Ideal Nymph Reel
Diamondback’s Ideal Nymph reels are a complex five-axis machined reel with a 40 gram adjustable weight system designed to optimize the performance tactical nymph anglers require from a fly reel. Ideal Nymph reel designs reflect years of experience fishing nymph techniques and dealing with the problems and challenges that fishing long European style leaders can present. Every aspect of how an angler interacts with a nymphing reel has been carefully considered during the design of Ideal Nymph reels, with top competitive anglers providing their insight and suggestions. Here are the performance specific features:
- A unique reel foot shape that improves the balance point of the rod similar to a downlocking reel seat, while maintaining an industry standard foot shape that will fit all standard reel seats. All reels come with a hex wrench to flip the reel foot if you flip the retrieve direction.
- An extra narrow gap and diameter tolerance between the frame and spool which minimizes the potential for line getting caught between those surfaces at any time.
- A five-axis CNC machined closed frame provides an ultra smooth rounded surface to protect ultra-thin fly lines and micro leaders when line is pulled off the reel at any speed from any angle!
- An extra large and wide handle shape makes it easy to find by feel without looking for it.
- Three small silicone rings around the wide shape handle make it easy to grip and spin, even if the reel or fingers are wet.
- A large diameter spool that spins easily with one quick turn -- allowing several feet of line to be picked up very quickly -- particularly with the larger 3/4 model designed to put fish on the reel with one quick spin of the spool in most nymphing circumstances.
- The reel has an exposed rim to allow line pick-up by “batting” the outside rim (similar to a centerpin reel function), or manipulate manual pressure while fighting a fish with a lighter drag setting.
- A drag far more capable than a nymph reel could possibly need. Two full turns of effective range providing smooth pressure and minimal startup inertia for trout size resistance with a high end suitable for saltwater gamefish.
- A distinct incoming and outgoing audible clicking noise, even at the lightest drag settings.
- Thoughtfully considered integrated counter balance weight system, comprised of four 10 gram (0.35oz) removable counter balance weights. Reel base weights and loaded options selected to provide optimal balance points for high performance nymph rods.
- Matte black finish black colored 10 gram counter weights and retention screws for a stealthy approach to the fish without flash or reflection.
| Size | Frame diameter |
Weight (weights & screws removed) |
Loaded weight options |
| 1/2 | 3.4" x 1" | 4.51oz |
4.86oz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4 | 3.8" x 1" | 4.79oz | 5.15oz 5.5oz 5.85oz 6.2oz |
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Customer Reviews
For disclosure I am a guide that uses these reels & rods. With that said I own almost 10 of them and we have fished from small brook trout streams to 30 inch steelhead out of Lake Erie. Not only doe these reels and rods hold up, balance, and cast accurately. As I describe it to clients, will you make a cast with a monofilament leader and your rod returns back to "zero and does not pull your flies out of where you just poke them," then you have one of your best tools in your hand. The reels are outmatched and don't get enough traction. Listen, you get what you pay for. These reels are in the top range of price BUT they are alone in perforce, drag, balance, and design. I can't say enough about the Aeroflex. These rods perform in any range of experienced to non-experienced casters so well but if I had a local shop that sold them I may be their best salesman. They are durable, incredibly accurate, transfer energy exactly the way they were designed and I needed to. Buy one, by 10 you won't regret it.
Best Euro Nymphing reel on the market in our opinion. We love the offset reel foot, awesome drag, and easy to grip handle. It's our best selling Euro reel.
I bought the 3/4 reel.
Great product, great machining, weight system is intuitive and sleek. Also to note is the rearward foot offset design + weights pushed back the balance point 2.5"-3" on my 10'6" 3wt, when compared to my usual 4wt reel. That got me well onto the cork and made the pivot point much better. Casting is much more intuitive now because hand placement fits into the geometry/physics of the system.
I also really appreciated the quick reply from Joe when I emailed with some questions.
Kudos, I hope the fire keeps catching here at DB!
Took my brand new 10 foot 2Wt rod and reel on its maiden outing for some tropical jungle river fishing and I was totally blown away. The rod and reel combo gave me so much confidence that I just concentrated on my fishing and forgot about the equipment ... it just does NOT get in the way of the fishing. The rod had a strong backbone and could pretty much handle the mahseers I was targeting. What a great rod and reel!
The rod was great. It was light and sensitive. Great for small nymphs and drys. The reel balanced the rod very well. The reel is definitely nicer than other esn reels.