The Long Haul Gear Reviews here at Flylords focus on providing you with honest feedback on products that have been used extensively. Often, us writers are asked to turn gear reviews around on a tight timetable. That makes sense for the manufacturers, but often leaves the consumer (you) with a slightly-rushed review. The Long Haul Gear Reviews will be especially helpful for products where long-term durability is arguably the most important feature, like waders, boots, and reels. In fact, we’re starting this series off with a look at a long-running reel—the Orvis Mirage LT.
The Orvis Mirage LT is a premium fly reel available in sizes 1-9. It is built to easily handle larger fish, like salmon, dolly varden, or even bass, pike, and musky. It’s been around for a while, and I’ve fished a few versions of this reel extensively for most of the past decade.
Orvis Mirage LT Reel
Reel Specs:
- Size Tested: Mirage LTIII, Mirage III
- Drag: Fully-sealed disc drag
- Line Capacity: 175 yards of 20lb Dacron backing for 5-weight lines, 125 yards of 20lb Dacron backing for 6-weight lines
Pros:
- Made in the USA
- Exceptional durability and functionality
- Smooth, easily-adjustable drag with almost no startup inertia
Cons:
- Heavier than other reels in its class
- More expensive than imported options with similar drag systems for trout-focused fishing
The Skinny
The Orvis Mirage LT is a high-end reel that starts at $398. It’s available for line weights 1-9. This is the lightweight version of the original Mirage reel, but it features essentially the same drag system. That drag is fully-sealed, so you don’t have to worry about sand, dirt, or other debris sneaking in and ruining the reel.
Orvis builds this reel in New Hampshire, and it’s crafted from 6061 T6 aluminum, which is the standard for high-end reels. It has an extra-large arbor for quick line retrieval and almost no startup inertia. That means the drag engages without a discernible “hitch,” even at high settings. Reels with startup inertia can stutter or skip when the drag engages, which introduces slack into your fly line. As any angler knows, slack in the line is a surefire way to lose a fish.
The drag goes from “off” to “full” in a single revolution of the knob, and the knob is incredibly adjustable. It’s easy to dial in the exact drag you need for any given situation.
The Time Test
I’ve had the Mirage LT for a bit over two years now, and I’ve had the original Mirage for at least seven years. The two reels share essentially the same drag system. The only noticeable difference is that the Mirage LT uses lighter-weight versions of the parts used in the Mirage.
In my seven years with the Mirage, I’ve fished it all over the West. It’s also seen significant time in Alaska, where I used it while surf fishing for pink salmon and dolly varden. It’s been dunked in glacial rivers, and I’ve used it at Pyramid Lake in Nevada.
The Mirage LT does a great job of balancing lighter-weight trout setups. I love it so much that I actually own two, and I run them primarily on my 8’6″, 4-weight Orvis H3F and 9′ 5-weight Winston Boron IIIx. I’ve dropped them both plenty of times, and while they have a few dings and scratches, they’re structurally sound. These are incredibly tough, resilient reels. At the risk of jinxing myself, I think I’d need to try to break it to make these reels fail.
After fishing in Pyramid (a highly alkaline lake with a significant salt content) and in the Alaskan surf, I’ve made sure to clean these reels. If I’ve dropped them on a sandy riverbank, or they’ve been dunked in dirty water, I’ll wash them. Other than that, I haven’t performed any maintenance on these reels.
This term gets tossed around a lot in the gear world, so I hesitate to use it here. But the Mirage LT is just a bombproof reel. Perhaps a better way to describe it is: I never worry that it’ll be the weakest link when I have a big fish on. It’s dependable, smooth, and just wonderfully designed.
My Recommendation
It’s clear I love the Mirage LT. I think it’s the best trout reel on the market. Orvis builds this thing with incredible attention to detail. From the recessed counterweight to a fully-radiused reel foot that prevents kinked leaders, this reel just flat-out works. I’ve been able to use it on sockeye, dolly varden, pink salmon, Lahontan cutthroat, and large brown and rainbow trout, and haven’t once felt outmatched (at least, not where my reel was concerned; I’ve had plenty of sockeye take me to school) is a testament to how well-built this reel is.
The LTIII, sized for line weights 5-7, is probably the most popular for trout anglers, and it’s $449. That’s pricey for a reel, but this is American-made, and the craftsmanship is impeccable.
I’ve also only had great experiences with Orvis’ customer service, so in the event something goes wrong with your Mirage LT, Orvis should take care of you. I’ve had the chance to use quite a few reels, but the Mirage LT is the one I keep coming back to.
Orvis Mirage LT Reel
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