Shilton SL Fly Reel Review - Tested on the Water

I do a lot of saltwater fly fishing. Whether it's here in Maine for striped bass or on tropical flats for bonefish, permit, and tarpon. Over the years one of the biggest talking points that we deal with here at All Points covers fly reels in the salt. Specifically here in Maine, the most commonly used rods/reels for stripers are the 8-10wt, with the 9wt being the most common. This means that the 8/9wt sized reels are the most purchased and used here on the rocky coastline, winding estuaries, and beaches of New England. This is also true for anglers pursuing bonefish and permit - the 8 and 9wt setups are the most used. So my 8/9wt reels see quite a bit of action in both environments. However, the true test for any saltwater fly reel, in my opinion, is to take them fishing, on foot, here in New England. It is in these situations that the fly reel is truly put to the test. 

You can read my past article "The 8wt Fly Reel is the Most Heavily Abused. Here's Why..." HERE

Different then fishing out of a skiff/boat, being on foot immerses that reel into every possible damaging and demanding situation and condition. When you fish on foot for striped bass here in New England you are likely wading along beaches, rocks, ledges, and estuaries in pursuit of a fish that can take you 200yds into your backing. If you cover all of these areas, your reel will be hit with countless waves while wading in the surf, submerged into the water, scraped along barnacles and rocks while landing/releasing fish, covered in sand while landing/releasing fish, and will need a strong and reliable drag system. Keep in mind this is all done in saltwater which damages everything it touches. Other than possibly in the Seychelles where guides and anglers are targeting large species in the salt while wading, I truly do not know of a more punishing environment that a fly reel will see.

Here is where the Shilton SL fly reel review begins...

Over the years I have tested and fished countless reels trying to find the best available option for saltwater use for striped bass and also in the Caribbean. From the more budget offerings to the higher-end, most of them eventually fail in some form. Usually this failing comes in the form of the drag system. Corrosion and physical damage (like scuffs and dents) certainly are issues, but the number one thing that brings customers into the shop with problems is when their drag system (or retrieve) no longer functions properly.

Over the past few years I have been hearing more and more about Shilton reels, especially for use in the saltwater. Their reputation for durability, easy maintenance, and holding up to saltwater environments preceded them. This past summer I fished and tested a Shilton SL9 on stripers in Maine and permit in Mexico. Here is how is went...

A Non-Sealed Drag System Can Be Better

Since the inception of the sealed drag system for fly reels by Charlton in the 70's, and then again especially in the early 2000s, the advent of the sealed drag system took the fly fishing industry by storm. EVERYONE that had ever set foot in the saltwater and needed a new fly reel was searching out the best reels with sealed drags. Understandably so, no one wants their brand new reel to crap out on them within the first months or year after purchase. But one thing I have constantly noticed over the years is that about 95% of the reels that come into the shop with problems (either purchased here or elsewhere) have sealed drags. When a reel with a sealed drag goes bad for whatever reason, then you (the customer) has to send it back to the manufacturer to be fixed or replaced. This can sometimes take weeks or months and that can mean a lot of missed time on the water.

The Shilton SL reel does not have a sealed drag. And for a high-end reel such as this, it can be difficult explaining to customers that this might be for the better. But in this case, it is. One of the biggest strengths with the Shilton reels is that they are simple. Cork-based, non-sealed drags with tons of stopping power have certainly been made before these Shiltons in the likes of Abel and Tibor. Shilton has seemingly built off of this great foundation and taken it up a notch. 

Throughout the daily routine of fishing here locally, I had the opportunity to put a regular amount of striped bass to hand. 

Simplicity is Their Strength

With the cork system, there are only a few parts that are functional in the reel's drag. This makes the ability for the angler to do any and all fixes on their own very high. This can seem daunting at first, but once you see how basic they are, it's extremely easy to do any TLC or repairs needed to keep you out on the water. This is intentional by Shilton. The testing grounds for Shilton reels early on was in the Seychelles, lead by guide Keith Rose-Innes. Guides in the Seychelles needed a reel that they could easily take apart and do repairs on while out in the middle of the Indian Ocean. A screwdriver, reel oil/grease, and a replacement drag plate and plunger is really all you need. When I first opened up my Shilton SL9 I was worried, but my past experience with Tibor and Abel allowed me to feel confident. Even without past experience with a cork drag system, any angler has the ability to treat these very simple reels. 

