Arx II
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Long stick equipment. The anchor of our two-handed specialty reel line up, Arx II carries on the legacy of its predecessor. Burly, overbuilt and ready for action… if Speedster and Litespeed were receivers and tailbacks, Arx II would be a left tackle. Thin running lines have no chance escaping this full caged beast and when you finally get that tug from the silver torpedo the extra-large conical drag is ready to put the pressure on her. Increased line capacity and–dare we say–a little extra heft are the perfect complement to those long rods and fat lines. Crack open that classy leather fly wallet, pick out the right shooting head and settle into a rhythm. This could take a while… or maybe not.
Available in Nightfall
Our sizing follows the principle that when pairing a reel with a trout spey, switch rod, or spey rod you will typically seek a reel two or even three sizes larger than you might for a single-hand rod of the same weight, accounting for balance and the added capacity needed for interchangeable tips, Skagit and Scandi heads, running line, and backing. For example, don't get too hung up on a -7+ reel being a perfect fit for an 11’ 3” 3wt or 4wt and a 12’ 6” 5wt (+2 or 3 weights and you're in the zone). Reel sizing for two-handed fishing involves a handful of nuanced considerations and we will walk through each model size below to help you find the right fit for your setup.
-7+ / A natural fit for the trout spey and switch angler who wants a light, responsive setup without sacrificing versatility. Whether you're swinging soft hackles for resident rainbows and other species or chasing summer steelhead with a lighter two-hander, this reel keeps things nimble while still holding everything you need on the water. Great for 11’ rods and others in that size category.
-9+ / The workhorse of the lineup. Built around the full spey rod in the 13'+ range, this size strikes the ideal balance between capacity and fishability, handling everything from modern Skagit and Scandi heads to long and mid-belly lines with ease. If you're looking for the one reel that does it all across a range of two-handed applications, this is likely your answer.
-11+ / When the rod gets long and the fish get serious, this is the reel you reach for. Engineered to balance big sticks stretching up to 15', it is purpose-built for pursuing large salmon and other hard-running species. A larger drag system with serious stopping power and backing capacity that pushes well past the 200-yard mark means you're ready for whatever runs.
Arx II / Specs & backing
Find your reel.
Compare dimensions, weight and line capacity across all three sizes.
Reel specifications
Dimensions and weight forward line capacity
| Reel size | -7+ | -9+ | -11+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 4.00 in | 4.20 in | 4.60 in |
| Width | 1.16 in | 1.30 in | 1.46 in |
| Weight | 8.8 oz | 9.5 oz | 12.1 oz |
| Rod weight Single hand | 6 / 7 / 8 wt | 8 / 9 / 10 wt | 10 / 11 / 12 wt |
| Max line | WF8 | WF10 | WF12 |
| Backing capacity | 300 yds 20 lb backing | 300 yds 30 lb backing | 350 yds 30 lb backing |
Spey line & backing capacity
Reference heads, running line and backing
| Reel size | -7+ | -9+ | -11+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skagit head | 510 gr 22 ft | 570 gr 23 ft | 660 gr 24 ft |
| Scandi head | 450 gr 34 ft | 510 gr 34 ft | 560 gr 38 ft |
| Running line Flat mono | 100 ft 25 lb | 100 ft 42 lb | 100 ft 50 lb |
| Running line diameter | .017 in | .022 in | .025 in |
| Backing capacity | 150 yds 20 lb backing | 150 yds 30 lb backing | 225 yds 30 lb backing |
Spey backing figures correspond to the reference lines listed above. Line dimensions affect available backing capacity.
