Echo Bravo Fly Reel for saltwater

While in Cape Cod fishing for striped bass, I took the opportunity to give the Echo Bravo saltwater fly reel a workout.

[@cliffords9422]

I have been using this reel for a couple of years now in both salt and fresh water. I actually got it to use with a 13'3" 8 wt spey rod, which gets salt and freshwater use.......it has been an excellent reel and have had no problems. I have caught large tarpon ,king salmon , stripers and albies on it without any issues. For the money it has been exceptional.

[@kingdrift2417]

You should come down to Florida the jack Crevalle will test that reel

[@hooked4lifeca]

A big cow striper would as well, but I didn't get that lucky on this trip.

[@WallyOutdoors]

Any updates on how this reel is doing to date?? Thanks.

[@hooked4lifeca]

I've not had my two Bravo reels back in saltwater since this video, but they have been used in freshwater and they are performing well. I've not seen any negative commentary online about these reels.

[@keatonskorner4547]

I have an 8 wt rod for surf and bay, would you recommend the 7/9 or 8/10

[@hooked4lifeca]

These are big reels, so definitely the 7/9.

[@Talos353]

Hello, is that the 9' #9 NRX? Which intermediate and sinking lines (cold water) do you recommend for that rod? Thank you.

[@hooked4lifeca]

Yes, it's the 9' 9wt. NRX. The rod likes 375 grains in an overweight, short head design, so an Airflo Sniper 9 wt. will work perfectly. In the video, I was using an older model Airflo Coldwater Salt line.

[@markolindgren6700]

Do you think a wf 10 weight line and maby 60-70 yards of backing gonna fit in the 8/10 size reel or should i go for the 10/12 size. for pike fishing

[@hooked4lifeca]

That'll fit on the 7-9 reel with no problem. In the video, I'm using a 10 wt. Airflo 40+ Coldwater Salt that's 120' long. It fits on the 7-9 with well over 100 yds. of backing (80 lb. PowerPro). A WF-10-F pike line with 70 yds. of backing would fit easily on the 7-9. This reel is 4.25" in diameter and the inside width of the spool is 1.25". The 7-9 is a big reel, the same size as my Danielsson HD9thirteen reels. The published capacities on these reels are conservative. You could go with the 8-10 if you wished, but the 7-9 is enough.

[@danstephens1388]

How well would the 7/9 suit a st. Croix sole 9' 7wt? Mainly bigger freshwater fishing applications, thanks. :)

[@hooked4lifeca]

Though listed as a 7-9, it's a big reel for a 7 wt. rod as it is 4 1/4" in diameter. Most 7 wt. reels are usually a 1/2" less than that. It's probably overkill on a 7 wt. for freshwater. I use it on a 9 wt. salt rod.

[@ultimatejay]

Next time you get tangle like that don’t dunk your reel in the water just take the rod apart in the mid section, undo the tangle then put it back together 😉

[@hooked4lifeca]

Since it was a fly reel video, I 'tortured' it a little bit. :)

[@will6960]

Do you use a floating or sinking line for saltwater? Any chance you could do a video covering that? Just starting to fly fish salt.

[@hooked4lifeca]

In this video I was using an intermediate and that's my favourite line for striped bass. I do use floaters and Type 7 sinkers depending on the situation. I know that there's been a trend away from intermediates in favour of floaters for striped bass, but I'm not a trend follower. If a method works, I need a good reason to switch and 'fashion' isn't a good reason. Other types of saltwater fishing have different requirements where a floater could be the right line for the job. I'm mainly a striper guy so I can't really talk about the other types of saltwater fly fishing.

[@davidbermudez4072]

On the G-Loomis pro4x SS 11/12 what size would you recommend

[@hooked4lifeca]

I'd go no bigger than the 8-10 as these reels have a lot of capacity. The 7-9 I was using in the video had a 10 wt. 120' Coldwater Salt 40+ line on it with room to spare.

[@JH-iz6fk]

Can you use a fly fishing reel for normal fishing?!

[@hooked4lifeca]

Definitely not for any form of conventional casting as a fly reel does not free spool with anywhere near the efficiency of a baitcaster. I have trolled with a fly rod setup, so there wouldn't be any reason why that mode of fishing couldn't work with a fly reel, but you could buy a trolling reel cheaper than a fly reel and it would do a better job. A reel like this one: fish.shimano.com/content/fish/northamerica/us/en/homepage/Shimano_Product_Page.P-TEKOTA.html would cost less than many saltwater fly reels and do a much better job as a trolling reel. A trolling reel like this one: fish.shimano.com/content/fish/northamerica/us/en/homepage/Shimano_Product_Page.P-TR.html would be cheaper than virtually any fly reel out there and would still do a better job as a trolling reel. So bottom line, stick with conventional reels for conventional fishing.

[@JH-iz6fk]

@@hooked4lifeca Thank you for the detailed reply!!!