfishing thread on the SLV, one poster wrote (generation not stated): “I think they’re great for the money. I’ve got a 5/6 and two spools.” The same poster adds that a Lamson Liquid he bought later is “a better reel. Drag is less touchy, quality feels better.” Another poster wouldn’t run it “in a 8 or 10 weight where you might actually need a quality sealed drag, but 6 or smaller, why not.” Against the Echo Ion: a cork drag and 10 fewer yards of backing, at a lower tier. Sold and shipped by Amazon.com at the time of writing.

Specs (linked: Okuma SLV-56b, 5/6)

• Arbor: super large, die-cast; diameter not published (Okuma)
• Backing: WF-5 + 140 yd of 20 lb (Okuma)
• Drag: multi-disc cork and stainless steel, one roller bearing (Okuma)
• Price tier: $ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Redington Behemoth 9/10, Saltwater 9/10 Weight

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Into Fly Fishing: Behemoth, size fished not stated.

Redington’s 9/10 page lists it at 10.8 oz with a capacity of 200 yards of 30 lb backing, against 200 yards of 20 lb on the 7/8. The frame, large arbor, deep V-spool, carbon fiber drag and “Lifetime warranty” are the same as on the 7/8, per Redington. Hatch Magazine names only the 7/8 among the sizes it fished, and notes that “all BEHEMOTH models feature the same monster drag”, a point that rests on Redington’s rating, which Hatch did not verify.

Into Fly Fishing picks the Behemoth for budget saltwater, without saying which size it fished: “The Behemoth will be a great reel for freshwater, but it’s best for saltwater and largemouth bass fishing.” The same capped, unsealed drag that Hatch describes means a freshwater rinse after salt; Hatch’s comment section includes a 2022 reader who calls the reel “prone to corrosion”. Against the 7/8: 30 lb backing for bigger fish, for 3.3 oz more, per Redington. Sold by Far Bank Enterprises and shipped by Amazon at Redington’s list price at the time of writing.

Specs (linked: Redington Behemoth 9/10, black, 5-5506R910B)

• Arbor: large, deep V-spool; diameter not published (Redington)
• Backing: 200 yd of 30 lb (Redington)
• Drag: adjustable carbon fiber; capped, not sealed, per Hatch Magazine (7/8)
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Echo Bravo 7/9, Saltwater-Safe 7/9 Weight

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Echo.

Echo’s page lists the Bravo 7/9 at 4.25 inches across, 1.25 inches wide and 8.5 oz, holding a WF8 and 200 yards of 20 lb backing. Echo describes a “Saltwater-safe PIT STOP drag system featuring maintenance-free carbon fiber disc” and an “extra-large arbor and low startup inertia”, with a “12 Month Limited Warranty”. Man Makes Fire points readers to the Bravo for saltwater in its Ion review but did not review the Bravo itself, and we found no independent test, so this pick rests on Echo’s specs. Against the Behemoth 7/8: a saltwater-safe drag rather than a capped one, for 1 oz more, per the makers. Sold by Ed’s Fly Shop (third party) at the time of writing, below Echo’s list price.

Specs (linked: Echo Bravo 7/9)

• Arbor: extra-large; diameter 4.25 in; width 1.25 in (Echo)
• Backing: WF8 + 200 yd of 20 lb (Echo)
• Drag: carbon fiber disc, saltwater-safe (Echo)
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

Lamson Liquid S -9+, Sealed-Drag 8-10 Weight

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. FlyLife: Liquid S 5+ (5/6 weight).

Lamson’s page lists the -9+ at 4.45 inches across, 1.25 inches wide and 6.70 oz, for a WF10 line and 250 yards of 30 lb backing, with the same “Sealed Conical Drag” and pressure-cast frame as the -3+. FlyLife tested the 5+ (5/6 weight), not this size, and liked its arbor proportions; Outdoor Life, which names the Liquid S its budget pick without naming a size, lists “Not ideal for saltwater” as a con, while Lamson says its sealed drag “can be used in fresh or saltwater”. Against the Behemoth 9/10: a sealed rather than capped drag, 50 more yards of 30 lb backing and 4.1 oz less weight, per the makers; the Behemoth carries Redington’s lifetime warranty and is Into Fly Fishing’s budget saltwater pick. Sold by Lamson’s own Amazon storefront at Lamson’s list price at the time of writing.

Specs (linked: Lamson Liquid S -9+, Smoke)

• Arbor: large; diameter 4.45 in; width 1.25 in (Lamson)
• Line: 8, 9 and 10 weight rods; max line WF10; backing 250 yd of 30 lb (Lamson)
• Drag: sealed conical (Lamson)
• Price tier: $$ (live Amazon price in the table above)

How to Choose a Large Arbor Fly Reel

What a large arbor changes

Outdoor Life puts it simply: arbor “simply refers to the diameter of the spool. Large arbors allow anglers to reel in more line with a single turn, and it seems like most manufacturers are trending toward larger arbors.” Trout and Steelhead gives a rule of thumb: “A large arbor fly reel is usually about 2.75 inches or larger in diameter.” Every reel above with a published diameter clears that, from 3.35 inches on the Liquid S -3+ to 4.45 inches on the Liquid S -9+, per the makers.

