Skip to main content

Mako 9550 Medium Saltwater Reel

Mako 9550 Medium Saltwater Reel

“This reel review first appeared in the 2020 Gear Guide, now on sale at bookstores and fly shop nationwide, and also at osgnewsstand.com". 

Jack Charlton designed his first carbon-fiber sealed-drag fly-fishing reel in 19931993. He eventually sold his original company, started a new one, and passed away in 2011. Mako reels are the most recent evolution in that heritage. The Mako 9550 is lighter than Charlton’s original reels (4.5" diameter, 13.85 oz.), but many of the design elements are familiar, with Taperloc quick-change spools, and a three-ball-bearing spindle assembly. A single reel can take spools sized for 8/10 lines or for 10/12 lines. The one-turn, lock-to-lock drag knob is calibrated to consistently produce the same amount of line tension at each position. According to Mako, the sealed drag is engineered so that the clutch pressure plate positions itself at the correct height even if the plate becomes thinner due to decades of wear. The result is that your grandson will get exactly the same drag tension decades from now. $1,290 | makoreels.com




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

G. Loomis's “Feel Connected” Episode 2: "Rolled Up"

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
Gear

How to Tie Chicone's Magnum Mantis Fly

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

Fly Tier's Bench: How to Tie Egan's Poacher

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

Small Stream Hopper Fishing

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
Destinations/Species

The Tightest Line

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie Craven's Mr. Jones Dry Fly

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie Craven's Mr. Jones Dry Fly

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

How to Fight Trout Effectively and Get them in the Net Quickly

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
News

Patagonia Advocates for Dam Removal

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
Destinations/Species

Science in the Thorofare

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Picky Eater Perdigon

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...

Fly Fishing the Plunge Pools of Yosemite Falls

Fly Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Fly Fisherman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use