This not-so-secret gear find is the result of hours spent combing forums for a solid Euro-nymphing reel that doesn’t break the bank. Guess what? I found my answer on SpeyPages.
As it turns out, there’s a brand with a cult-like following in the Spey community. They make reels that are thoughtfully designed, classically styled, lightweight, and fully caged.
That brand is Danielsson.
History of the Danielsson Brand
The Scandinavian brand came about in the 1980s as a collaboration between Tomas Danielsson and Loop Tackle Design. You might recognize Loop from their robust line of Spey gear. During that partnership, Danielsson developed and manufactured reels for Loop, which are credited with popularizing the large-arbor design that’s now standard in modern fly reels.
The large arbor design revolutionized fly reels with quicker line pickup and reduced line memory.
In the early 2000s, Danielsson and Loop parted ways. After the split, Danielsson launched his own company, reclaiming his designs and continuing to manufacture reels under the Danielsson name.
Fast-forward to today: Danielsson is known for direct-to-consumer pricing and a focus on performance over branding. When you order a reel, it’s shipped directly from the factory in Sweden to your door—no middlemen.
Danielsson Makes a Damn Fine Spey Reel
Danielsson has a loyal following on SpeyPages, and for good reason. These reels are strong, offer customizable drag for fighting large fish, and feature a large arbor for fast backing retrieval. The fully-caged design helps prevent tangling or line slipping and avoids weird design quirks that can catch your line at the worst moment.
Their focus is clearly on performance and value:
- Sealed, maintenance-free drag (saltwater rated)
- High-precision machining with zero spool wobble—seriously, zero
- Clean, utilitarian styling with no gimmicks
Danielsson Reels for Euro-Nymphing
Danielsson doesn’t specifically market a Euro-nymphing reel, but I’ve been using the F3W 4seven on my 4wt Diamondback Ideal Nymph, and it balances the setup perfectly.
Why I love it:
- Fully-caged: no chance of thin mono-rigs getting caught
- Lightweight: balances modern nymph rods well
- Quiet click: subtle and satisfying
- Satin black finish: stealthy and sleek for spooky fish
I actually love the F3W series so much that I’m slowly converting most of my reel collection to Danielsson. It’s that good. The F3W delivers phenomenal value and thoughtful design in the same price range as Lamson—but feels more refined.
As of writing, the F3W sells for ~$234 USD based on current exchange rates.
Notes on Ordering Danielsson Reels
Since the reels ship from Sweden, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- You’ll need to pay via PayPal (unless you do business in SEK).
- Set the website currency to your local currency before checking out.
- Make sure the site knows your country, as VAT is included or excluded based on location.
- Shipping takes a little longer than domestic brands—but not bad.
My orders to rural Central Oregon usually arrive in under 2 weeks.
A Quick Note on the Original Series
Not my favorite—but not bad, either. It’s still a good reel!
I’ve landed big fish with the drag-less Original-series reel. My gripes?
- No click sound when a fish runs—kinda anticlimactic.
- You need to loosen the spool-lock during storage (a small but annoying chore).
Again, these are nitpicks. But for me, hearing that reel sing is half the fun when a fish rips line.
Final Thoughts
In short:
These reels are the shit.
Seriously—they’re awesome. Incredible value. Impeccable quality. Not flashy. Just solid. I’d even argue that their elegant simplicity makes them feel more luxurious than many high-end American-made reels.
Try one out—you won’t be disappointed.
– T
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