If you've spent any time scouring garage sales or eBay for vintage fishing gear, you've probably come across the cortland crown 2 fly reel at some point. It's one of those pieces of equipment that seems to just hang around forever, surviving decades in the bottom of old tackle boxes or tucked away in basements. Honestly, there's a reason these things are still so easy to find today. They weren't exactly high-end luxury items back in the day, but they were built like absolute tanks for the average person who just wanted to catch some trout without spending a fortune.
I've always had a soft spot for these older, simpler reels. Nowadays, you go into a fly shop and you're surrounded by CNC-machined, large-arbor reels that cost more than my first car. They're beautiful, sure, but do you really need a sealed carbon-fiber drag system to pull a ten-inch brook trout out of a creek? Probably not. That's where something like the Cortland Crown 2 comes in. It's a throwback to a time when gear was functional, straightforward, and didn't require a manual to understand how it worked.
A look at the build and design
The first thing you notice when you pick up a cortland crown 2 fly reel is that it feels remarkably solid. It's made of cast aluminum, which was the standard for mid-range reels for a long time. It's not as light or as "crisp" as modern machined reels, but it has a certain heft that feels right on a vintage fiberglass or early graphite rod.
The finish is usually a matte black or a dark grey, and let's be real—it's prone to "rim rash." If you drop it on a rock, the paint is going to chip. But to me, that just adds character. These reels weren't meant to stay in a display case; they were meant to be used. One of the standout features of this specific model is the rim-control design. It has an exposed spool edge, which allows you to use your palm or fingers to apply extra pressure if a fish starts running too fast. Back before high-tech drag systems were common, this was how everyone did it. It gives you a much more "connected" feel to the fish.
The spool release is a simple little lever on the front. It's easy to flick, though I've found that on some older, well-used units, it can get a bit gummy if it hasn't been cleaned in a few years. A little bit of reel oil usually fixes that right up.
That classic click-and-pawl sound
If you hate noise, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you're like me and you love the "song" of a fly reel, the cortland crown 2 fly reel is a treat. It uses a classic click-and-pawl mechanism. There's no silent retrieve here. Every time you pull line off or crank it back in, you get that rhythmic click-click-click.
The drag itself is pretty minimal. You can adjust the tension slightly with a small knob on the back, but don't expect it to stop a runaway train. It's mostly there to prevent "overrun"—which is when the spool spins faster than the line is coming off, creating a giant tangled mess of backing. For 90% of freshwater fishing, this is perfectly fine. You're using your hands to manage the fish anyway.
There's something incredibly satisfying about hearing that reel scream when a decent-sized trout decides to head downstream. It's a much more visceral experience than the dull hum of a modern disc drag. It reminds you that fly fishing, at its core, is a pretty simple game of cat and mouse.
How it handles on the water
I recently took a cortland crown 2 fly reel out on a local stream just to see if it still felt relevant. I had it paired with an old 5-weight rod, and the balance was actually spot on. Because these reels are a bit heavier than modern ones, they balance out those older, slightly "noodly" rods much better than a super-light carbon reel would.
Casting feels natural. The line comes off the spool smoothly enough, though because it's a traditional small-arbor design, you do have to deal with some line coiling. If you've been using large-arbor reels for years, the tight loops of line coming off a small spool might annoy you at first. You just have to give the line a good stretch before you start fishing.
One thing to keep in mind is the retrieve rate. Since the spool diameter is smaller, you have to crank a lot more to get your line back in. If you're fishing a tiny creek, you won't even notice. If you're on a big river and a fish is charging toward you, you'll be winding like a madman. It's just part of the charm, I guess. It keeps you on your toes.
Why people still hunt for them
You might wonder why anyone would bother with a cortland crown 2 fly reel when you can buy a brand-new, entry-level reel for fifty bucks that weighs half as much. Well, for one, these things are virtually indestructible. There are very few moving parts to break. If you get some sand in it, you just pop the spool off, swish it in the water, and you're back in business. You can't always do that with a sealed drag system without potentially ruining something.
They're also incredibly affordable on the used market. You can often find them for $20 to $40. For a beginner who wants to get into the sport without dropping a paycheck, or for a veteran who wants a backup reel that will never let them down, it's a steal.
Plus, there's the nostalgia factor. A lot of guys my age (or older) started out with a Cortland kit. Using one of these reels again feels like a bit of a homecoming. It slows you down. It makes you focus more on your technique and less on your gear settings.
Maintenance and longevity
If you happen to pick up a cortland crown 2 fly reel at a flea market, it'll probably need a five-minute tune-up. These reels are so simple that anyone can service them. All you really need is some warm soapy water to get the old grease out and a tiny drop of fresh oil on the spindle and the pawls.
One cool thing about the Crown 2 is that it's usually reversible. You can switch it from right-hand to left-hand retrieve by just flipping the pawls inside. It's a bit of a "fiddly" process—those little springs like to jump out if you're not careful—but it's a solid design that allows the reel to be used by anyone.
I've seen these reels that have been sitting in damp garages for twenty years. They might look a bit crusty, but once you wipe them down, they usually work just as well as the day they were made. They were built during an era where things were expected to last a lifetime, and the Crown 2 definitely lives up to that reputation.
Final thoughts on a classic
Is the cortland crown 2 fly reel the best reel ever made? No, probably not. If you're heading out to salt water to chase bonefish or you're targeting 30-pound salmon, you're going to want something with a much beefier drag system and better corrosion resistance.
But for everyday fishing? For hitting your local pond for bluegill or wandering up a mountain stream for trout? It's honestly all you need. It's a functional, honest piece of equipment that doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It's a tool, and it's a damn good one for the price.
In a world where everything is becoming more complex and more expensive, there's something really refreshing about fishing with a reel that just works. No fancy settings, no high-tech materials—just you, a rod, and a simple metal spool that clicks when a fish pulls on the other end. If you find a cortland crown 2 fly reel in good shape, grab it. Even if it just ends up as a backup, you'll probably find yourself reaching for it more often than you expect. It just has a way of making the whole fishing experience feel a little more authentic.