Bauer RX Fly Reel

Not what they used to be.

I have owned many Bauer reels over the last 20+ years, going all the way back to the original McKenzie series, and have always been a devoted fan of the brand. However, my most recently purchased RX reels (RX 3 and RX4) have some significant quality issues, e.g., difficulty with spools during removal, I have never experienced with the other RX reels I own—most of which were made by Bauer in Ashland, Oregon prior to the sale to Winston. I guess nothing stays the same, but I cannot recommend the product as before. At the price point, there are just better quality options in my opinion.