Click and pawl reels have a special spot in many angler’s hearts. Traditionalists, purists, and those who appreciate a simpler design that requires more finesse are drawn to these reels. Nowadays, consumers can purchase heavy duty sealed disk drags that can stop the largest fish in their tracks. The draw of a click in pawl lies in its elegance and function. A light drag means an angler must use much more finesse when fighting a fish with a clicker. This creates a stronger connection between each fish and the angler; a fully immersed, more mindful experience that levels the playing field between cat and mouse.
Iwana reels are crafted in British Columbia, but were born on a trip of a lifetime chasing the elusive Iwana Salvelinus leucomaenis, a char sometimes referred to as a trout. This salmonid makes its home in the cold mountain streams of Japan. These fish sport a dark colored background with light spots like many char, they resemble our juvenile Bull Trout. Liu Shaojie, a classic reel designer, and Wang Liang, an avid fly fisherman and traveler teamed up after their trip to give birth to Iwana.
Iwana produces high quality click and pawl classic reels. They aim to bring traditional clicker reels back on the river. Timeless silhouettes and proven click drag systems are produced with modern CNC machining capabilities, giving rise to a classic reel with tighter tolerances, more consistency, and an overall higher quality.
The Minami comes in two sizes: 2 3/4″ and 3 inches. The smaller 2 3/4″ is better suited for smaller rods ranging from 2-4 wt. Its light design makes it a fantastic option for shorter creek rods from 6’6″ to 8’4″; it certainly is not too light for a 9″ 4 wt either. The 3″ reel is better suited for rods ranging 4-6wt. If you have a 4 wt and are deciding between the two sizes, I would run the smaller 2 3/4″ on a shorter 4wt, and the larger 3″ reel on a standard 9″ 4wt. It comes in a gorgeous deep green, black, and silver.
The Minami is built lighter and simpler than the Retro Trout which in my opinion makes it a better option for lighter and shorter rods. It has a solid side plate opposite of the handle, and classic oval porting on the spool. It also features a much higher pitched click, which I generally associate with smaller rods. It makes a fantastic option for you if you’ve never had a click and pawl reel before.
The Retro Trout is more complex and flashy compared to the Minami. The first thing you notice is the elegant “S” handle on the reel, which echoes a time gone by. The Retro Trout features a heavier frame and separate colored spool. The spool nests between one solid side of the frame, and the other ported side. This creates a gorgeous contrast between the darker external frame and lighter spool. The Retro Trout also features Iwana’s cased caddis logo.
Sizing for the Retro Trout is more complex as it comes in more size options and comes in several widths. There are two sizes for the 2 3/4″: small and wide. The small is a good fit for 1-3wt rods and the wide being good for 2-4 wts. The next size up is the 3″ which works for 3-5 wt rods, with the weight I’d lean more towards 4 and 5 wt. Lastly, there is a 3 1/4″ and that is for 4-6 wts, personally I’d lean more towards 5 and 6.
My Thoughts With my Reel from Iwana
I want to share my experience with my reel from Iwana. I was torn between the more simple Minami, and the flashier Retro Trout. I opted for the 3 inch Retro Trout because I preferred the elegant “S” handle and two toned porting. The black frame paired with a silver spool created a gorgeous contrast. I also like that the Retro Trout has Iwana’s logo on it. A simple cased caddis design was something I didn’t mind having on my reel. The Retro Trout is slightly heavier and balances the 10′ 4wt Winston Air 2 Reach, which is my current nymphing stick.
The timeless silhouette of the Retro Trout instantly caught my eye. The reel feels good in hand. It is slightly heavy in the best way where you can feel quality craftsmanship and materials. The clicking sound is audibly pleasing for those who can appreciate a good click and pawl mechanism. The Retro Trout has a deeper click which I prefer for a larger rod when compared to the Minami.
Initially, I ran this reel on my winter, big water dry fly rod which is a Winston Air 2 9′ 5wt. I got impatient as Baetis hatches this winter have been inconsistent with the fluctuating weather, and I just wanted to hear my new click and pawl reel scream. I am running a 5wt Scientific Anglers Amplitude Textured Anadro Indicator wf5f on the rod and reel. For a line with such a large head, it fits nicely on the 3 inch Retro Trout. I think squeezing that line on a Minami would be more difficult.
My Retro Trout has a gotten a lot of use recently and I have caught several large 16+ fish that have awoken the reel’s deep clicking scream. I historically ran sealed disk or cork drags with more stopping power on my nymphing rod. I associated clickers with the purists’ dry fly fishing, but am pleased I have a nymphing setup with one now, especially in the winter when it meets more fish.
Choosing between the Minami and the Retro Trout was difficult; once I picked the Retro Trout picking between black and green was even more difficult. The deep emerald green color that they have for both the Retro Trout and the Minami is gorgeous. It is a rich green that is reminiscent of a Winston blank; as I primarily fish Winstons, I decided against the green, and chose something with more contrast. I am planning on adding a Minami to my collection this summer for one of my lighter rods. It will follow me up into the mountains fishing smaller tributaries and spring creeks, singing a high pitched scream all afternoon.
Iwana has redefined the classic click and pawl reel. By looking to the past for silhouettes, proportions, and design and looking at the present by incorporating contemporary CNC machining processes, they have created functional works of art. These reels feel most at home in the hands of an angler that takes things slow, and wants a deeper connection between themselves and the fish on the end of their line. The tactile clicking of the reel, the audible scream of the drag, the finesse needed to land a large fish on a traditional reel, these are all ways that Iwana offers the in tune angler a more immersive angling experience.
If you’re local and want to check one of these out, please swing by the shop. We are happy to help you find the best reel from Iwana for your needs. If you are out of state you can shop online here. If you have questions, give us a ring (541) 342-7005, email us support@caddisflyshop.com, or message us on instagram @caddisflyshop for help.