Every fly angler, after a day of fishing in saltwater, should be rinsing the cleaning their reel(s). Daily maintenance on a Shilton does not take any longer and helps to keep the reel working in top order.

(A successfully landed striped bass from a rocky shoreline on the SL9)

Quality Machining

Nowadays there is a very wide range of quality when it comes to CNC machined fly reels. Whether its a difference in the quality of the initial metal (aluminum) that is used, how they are machined, assembled, or their anodization, comparing lesser quality reels to high-end ones is quite clear. One of the outstanding characteristics of these Shiltons is how well made they are. Tolerances are tight, balanced rotation is perfect, and they are solid in hand. 

The high-grade aluminum and flawless anodization are a result of the craftsmanship in their South African facility since their inception in the 90's. Additionally, Shilton uses a different grade aluminum than most other reels. The 6082 T6 high grade aluminum feels significantly different than the more commonly used 6061. So even right out of the gate, the difference is foundational. 

Performance on the Water

Most of my testing of the SL9 was on striped bass. All of it done on foot. I wanted to make sure that this reel saw everything possible and in every weather condition. I would also intentionally put the reel on the sand to see how well it would rinse off and how well the open cork system would flush the sand out. I didn't intentionally try and ruin it, but I simply just didn't baby it. I only had one issue with it after placing it in the sand to release a fish. The reel was just on the edge of incoming waves and while I unhooked and released a fish, the waves would crash on the reel. This injected sand into the frame and the plunger got stuck up into the plunger housing. The reel had thus no drag engagement due to this. But, like any reel that gets sand stuck in-between the frame or otherwise, a simple rinse in the water and ensuring the plunger popped back out is all it needed. Perfect working condition afterwards. This might be an arguement where the SR series has a step up on the SL series, is the added amount of plungers (drag engagements). This could help ensure this doesn't happen, or it could also make for more components to go wrong. Hard to say, but either way the issue was minimal. 

With large striped bass that require a strong drag, the Shilton handled every fish confidently. After using it for a little while and putting multiple fish on the reel, I had more confidence in this reel than any other reel that I have used on stripers. I knew that I would never run out of drag power and it would always engage properly and smoothly. I've had my share of reels that either randomly start to free-spool, or have that "chugging" thing happen where the drag is sticking throughout the revolutions. Startup inertia isn't a huge concern of mine with most of my striped bass fishing as I am using mostly 30lb straight tippet for my leader (this is not the case when I target permit, however). This has many applications, but in terms of the reel it allows me to put more pressure on them and land them quickly. 

On the flats while targeting tropical species in the Caribbean, I have been able to put multiple permit on the reel as well as large jacks and tarpon. Different than what's mentioned above, startup inertia in these situations is important. I am fishing tapered leaders down to 16lb and want to be able to rely on my reel's smooth drag to confidently negotiate fish during long runs. In these situations the cork drag was buttery and allowed me to dial in the correct amount of drag situationally if needed.

(The SL9 opened up to show cork drag plate)

Conclusion

The overall quality of the SL series is remarkably high. Simple, durable, and reliable go a long way with fly reels used in the saltwater. I have now started to change most of my other saltwater reels out to Shiltons.

CHECK OUT SHILTON SL SERIES FLY REEL HERE

Pros 

• Top shelf machining built like a Mack truck. Durability and overall quality is about as good as it gets
• Open cork based drag system is a call to the old school, but has been refined with modern craftsmanship. Smooth and strong, the Shilton's drag is great.
  
• Simplicity - allowing anglers to make easy adjustments and repairs on their own is honestly game changing. They are easy to work on and to keep working flawlessly. No more sending a reel back to the manufacturer for an unknown period of time.

Cons

• The SL doesn't have large arbor that a lot of newer reels have. I personally don't like the super large arbors as they tend to throw off balance with the rod while casting and can feel cumbersome. However line retrieval speed is noticeably slower compared to other similar modern reels. However, the Shilton SR reels are a newer model with a larger arbor (you can see those HERE)
• The Shilton's cork drag does need regular TLC. This can scare off a lot of people. 

 

Words + Photos: Josh Thelin