Nautilus GTS Review & Fly Reel Comparison - Nautilus Does It Again: Lighter, Faster, Stronger
The Nautilus GTS is a fantastic and long-awaited fly reel. In theory it is the successor to the NV-G reels, but really it's more of an evolved GTX mixed with a CCF-X2. I have been shown prototypes and been aware of development of these reels since 2022 (along with another upcoming reel, the GTR). Maybe even before that but I don't remember. It's been awhile. I was sworn to secrecy by the owner of Nautilus. Reluctantly I have held back from telling anyone about these very cool reels until now. I'm very happy to see the final production version and it doesn't disappoint. Lighter, stronger drag, and I'd say even better-looking than the ones that came before it. In fact, you better bookmark this review for later because I predict right now that the GTS will win "Fly Reel of the Year" in 2025.
Lighter. Faster. Stronger.
Many of you who read my reviews know I prefer lighter reels. Pick up a Nautilus XL Max sometime, it is unbelievably light. Sage somewhat imitated it with the Arbor XL (even the name) but it's not the same. Some people lurking in web forums have cried about a few aspects of the X Series reels but I feel that overall they represent very good tradeoffs in terms of the tremendous weight savings over any competitor. And I do mean that, they are absolutely lighter than anything else in that size range.
Everyone these days seems stuck on the brands with solid, chunky reels that I agree may feel more substantial and "tougher" - but that solid feeling is only part of the story. You still have to swing it all day attached to your fly rod. Larger arbors have continued as a trend, and bigger drags, and all of that. Everything is too heavy now. There is another brand I won't mention which is very popular but it's like throwing a boat anchor compared to this new GTS.
I was at the Nautilus factory visiting them years ago and saw some of the prototypes which they conduct drop tests on, to make sure how much aluminum they can machine away without compromising structural integrity. Too thin and light, and the reel will bend if dropped from a normal height onto concrete. Too thick, and you would just end up with the heavy reels that other brands make.
The other secret ingredient which the team at Nautilus showed me awhile ago, and again, I was sworn to secrecy, was to introduce an industry first: Fill lines for backing are marked right on the reels. This is really cool and shows the attention to detail and the focus on usability features that Nautilus is famous for. There's also now a hex-shaped spool release (just in case you need it, you can use commonly available tools to work on your reel). These new features plus the bigger, knurled or textured drag knob are welcome additions. I wasn't one of the complainers about the NV-G which came before this reel, but I know Nautilus listened to the feedback from customers and beefed this up a bit. Also easier to grip with wet hands now. Again, usability is key. The guys at Nautilus actually fish. In fact, they fish Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys which are within an hour or so from the Nautilus factory. And they have some of the top pro guides on their roster as well. Believe me, these reels have been thoroughly tested.
** We will be adding to this review later to fully compare the new GTS against all competitors from Abel, Shilton, Orvis, Ross, Hatch, Nautilus themselves actually (the CCF-X2 series is excellent), Bauer, Sage, and a bunch of other reel brands. We are just super busy with all the holiday madness and getting orders shipped to our customers. Stay tuned!
Any questions, as always let me know via phone or email.
