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The world of affordable fly fishing reels is one many anglers don’t want to enter. Too many companies make poor-quality fly reels with shoddy components and lackluster performance. Piscifun, however, has found a niche in the affordable fly reel space.
Table of Contents
The Piscifun Sword is a budget-friendly fly fishing reel with many components anglers want. It’s stylish, functional, and a blast to use.
We saw all the positive reviews online and wanted to test it ourselves. We purchased it and put it through a test to see if it lived up to the hype.
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Why Trust My Piscifun Sword Reel Review?
I was able to test out the Piscifun Sword reel over several days. I tested its drag strength, smoothness, components, and construction. It’s easy to tell the quality of a fly reel within a few minutes of using it. The 3/4 weight Piscifun Sword gave me plenty of confidence as I was fishing.
At Into Fly Fishing, we only review gear we’ve personally used. While this reel hasn’t been something I’ve used for years, I have used various budget fly gear throughout my fishing career and know what an affordable reel should feel like. The Piscifun Sword offers anglers everything they need and more in an affordable reel option.
Watch the Piscifun Sword Reel Review
What’s in the Box?
When you receive the Piscifun Sword Reel, you’ll receive a reel case, the reel itself, and some instructions on how to change the retrieve.
Reel Case
The Piscifun Sword shows its lower price point with the reel case. Where high-performance reels come in soft-sided velcro cases, the Piscifun Sword arrives in a reel sock with a cinch strap.
You can pull the cinch strap tight, but there isn’t a lot of padding for the reel alone. If you travel with the reel, wrap it in extra padding before leaving. The reel case is unlikely to protect the reel if it happens to fall or drop.
I switched the reel to a more protective case as soon as I got it. I didn’t want to risk it getting broken while traveling to the river.
Reel
The reel itself came clean, unscratched, and ready to spool. The 3/4 weight reel is small, but it felt prepared to handle whatever came. Like many other budget options, it didn’t feel cheap or incapable. I knew it was ready for the water.
All The Best Reels
Piscifun Sword Reel Features & Specs
Although the Piscifun Sword is one of the more affordable reels on the market, it’s built with some materials found on many high-performance reels. The amount of quality you get is surprising, considering the price point.
Build Quality
The Piscifun Sword is made of precision CNC-machined 6061-T6 aluminum alloy. This is the same material on reels such as the Orvis Mirage or any Ross reel. The reel is built to take a beating, so if you drop it on a rock or slam it in a car door, it’ll withstand the bumps and bruises.
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Plus, the hollow material keeps the reel itself light. The 3/4 weight reel must complement a finesse setup, so don’t worry about being overweight with your small water setup.
You also get a stainless steel bearing, shaft, and drag cover. These stainless steel components are known to drive up the price of many reels, but Piscifun doesn’t rob anglers. They provide these components and still manage to keep the price low.
Cap all these off with a metal handle, and you’re ready. The handle can withstand pressure. Feel free to crank down on it without worrying about it breaking. It’s built to handle some torque, so fish as aggressively as you wish.
Arbor Size
The 3/4 weight is a regular-sized arbor, but you’ll find a large arbor design as you go up in size. The arbor is built to have minimal memory, so the line picks up quickly and allows you to fish without concerns about the reel inhibiting you.
Weight
The 3/4 weight weighs 116 grams or 4.1 ounces. Add around one ounce for every size you increase for the other models. The 5/6 weight is around 5 ounces, the 7/8 weight is approximately 6 ounces, and the 9/10 weight is about 7 ounces.
Once the reel is spooled with line and backing, you add more weight, but it doesn’t make a big difference. Again, it has a hollow design, so the reel has a comfortable weight even fully spooled.
I could easily find the balance point of the rod and reel without any issues.
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Drag
The Piscifun Sword has a multi-disc cork and stainless steel drag system. It has a one-way clutch bearing, so the drag engages as soon as it feels tension. The click drag is smooth and accurate and can be set to create some serious tension.
Any fish you land on the 3/4 weight will struggle to pull out the line when the drag is set at its full weight. All sizes of the Piscifun Sword reel are saltwater-ready, so it’s fully sealed and ready to go.
Take it to your favorite saltwater spot one day and move to some freshwater fishing the next. If you clean it regularly throughout the season, the reel will last you for years.
Sound
The Piscifun Sword reel is quiet. You don’t get the loud clicking sound on many reels these days. If you’re fishing in small water and want minimal noise, the Piscifun Sword might be for you. However, if you want a reel that lets you know it’s working and gives that scream as it’s fighting a big fish, the Piscifun Sword is not the best option.
Aesthetics & Color Options
The Piscifun Sword has a fairly traditional design. The open design gives you a look at everything working on the reel. Yes, it allows debris to enter the arbor and cause some headaches, but it’s a minimal issue.
You’ll find the Piscifun Sword in silver green, silver, and all-black. It’s not the flashiest reel and it won’t turn heads, but it’s easy to tell that it’s solid and up for the task.
Price
The price sets the Piscifun Sword apart from other affordable fly fishing reels.
Depending on current sales, the 3/4 weight only costs anglers around $45 or $50. You’ll struggle to find fly fishing reels that cheap. Many reels under $50 are poor quality, but that’s not the case with the Sword.
The reels get more expensive as you move up in size. The 5/6 weight costs around $55 or $60. The 7/8 weight costs $65, and the 9/10 weight costs around $70. Regardless of the reel size you purchase, you won’t be breaking the bank.
Moreover, you can save money to invest in other parts of your setup without worrying that your reel will fail you.
Fly Reel Brands:
Piscifun Sword Reel: My Personal Thoughts
I’ve been curious about Piscifun products for years. Having been able to test a handful in the past few months, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. I always chalked them up as cheap, poorly built pieces of fishing gear, but they’ve continued to impress me as I use them.
I tested the Piscifun Sword fly rod and enjoyed it, and I felt the same way about the Piscifun Sword reel.
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The best part of the Piscifun Sword reel is the components you receive. Aluminum and stainless steel are exactly the kind of materials you’d find on reels far more expensive than the Sword. You’d pay two or three times the price for this exact reel from various other companies.
The price of this reel is almost impossible to beat; you’ll struggle to find a budget fly reel as high-quality as the Piscifun Sword. Anglers from all over the world cannot believe how good it is for the price.
The reel feels smooth, looks great, and performs even better. I don’t have to worry about the reel falling apart after I use it for a few months. I know it’s built to last, and the three-year warranty on the reel provides even more reassurance.
The line fits well in the cage and doesn’t slip through like you find on many other budget fly reels. Piscifun cared about making a high-quality reel when they designed the Sword.
I highly recommend this reel to anyone looking for a backup reel or something to get them into the sport. It will give you a great feel and help you fish with confidence. You’re set up for success when fishing the Piscifun Sword reel.
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