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Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
With more fish-stopping drag surface than any reel made, the Vortex® VO2 is designed, inside and out, to be the most reliable big-game reel on the market. The VO2's performance advantages arise from the placement of drag surfaces on the reel's outside radius, maximizing surface area. The VO2's huge composite cork-to-aluminum drag surface is better able to dissipate the heat generated by a hard-running fish than any other drag system. Hot materials expand, changing your drag tension just at that time when you need consistency the most. With the VO2 in hand, your drag setting will remain consistent throughout the battle. And a larger drag surface ensures consistent performance over a wide range of settings, each indexed stop increasing or decreasing drag pressure in predictable increments. When it comes to landing the fish of a lifetime, you can make no better choice than the VO2.
Average Customer Rating:
Rating Snapshot (9 reviews)
5 stars
5
4 stars
3
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
1
7 of 9(78%)reviewers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
Review 1 for Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
Overall Rating:
VERY dissappointed,
March 9, 2010
By: Milagro
Good Value:
1
/
5
Meets Expectations:
1
/
5
Features:
1
/
5
Appearance:
5
/
5
"As a former Alaskan bush pilot and guide, I own a several Orvis rods & reels. Never have I been so dissappointed. This time last year (2009) I purchased a Vortex VO2 IV and (silly me) an extra spool. For the price and the advertising I expected a top-notch big game reel; what I got was something quite less. The spool-changing system is inconvenient (not a big deal), but more significanly, the spool has a small (1 mm, or so) amount of play before it contacts the drag surface, and contact isn't consistent for the first half of the range of adjustment (approximately 20 clicks of a total range of approximately 40). Once the drag does make consistent contact , it is not smooth until the drag is cranked up to about 35. At that point, it's pretty tight (too tight for the tippets I'm fishing for steelhead), and only has 3-5 more clicks until it's set to almost dead stop. I fished it twice last summer for salmon back in the Katmai, and thought I'd just wait and see. Bad choice. I tried again once this spring and lost two steelies before I gave up and went home. Wish I'd known that the VO2 was being discontinued - I'd just have waited for the "new and improved" big game reel. Now I'm stuck. Hope your next one's better, Orvis!"
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Review 2 for Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
Overall Rating:
Just one drag...,
August 9, 2009
By: HawaiiBob
Good Value:
4
/
5
Meets Expectations:
2
/
5
Features:
4
/
5
Appearance:
5
/
5
"I upgraded to the VO2 after wearing out the drag on a lesser reel on big bonefish. The cork drag featured on the VO2 sounded like just the ticket. On the reel's maiden voyage this morning, I hooked and landed 2 smallish bonefish (2-4 pounds). Loved everything about the reel...except the drag! It doesn't start smoothly when a fish takes, and tends to overrun --the spool spins out line faster than the fish is running, causing loose coils of line on the reel. The problem is that the pull required to get the line moving out of the reel is much stronger than the pressure required to continue the run. If you tighten the drag that reduces the overrun while the fish is moving, but it also increases the pull required to initiate the run . Maybe this is less of a problem if you're hooking really big fish, but I'm trading the VO2 in for a Battenkill Large Arbor Big Game Reel. I have the Large Arbor III and it is a much smoother drag."
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Review 3 for Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
Overall Rating:
Great reel but take care in rough sand,
April 13, 2009
By: Anonymous
from Ireland
Good Value:
4
/
5
Meets Expectations:
4
/
5
Features:
4
/
5
Appearance:
5
/
5
"My wife bought me a Vortex VO2 and spare spool last September. The reel is outstanding in performance and really suits the Helios I couple it with. However, the Grit sands of Cabos pose a real problem. On more than one occasion the grit got into the cogs on the reel and it jammed up on me until I got the grit cleared. Having said that, I'd buy one again in a minute."
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Review 4 for Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
Overall Rating:
Vortex V - Taming "tackle-busters",
November 24, 2008
By: Geowizard
from Leesburg, VA
"The Vortex reels just have a solid, smooth feel when you pick one up. I just finished my annual Harkers Island, NC trip for False Albacore with this reel and it performed outstandingly the past two years. These "Albies" provide a great test of a reel's performance - they are not called "tackle-busters" for nothing! You have never seen line disappear until so fast until you hook one of these Albies. The reel start-up is smooth and helps in allowing the line feed through the guides without becoming a tangled mess. The drag is smooth and strong and the very large diameter reel allows rapid line pickup when these "torpedos" make a run at you at 25 mph.
I did have a few problems with the orginal Vortex reel, but they replaced it with the new model and the reel has performed flawlessly over the past two seasons. I highly recommend it."
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Review 5 for Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
Overall Rating:
How to stop a torpedo,
September 15, 2008
By: Trouthunters
from Dallas, TX
"I have used a Vortex VO2 on my 10 wt (Trident) rod for several years, The performance of this reel is unmatched among salt water fly reels. It has never let me down when taming game from Dorado to Tarpon to Sail Fish. Not only is it extremley durable, it is very easy on the eyes. The Vortex VO2 is a classically styled big game reel that works as hard as I do to get trophy fish to the boat. This reel can truly stop a torpedo!"
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Review 6 for Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
Overall Rating:
Great Reel,
August 5, 2008
By: Roger59
from Marco Island, FL
"I have used the Vortex VI with a 12 wt. for three years. During that time I have caught over 50 Tarpon on it, several of which were in the 150 lb. class. I just returned from Mexico where I used it for Dorado. I caught over 20, 30 lb. class Dorado on it. It worked flawlessly! Unless you have caught a Dorado you can't imagine how hard they pull. They make multiple 100 yds runs and really are tough on equipment. I had a more expensive reel on my 11 wt. that burned up on the first run. The Vortex never skipped a beat. The knob is really an asset when you are reeling in a large fish under a lot of pressure. Great reel!"
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Review 7 for Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
Overall Rating:
Rolls Royce!,
February 2, 2008
By: JATSTANIC
from Derbyshire, England
"Not only is this a gorgeous looking reel but it has the quality to back it up! A drag system that is second to none great capacity and retreaval rate means that when im chasing big salt species like Tarpon I wont get on the plane without it!"
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Review 8 for Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
Overall Rating:
November 6, 2007
By: CMD1
from West Chester
"I've had the Vortex V for about 3 months know. I have it on my ZG 10wt. i have caught some big blues and some Albies in the 6-9lb range, and this reel performed flawlessly with every trip i take. the reel is completly open which makes the rinseing the reel and breeze. Low start up and a solid smooth drag.. I love it!!!"
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Review 9 for Vortex VO2 Disc Drag Fly Reel
Overall Rating:
December 13, 2006
By: Greg B.
"I have just purchased my second Vortex reel for large fish that are in to the backing just as you realize they are on! My applications demand a dependable drag system and room for the requsite amount of backing. From Bone fish to Tarpon, Snook, Steelhead and Atlantic Salmon the Vortex has been the reel of choice for me."
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
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