The Rise II is much lighter than its predecessor, and the open-cage design offers a modern look and feel that stands out. The Rise II 5/6 is optimized to hold 5- or 6-wt lines, and proved well-balanced on all the 5-weight rods it was mounted on. The testers universally praised its light weight and speedy line retrieval, but not everyone liked its look. And we all had some concerns about long-term durability.

Weight & Balance

Redington engineered the new Rise to be incredibly lightweight. The machined aluminum body is essentially an open cage design that minimizes the amount of metal needed in the final product. The reel is one of the lightest in the class and after a long day on the water, that was appreciated.

Spool Size and Line Retrieval

The Rise’s 3.6-inch diameter is second only to the Cheeky in size and picks up line quickly. The large size rolls up line rapidly and the open frame design lets that line dry out efficiently as you fish, thus improving performance and further reducing the weight carried on the reel.

Durability and Drag Performance

The downside of the featherweight design is a susceptibility to damage. Parts of the Rise’s thin aluminum framework were bent or dinged while climbing around the rocky shores of the North Fork Clearwater River,. The damage did not affect the performance of the reel, but over time, further rugged use could lead to a degradation in performance. Other testers experienced similar issues.

Fit and Finish

The Redington Rise II sports a modern design that that some testers found appealing but others did not. The machined aluminum case is clean, and the simple anodized coating is smooth and maintenance-free. The traditionalists got over the style differences however, and thought that the reel’s performance was so good.