Loop Evotec CLW 5eight Fly Reel

The Loop Evotec CLW 5eight is a fantastic large arbor fly reel for all fly-fishing with a single-handed rod, be it for trout, sea trout, steelhead, salmon or pike. The Loop Evotec CLW is the composite version of the famous Loop Evotec (CLW = Composite Light Weight). It is made of a material that looks very nice and that inspires us with confidence. It looks like it is a mixture of the Evotec FW for the look and the Evotec LW for the size of the brake and its capacity. It is about 4 times less expensive than the Evotec FW and 5 times cheaper than the LW! Of approximately the same size as the Loop LW 6nine, the CLW 5eight has the capacity for all fly-fishing with a single-handed rod.

Weighing only 141g (4.97oz), it is very light for the capacity.

Its sealed and waterproof brake is smooth and powerful. You may adjust the brake at the smoothest level in order to fish with a very light tippet. If you fish with heavier tippets, you may little by little increase its power if you wish. It is a true Loop Evotec fly reel. Moreover, when you look at what's inside, you will find almost the same parts.

Facing the handle, the spool has a flat counterweight in order to remove all vibrations when a good fish pulls out line at high speed. I find another interest to this counterweight: as it is flat, it is easy to affix to it a sticker that indicates the type of fly line that is on the spool. This is very handy when one has several spare spools with different fly lines.

The brake system of Loop Evotec CLW fly reels only works when you pull the line out of the reel, not when you are winding in the fly line. Therefore, and although the winding can easily be changed from right to left hand, it is easier to order the reel for right hand wind – R - or left hand wind – L. We offer the two versions and we change it for you if we don't have the version that you have ordered. The changing only takes about two minutes when you know how to do it.

I first used this reel in Russia , on the Ponoi River of the Kola Peninsula , in late May / early June 2004. I was fishing for Atlantic salmon. I did most of my fishing with a single-handed rod, and I only used my brand new Loop Evotec CLW 5eight with it. I caught over 20 salmon with it. The largest salmon weighed near 20 pounds. He gave me a terrific fight, rushing away in the stream, jumping into the air, taking about 300 feet of line. He was the kind of fish you lose or that breaks lose. But my Evotec CLW did its job, and after a while I was able to beach that fish.

When I came back from Russia , I did a final test. I filled a sink with water, I dipped my Evotec CLW into it, and I left it in the water at the bottom of the sink from 8am until 8pm . I then pulled some line out in order to check how the brake behaved after such an unusual treatment. It was simply working the same as when the reel was dry. It had kept the same smoothness, and I could increase the strength of the brake just as before: nothing had changed. Believe me or not, it is not any fly reel that passes that test!

As a friend of mine said, you put that reel inside your bag with a choice of fly lines, and you can go fishing anywhere around the world, you've got the reel: smooth enough for trout fishing with the lightest leaders, strong enough for any salmon.

Saltwater? Rinse well with freshwater after your fishing, that's all.

Although described as a 5-8 weight fly line reel, you may go down to 4 or 3, and up to 9 and 10, especially if you use Loop Adapted fly lines. In Russia, I loaded my reel with 450 feet of Loop Tecbraid 30lb backing line, 90 feet of Loop running line 0.29mm, and any 9 weight Loop Adapted fly line (floating to sinking).

Features:

Weight: 141 g (4.97 oz)
Outer Diameter: 96 mm (3.78 in)
Innner Diameter: 55 mm (2.17 in)
Outer Width: 45 mm (1.77 in)
Inner Width: 31 mm (1.22 in)
Capacity: 100 cm3, WF7F + 180 m (590 ft) 20 lb
Line: 5-8