Shilton SR Fly Reel

There is no wrong answer here. Generally, anglers who hold the rod and cast with their right hand reel with their left hand, and anglers who hold the rod and cast with their left hand reel with their right hand. For some anglers, it is more comfortable to cast with their right hand, transfer the rod into their left hand and reel with the right hand. Same goes for left handed casters. Bottom line is, go with what feels most intuitive for you. All modern reels can be switched to retrieve right or left hand.

Yes! This is standard part of our service and we can rig any reel before shipping.

We can spool up anything you need for any species or any destination around the world. Generally, we spool up 20lb Dacron backing on reels 6-weight and under. For 7-weight and above, we have options ranging from the same 20lb Dacron to 30lb Dacron, Gel Spun, Hatch polyethylene and hollow core.

We are experts in big game rigging. We will tie a Bimini twist loop or blind splice a loop into your backing upon request. We have a variety of color options too. Specific backing options can be found here.

Cast reels are made from liquid metal that is poured into a prefabricated mold and cooled to create the pieces of a reel. Machined reels are precision carved by a CNC machine from a single billet of aircraft grade aluminum. Machined reels are built to much higher tolerances and are supremely durable, more resistant to bending and cracking as compared to a cast reel. Consequently, machined reels tend to perform better, last longer and be more expensive than cast reels.

A click & pawl drag is a simple check that ensures your spool won’t overrun and backlash when you pull line off the reel. This is the most basic, traditional style of drag. A disc drag is usually constructed of carbon fiber or cork, and stainless steel bearings, with an adjustable tension dial used to slow down fast and powerful. A quality disc drags pays out line smoothly to protect your tippet and has low start up interia-which is the amount of force it takes to engage the drag. The term "sealed disc drag" means that the drag is protected by a housing to keep dirt and salt out of the mechanism. Not all sealed drags are created equal, but this type of drag is considered to be extremely durable, meant for the most demanding fish on the planet.

At the end of the day, drag type is a personal preference. For most trout and bass fishing situations, you don’t need a hefty drag, as the fish are not running long distances. For salmon, steelhead, and most saltwater situations, we recommend a sturdy disc drag to help the angler fight and land big, powerful fish.

This depends on what rod and line you intend to match to your reel. Almost all reels will have a manufacturer designation for a suggested range of line weights and backing that the reel can accommodate. For example: A Galvan T5 is rated for 5 to 6-weight lines. The size and physical weight of the reel is also designed to balance on a narrow range of rods to make for pleasant and efficient casting.

Contact the shop directly for assistance choosing the correct reel for your rod. 415-483-2278.

The vast majority of reels have a lifetime warranty for original purchaser. That warranty is bit different than the rod warranties, limited to defects and malfunctions. “Run over by car”, is generally not covered, but damaged reels can usually be repaired by the manufacturer for a fee. The reel companies stand behind the products they make and we stand behind the reels we sell. We are more than happy to assist with any warranty issues for reels purchased through the shop.