Orvis Clearwater Large Arbor Fly Reel - Smooth-Casting Fly Fishing Reel, Gray - II (4-6 wt) Review (2026)

Size and weight

This Clearwater comes in at about 5.4 ounces with a spool roughly 3.5 inches across, keeping it light enough to balance a mid-flex graphite rod without pulling the whole outfit tip heavy. Orvis lists the II size specifically for 4 to 6 weight lines, which lines up with the most common trout rod spec sold today, so anglers who already own a 9ft 5wt rod will find this a straightforward match rather than something that requires guesswork. The gray finish keeps a low profile look that fits the rest of the Clearwater line Orvis sells as matched rod, reel, and line outfits, and the compact diameter also means it tucks neatly into a smaller reel case without extra padding.

Large arbor design

A large arbor spool picks up line faster per crank than a standard arbor, which shows up in two practical ways on the water: quicker retrieves when a fish runs toward the angler, and less tight coiling, or line memory, building up in the fly line over a season of storage on the spool. For anglers moving up from a basic entry combo reel, that reduction in line memory alone can noticeably improve how the line lays out on the water during a cast, since kinked line from a small arbor tends to hop and catch in the guides.

Drag and hand conversion

The reel supports converting between right and left hand retrieve, a standard feature on Orvis reels at this tier that removes one common frustration for left-handed anglers who often have to hunt for compatible gear. Orvis backs Clearwater reels with an unconditional guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship, which is a meaningful bit of reassurance on a component that takes real wear from grit, drops, and repeated spool changes. The drag itself is built for smooth trout-range pressure rather than the sealed, high-stopping-power systems found on reels made for hard-running saltwater species.

What you are buying

This listing is the reel body alone, so backing and fly line are not included and need to be added before the reel can be fished. That is standard when buying a reel separately rather than as part of a boxed outfit, and it lets anglers choose their own line taper and backing capacity rather than being locked into a bundled setup. Orvis also sells the Clearwater outfit as a complete rod, reel, and line package for buyers who would rather not source components individually, which is worth comparing in price against building the same combination piece by piece. Factor in the cost of backing and a quality taper line before assuming the reel-only route is the cheaper path.

Who this reel suits

The Clearwater II is a solid pick for trout anglers upgrading from an entry-level combo reel, or for anyone assembling a 4 to 6 weight setup who wants a name-brand reel with a real guarantee behind it. It fits rivers, streams, and stillwater trout fishing well, and its size also works for light bass and panfish duty on a 5 or 6 weight rod. Anglers who need serious stopping power for bonefish, striped bass, or other strong saltwater runners should look at a reel built specifically for that class of fishing, since the Clearwater's drag is tuned for trout-range fights.

Frequently asked questions