We did the research to find the companies that are making fishing reels right here in the USA. Check out our complete list below, along with a ton of details about each one. If you haven’t yet, check out our research on fishing rods made in the USA as well.
Complete List of Fishing Reel Brands Made in the USA
Abel is American as you can get. All of their reels are made 100% in the USA, specifically in Montrose, Colorado. They have a wide range of reels suited for all types of fishing, including your classic ultralight reels to your more heavy-duty adventure reels.
Ross Reels products are made 100% in the USA and are built to last. They are committed to precision and come with a limited lifetime warranty, so you can really trust their products. They offer more than 10 types of reels, so you should easily be able to find one perfect for your needs.
Tibor Reels are world-renowned among fly-fishing enthusiasts. But best of all, all their products are made in Delray Beach, Florida. These reels may come with a bit of a hefty pricetag, but you know you’re getting one of the best reels out there when you get a Tibor reel! Their reels come in a variety of different colors that you can choose from.
A family-run business, Galvan Fly Reels are entirely designed, manufactured, and assembled in the United States. They offer a few different fly reel options, including an ultra-light reel, a Euro nymph reel, and a reel with a substantial drag system to name a few!
Hatch Outdoor is another family-owned business that specializes in outdoor and lifestyle clothing as well as fly reels. Hatch uses the best-quality materials and advanced machining techniques in order to create their gorgeous fly reels. Their reels come in various colors, and you can even DIY your own handle kit!
All of Waterworks Lamson’s reels are designed in-house, whereas all of their machined reels use parts manufactured by US-based partners. Keep in mind, however, that the Liquid and Remix reels use a combination of US and overseas materials, so not all of their reels are fully made in the USA. With that said, all reels are assembled in Boise, Idaho.
Aspen Reels is a well-known American company out of San Marcos, California, that specializes in fly fishing reels. They’ve been providing equipment to fly fishermen for more than 60 years. And despite their fair prices, they have not cut any corners in the construction of the reels. They do not use any castings or weak plastic; instead, they use solid aluminum, just like other premium reels found out there.
A family-owned company, Teton Reels specializes in high-quality fishing equipment, including reels. They offer a variety of durable and lightweight materials, perfect for both saltwater and freshwater fishing, available in various colors. Teton fly wheels are 100% made in the USA.
A true leader when it comes to fishing reels, Avet Reels design, manufacture, and assemble their reels in California. All products are made with American materials, so you can ensure you are getting a quality reel that is built to last. There are almost too many options when it comes to Avet Reels, so you really have your pick when it comes to saltwater, freshwater, and fly fishing reels.
Brand name: IRT (Innovative Reel Technologies)
Headquarters: Pine Grove, PA
States manufacturing in: PA
The IRT line of spinning reels, made in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, is carefully designed to make them as comfortable as possible when reeling the line in. The IRT spinning reels all come outfitted with aluminum machined spools known for their symmetrical line wrap. Compared to other reels, this offers smooth casting, drag, and line performance. Each reel features the patented Spin Power Grip, which alleviates common pressure points during reeling for enhanced comfort. The reel also features a longer lever arm for enhanced casting capabilities. These reels operate smoothly with a total of 9 ball bearings in action at the same time during standard use. They are made from machined aluminum and hold up well to corrosion. They also feature a reversible handle for left or right-handed fishermen.
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Fishing Reels
How to Find Fishing Reels Made in the USA
We want to give you more than just a comprehensive list of fishing reels made in the United States; we want to give you the knowledge and skills to do your own research and make wise decisions. Let’s examine the fishing reel manufacturing industry in more detail, looking at issues like labeling, material sourcing, and methods for locating premium American-made fishing reel brands. First, let’s examine the subtleties of “made in the USA” labeling and the complexities around it.
What Does “Made In the USA” Mean?
For quality assurance, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) helps protect consumers from false “made in the USA” claims. For a product to have a “made in the USA” label, the company must claim that the product was “all or virtually all” made in the United States. These guidelines can be quite confusing to understand due to a large grey area around what it means to be “virtually all” made in the USA. Completing research is necessary to ensure that products are both sourced and assembled in the USA.
To develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be “made in the USA,” you can check out our complete guide on how to spot made-in-the-USA products.
Materials
Fishing reels can be made out of many different materials, mostly different types of metals. It is very important to pick a reel that will assist you with your specific needs. Depending on the material you choose, you can find different American made fishing reel options.
Brass
Most fishing reels are made of brass. Brass provides a sturdy reel less prone to rust than most other metals. Chile is the world’s highest brass producer, followed by China. The USA ranks fifth in brass production. When searching for a brass reel, we would suggest double-checking with the manufacturer that it is sourced and assembled here in the USA.
Aluminum
Aluminum is lightweight and can withstand a lot of pressure, making it a very popular material for fishing reel production. China, by far, produces the largest amount of aluminum compared to any other country. The United States does produce some of its own aluminum, but a relatively low amount compared to other countries. When buying a reel made out of aluminum, it would be best to research and check with the manufacturer that the aluminum is actually produced in the USA.
Graphite
The most lightweight reel you can get would be one made of graphite. However, a tradeoff for being so lightweight is that they cannot hold as much weight as other heavier materials. China is the largest producer of graphite. Graphite has not been produced in the USA since the 1950s, so this material will not be your best bet for an American-made fishing reel.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel reels are much less common. They easily rust and therefore are less sought after by fishermen. The United States ranks fifth in the world on the total percentage of stainless steel production. This means that more caution should be taken to ensure that the steel in the reel is both produced and assembled in the USA.
Fiberglass
The appeal of a fiberglass fishing reel is that they do not rust. This quality makes them a great option for more advanced anglers. These reels are a more expensive option. The United States produces the second-highest percentage of fiberglass of any country, ranking it behind China. This means that while the USA is not the top producer, it is still easy to access American-made fiberglass.
Labeling
The United States has legislation that requires companies to label their products with the country of origin. Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the United States Code requires that companies must label imported products. The FTC put these rules in place but does not keep a close eye on how these labels are used by companies. This means it falls on the customers to watch for false claims and bring them to the FTC’s attention when they are found.
Companies will purposely try and manipulate their customers by using confusing wording. The most important verbs to watch out for are “made” and “assembled.” The verb “assembled” is used when the material for the product was imported and merely put together in the USA. Similarly, when a label says “made in America” rather than “made in the USA,” it signifies that the product was made in either the USA, Canada, or Mexico.
Because companies can use so many deceiving tactics to mislead their consumers, it is important to do thorough research. Proper research includes checking the manufacturer’s website and looking for clues that may suggest where the materials for its products are sourced and assembled.
Companies with products that are genuinely “made in the USA” will typically advertise this and use it as a major selling point. Conversely, if a product is made in China or Bangladesh, this fact is not likely to be advertised. Unlike physical labels, companies are not required to label the country of origin on websites. So, if a company is not upfront about where its product is made, this could be a clue that it is an imported product.
Other Tips
Here are some of our other top tips for finding fishing reels made in the USA.
Don’t Be Fooled by American Flags
Some products have American flag stickers on them, which many may think means that they were “made in the USA.” However, the American flag stickers are not government regulated, meaning that companies can use them however they please. These stickers are often used as a way to deceive customers.
Call the Company
If you are just not sure where a specific product is made, consider calling the company. Customer service can answer your question about where a certain product is made and assembled.
Fishing Reels Not Made in the USA
We found several fishing brands that are not making their products in the USA when doing our research. We’ve included these brands below as well as where their fishing reels are being manufactured. We’ll update this list as we find more.
- Shimano – Made in Japan and Malaysia.
- Abu Garcia – Made in China, Korea, and Taiwan. The Abassasdeur C3 and C4 4000-7000 series are still made in Sweden.
- Daiwa – Made in Japan, the UK, and the Far East.
- Penn – Made overseas. Only their Senator and International series are made in the USA.
- Plfeuger – Made in China.
- Okuma – Made in Taiwan.
- KastKing – Made in China and South Korea.
- Zebco – Made in China.
- Bass Shop Pro (BSP) – Made in Korea.
- Ugly Stik – Made in China.