The same guide says the larger hub also means “large arbor reels have the advantage of not requiring as much backing to fill up the reel.” The trade-off is bulk: Outdoor Life’s con on Ross’s large-arbor Evolution LTX is that a “Large arbor can be difficult to size on some rods”, and our fly reel weight explainer quotes a source who calls the mid arbor “the compromise” for trout anglers.

Owners split on how much it matters. In the r/flyfishing thread “Are large arbor reels worth it”, one poster says “The larger the arbor, the quicker you’ll pick up line! Not too helpful if you don’t put fish on the reel much, but incredibly helpful for larger game”, while another, on a 5 weight, says “For a 5 wt, not really. It reels line a little faster, but it’s not like a spinning reel where you get 7:1 retrieval.”

Match the reel size to the rod and line

Read the maker’s line rating, not the size number: Lamson’s -5+ covers 4, 5 and 6 weight rods, while Orvis’s 5-7wt Clearwater covers 5 to 7 weight lines, and Echo splits its sizes 4/5 and 6/7. Our fly reel size guide sets the rod first and the target fish second, and our fly reel weight explainer covers balance. A 5/6 large arbor such as the Guru S -5+ or the SLV-56b sits on the 5 weight fly rods we compared; none of those rod picks is a reel, so there is no shared pick between the two guides.

Drag: sealed, capped or cork

The Lamson and Orvis drags are sealed and the Echo Bravo’s is saltwater-safe, per their makers. Hatch Magazine says the Behemoth’s drag “is capped, not sealed”, and Okuma lists cork and stainless washers. Hatch’s point on why smoothness matters: “A drag that doesn’t engage smoothly (as a result of high startup inertia) means rough stops, starts and judders and that translates into lost fish via popped tippets or thrown hooks.” Set the drag light and add pressure during the fight, as Man Makes Fire describes, and as our guide to setting fishing drag explains.

Backing capacity

Makers quote capacity as yards of backing of a stated strength, most with a named fly line: 100 yards of 20 lb behind a WF6 on the Guru S -5+, 140 yards of 20 lb behind a WF-5 on the SLV-56b, 200 yards of 30 lb on the Behemoth 9/10 (Redington names no line) and 250 yards of 30 lb behind a WF10 on the Liquid S -9+. A heavier line takes more of the spool, so read the figure for the line you will use, such as one of our weight-forward fly lines, then follow our steps for putting backing on a fly reel.

Frequently Asked Questions

A fly reel whose spool hub has a large diameter, so each turn of the handle takes in more line. Trout and Steelhead puts the line at “about 2.75 inches or larger in diameter”; the reels here run from 3.35 inches (Lamson Liquid S -3+) to 4.45 inches (Lamson Liquid S -9+), per their makers.

Sources disagree, and few rank large arbors alone. Outdoor Life’s overall pick is the Hatch Iconic, which we did not find in stock on Amazon when we checked; among our picks, it names the Lamson Guru S -5+ its workhorse and the Liquid S its budget pick, and Into Fly Fishing names the Orvis Clearwater 5-7wt its value pick.

Owners on r/flyfishing split: one says “not really” for a 5 weight, another that it is “Soooo much quicker” when reeling up to move. If you want one, the Lamson Guru S -5+, Echo Ion 4/5 and Okuma SLV-56b fit 5 weight lines; a matched outfit is in our fly rod and reel combo guide.

No. Those are spinning-reel sizes, which the search also turns up; fly reels are sized by line weight (4/5, 7/8 and so on).

The bottom line

Final Verdict

For trout, the Lamson Guru S -5+ (check price) is the machined, sealed-drag reel in a 4 to 6 weight size; the Lamson Liquid S -3+ (check price) does the same job for 2 to 4 weight rods at a mid-range tier; the Echo Ion 4/5 (check price) and Okuma SLV-56b (check price) are the entry-level large arbors for a 5 weight. The Orvis Clearwater 5-7wt (check price) covers trout and bass on one die-cast reel with a sealed drag. For bigger fish, the Redington Behemoth 7/8 (check price) is the 7/8 Hatch Magazine fished, the Redington Behemoth 9/10 (check price) takes 30 lb backing for salt, the Echo Bravo 7/9 (check price) adds a drag Echo calls saltwater-safe, and the Lamson Liquid S -9+ (check price) brings a sealed drag and 250 yards of 30 lb backing to 8 to 10 weight rods. More reels, rods and lines are in our fishing gear section.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.