A family shop in the Sierra foothills

Galvan started small. Boni worked nights and weekends with one manual lathe and one manual mill, turning out a handful of reels a month. His sons rode along to visit fly shops and open the first dealer accounts. The company is still family owned and family run. Reels are cut from 6061 aluminum bar stock in Sonora, then anodized and put together by the same people who designed them. Galvan says its reels are 100 percent designed, built and assembled in the USA. That close control shows in the fit and finish, and in how long these reels last on the water.

Drags that stay smooth when it counts

Galvan keeps its designs simple, with few moving parts and tight machining tolerances. The Torque drag is the heart of the lineup. It starts smoothly, holds steady pressure, and uses a microTune knob for small, precise changes mid fight. The Torque itself was named reel of the year by Fly Fish America in 2004. For salt and big water, the Grip and Swing use a fully sealed drag that keeps sand and water out. On the light end, the Brookie trades a disc drag for a simple click ball tension system that suits palming small trout on light rods.

Which Galvan fly reel is right for you?

• Galvan Torque: The flagship disc drag reel, made in sizes for 2 to 12 weight lines, from alpine trout water to permit on the flats.
• Galvan Rush Light: A lighter reel with an open back frame and ported spool that keeps the same smooth Torque drag.
• Galvan Brookie: An ultralight click ball reel for 0 to 5 weight rods, built for small streams and technical trout water.
• Galvan Grip: A large arbor reel with a fully sealed carbon drag and an oversized handle, made for saltwater and big fish in 5 to 12 weights.
• Galvan Euro Nymph (G.E.N.): An extra large arbor reel for 2 to 5 weight euro nymphing rods, with an optional weight kit to balance long rods.
• Galvan Swing: A full cage spey reel built on the sealed Grip drag, sized for two handed rods from trout spey to salmon.

Buy your Galvan fly reel from AvidMax

Galvan backs its reels with a lifetime warranty on parts and workmanship for the original owner when you buy from an authorized dealer. Not sure which model fits your water? Our team fishes this gear and can help you match a rod, reel and line. Call 720-836-3619 (9 to 5 MST, Monday to Saturday). Standard shipping is free on orders over $45.