I am not paid by, sponsored, or bribed to write this article. This is my honest opinion about the product below.
A Fly Fishing Company That Truly Cares: Cheeky Fly Fishing
Cheeky Fly Fishing is a fly reel, line, and leader company based in Massachusetts. They offer a lifetime warranty on their fly reels and provide free shipping on all products. I have used Cheeky products for a few years now and have always been impressed with their excellent customer service, attention to detail and the high quality of their products.
Casts & Drafts, and Cheeky
Spray: My Year-Long Test
Cheeky’s latest and greatest reel is the Cheeky Spray. This reel won the "Best Freshwater Reel 2024" award in the Fly Fisherman Gear Guide and the "Best Fly Reel ICAST 2023" award. The kind folks at Cheeky were generous enough to send us a couple of these reels to use on demo rods at our “Casts & Drafts” events, a bi-monthly fly fishing social. They have been a huge hit the the attendees at the events. The things I hear when someone picks up a demo rod to cast is how surprised they are with the weight and sleekness of the reel. Ive also been told by many how impressed they are with they drag system. I’ve been using one on most of my charter trips over the past year to test it out and see if it lives up to the hype as well!
Drag, Drops, and Dunking: How the Spray 400 Held Up
I feel very confident in saying that I’ve put this reel through the wringer over the past year. I spooled it with Cheeky backing and Cortland Guide 8wt line. This reel has been dunked in saltwater, layed in pluff mud, dropped on the deck of my boat more times than I like to think about, kicked because why not, and had its drag tested on big fish making long, burning runs. After all of that, the drag remains powerful, the retrieve is still extremely smooth, and I now view this reel as a trusted companion.
Fishing Charleston? Why the Spray 400 Is a Great Choice
I have a list of features about the Spray that I’ve really enjoyed. One of my favorite features is the lightweight design of this reel. I use the 400, which is a 7-9wt reel, and it weighs in at less than 7 ounces. A lightweight reel can significantly reduce fatigue, especially when fishing in hot, humid environments like Charleston and making a lot of casts throughout the day.
I also love the large arbor and how much backing you can spool onto the reel while still leaving plenty of room for your line. These larger arbors are fantastic for helping to clean your line and for drying out your reel after a day on the water.
Saltwater Safe and Powerful
One thing that every angler I’ve talked to who has fished with this reel has mentioned is the drag and I completely understand why. The drag system on this reel has some serious stopping power. I’ve been able to stop large redfish and inshore sharks with no problem.
The large drag knob on the side is another great feature. I’ve found that many of my clients find it easier to adjust the drag while fighting a fish when the knob is large and easy to locate. Plus, the drag system is fully sealed, so there’s no need to worry about saltwater exposure.
The entire reel is made from machined aluminum, offering durability and a perfect fit between the arbor and frame. You won’t need to worry about your fly line or leader getting pinched between them.
Where to Find the Cheeky Spray 400
As a fly fishing guide, if i need to speak with a company about their products, whether its warranty, care, or genral questions. It is important to me that i can get a time frinedly response and i can actually speak to someone if needed. You can call Cheeky and speak with someone during business hours or email them and usually get a responce quickly as well. Good customer service is a slept on luxery that many people forget about until they absolutely need it. I have nothing but great experiences with this company and the customer service.
The Cheeky Spray 400 comes in two different color combinations and is available online at Cheeky Fishing. It’s also available in a larger size. I always enjoy testing out equipment from the Cheeky crew, and they have yet to let me down!
Thank you for reading,
Captain Conner Bryant
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