Pflueger
Pflueger President Spinning Reel
A sealed drag on light line, which is the whole trout argument.
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Trout are lost to stuttering drags more than to anything else, because four-pound line has no margin for a drag that grabs. The President's answer is a sealed drag stack, and sealing is the difference between a drag that is smooth in the shop and one that is still smooth after a season of grit, water and dust.
Why the Pflueger President Spinning Reel stands out
Sealed drag, and why that matters on light line
An open drag stack takes in water and fine grit, and the washers begin to grab and release rather than slip evenly. On heavy tackle you would never notice. On four-pound line with a good trout running, that is the fish gone.
Light enough to fish all day
A freshwater spinning reel is held and worked continuously rather than parked in a rod holder. The graphite body keeps the weight down where weight is fatigue, and it is the right material for water that is not trying to corrode it.
Balanced for small lures and light line
The smaller sizes are genuinely matched to ultralight and light rods, which sounds obvious and often is not: many budget reels are only made in sizes that overwhelm the rods people pair them with.
At a glance
| Body | Graphite |
|---|---|
| Drag | Sealed |
| Water | Freshwater |
| Best for | Trout, panfish, light bass |
The verdict
The sensible freshwater buy and has been for years. Do not take it into salt regularly; it is not built for that and there are better reels that are.
ChronicAnglers is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.