Nautilus GTR Fly Reels - New for 2025

Super light with a ton of drag pressure. Another winner from Nautilus!

One of the newest additions to the Nautilus Reel family, and we’re thoroughly impressed. Sleek and lightweight, it features a large arbor for faster line pickup and a modern, attractive design. Inside, the drag system has been updated for smooth, powerful performance, a simple turn of the drag dial delivers just the right resistance, capable of handling even the largest ocean fish. Plus, the drag is user-adjustable, allowing anglers to switch between left- and right-hand retrieves without sending the reel back to Nautilus.

Nautilus GT
The Nautilus GT Series fly reels combine cutting-edge engineering with unmatched drag performance, evolving from the powerhouse GTX to deliver lightweight strength, smooth control, and precision design. Perfect for trout through big game applications, the GT, GTS, and new GTR reels feature advanced drag systems, Giga arbors, and Activseal technology—making them some of the most durable and high-performance fly reels available today.

IN 2017

Nautilus introduced the GTX. A reel in a class of its own. Designed to be fished beyond IGFA regulations with a maximum drag of 25+ pounds, the GTX was built to put the brakes on the fastest and strongest fish on the planet. The plan was to make the biggest, lightest, strongest reel possible, test it in a tug of war against animals and the elements, tweak it to perfection and use it to design a series of more compact GTX reels that would replace our ever-popular NVG series.

The hallmark performance, aesthetics, and ergonomics of the GTX were seamlessly adapted into the new, smaller GT series reels. Each model incorporates the lessons and breakthroughs developed during the GTX’s evolution.

One standout feature of the GT series is its tailored drag adjustment system. For example, the GTX featured a single-turn drag adjustment, to cover 90% of fishing scenarios. In contrast, the GTS—designed for line classes 5 to 8—offers a dual-turn drag system. The first turn is optimized for 5 and 6 weight setups, while the second turn provides enhanced performance for 7 and 8 weight conditions.

Both Nautilus GTR 8/9 and 10/11 GTR boasts several innovative features:

• Lightweight construction for effortless handling
• Smooth and simple left-to-right hand conversion
• Expanded drag adjustment range for versatile performance
• Sleek, modern design
• Integrated backing markers machined into the spool for precise line filling
• A standard 24mm or 15/16” socket compatibility for easy removal of a stuck spool cap

FEATURES:

• GTX PentaDrag - The Pentadrag braking system features three cork and carbon fiber surfaces and two free floating carbon fiber surfaces, which are topped with a Kevlar®/carbon fiber hybrid precision plate that ensures even pressure at all points of the drag surfaces. The cork acts as an insulation and compression material to ensure a smooth drag transition, while the carbon fiber delivers the market-leading and overall smoothness that Nautilus Reels is known for.
• Giga - The Uber arbors of fly fishing reels. Reel in more than a foot per turn of the handle. A unique design feature of these spools is grooves that let the bottom of the backing breathe to promote faster drying. The giga arbors have redefined large arbor reel design.
• Activseal - Perpetually repels contaminants from braking system.
• Hooker - Wrap your line or hang your fly on it
• GripTorque - he GripTorq is an intricately machined proprietary 4 axis drag knob that promote light weight, strength and more grip than on any other drag knob in the industry. The GTX GripTorq drag knob measures 1.9″ in diameter and adjusts the drag from zero to max in 1 1/4 turn.

Specs -