CatchALure Review – A Real Look From A Fly Fisherman

To be honest, when we first heard about the CatchALure, we were a bit skeptical. Does it really work? How many times will you actually need to use it? In this article, we help other anglers determine if they should be carrying a CatchALure with them. (Hint, the answer is yes).

About CatchALure | How Does It Work | Specifications | In Depth Review

About CatchALure

CatchALure was started in Pennsylvania, a place renowned for fly fishing and fly fishing greats like Joe Humphreys. Every order of CatchALure products results in a percentage donated to Project Healing Waters, a fantastic organization. In addition to this, innately, this device keeps more flies out of trees, resulting in a bit of water cleanup with every use. So, with a little social responsibility and a dash of water cleanup, we certainly can get behind this.

You can visit the CatchALure site here: https://catchalure.com/
CatchALure can also be purchased on Amazon here.

How Does The CatchALure Work?

Better than explaining this in detail, here is a great video showing how simple it is to attach the CatchALure to the end of your rod, and grab a stuck fly out of a tree. You can get flies you couldn’t get without the rod length distance, and even grab flies caught near fishing holes on the banks of a river without disturbing the waters.

Specifications

The CatchALure has four different options of retrieval tools. 2 for fly fishing and small rods, and two for spin rods, or high weight fly rods. You can purchase versions that attach the end of your rod, or a version that comes with a telescopic rod, so no attaching to your rod is necessary.

Fly Fishing CatchALure Tool

Fly Rod Weights: 2-10W
Flies and Lures: Flies, Streamers and 0-1 spinners
Weight: 4 oz.
Dimensions: Height: 3-1/2″, Width: 3/4″ Rods.
Telescopic Pole Length: 1’3″ to 6’9″
Color: Green

Conventional Fishing CatchALure Tool

Fishing Rod Compatibility: All Conventional Fresh Water Rods, 7W-12W Fly Rods
Flies and Lures: Musky and large Flies, Spinners, Crankbaits, Poppers, and Others
Weight: 9oz.
Dimensions: Height: 6-1/2″, Width: 1-1/4″
Telescopic Pole Length: 1’4″ to 8’6″
Color: Yellow

Our Review

Price & Value

So the price might seem a little steep at first, but when you think about the value add of this device, the math works out pretty simply. Conservatively, your flies cost about $2 per fly (most likely more than this). That means that all you have to do is save 10-15 flies over the lifetime of this device for it to be well worth it.

If you fly fish in tight spaces, near bushes, or near trees frequently, this device is going to have a positive return on investment for you. Therefore the price of this device easily matches the value it provides. This is especially the case if you double or even triple rig your setups.

Added bonus, you can collect other left behind flies in trees, adding to your tackle box, and doing nature a bit of service when other anglers leave their rigs dangling in the treetops.

Effectiveness

It actually works! In most cases where flies get stuck in a tree, this device is able to recover them. We highly recommend you do two things before using this tool:

1. Do not pull on your fly hard when it is in a tree. Doing so may lodge the hook into the branch such that the magnet will not be able to retrieve it. If you pull lightly and it is clearly wrapped, then pull out the CatchALure. In this case you will almost always be able to retrieve your fly.
2. When reaching with your rod, hold the fly line tight in your fingers. This added pressure allows for the end of your rod to be more stiff, and it makes it far easier to reach distances around 14 feet away when you do this.

You won’t be able to recover every single fly with this tool, but we were surprised at how many we actually could. We would anticipate between 50-80% of flies you get lodged out of reach, you’ll be able to bring back home.

Ease Of Use

This tool couldn’t be easier to use. The video above shows how simple it is to attach on the end of your fly rod. Our little trick explained above to keep your rod tip steady makes it even easier to use for those flies that are at the end of the reachable distance.

If you want to purchase the telescopic version, the device is even easier to use.

Durability

This equipment is durable for two reasons:

1. It isn’t going to break. The plastic is sturdy, resistant to damage, and doesn’t rust.
2. The tool sinks, and is very bright, so if you drop it in the river, there is a good chance you can go grab it without issues.

We would anticipate you can keep this piece of equipment for a lifetime. This translates to recovering lots of flies, and keeping lots of riverbanks clean.

Packability

The retriever tool is small. It takes up almost no space in your pack, so it is an easy item to carry at all times, which is why we recommend carrying it at all times. It is also extremely light, so packability is no issue at all.

It also has a small plastic loop in which you could attach this to your pack with a small fastening device as well.

Versatility

There is a device for every type of rod, and every sized fly. CatchALure also has telescopic versions if you don’t want to attach to your rod. Therefore, any type of angler can benefit from this. Light weight fly rods are of course fragile near the tips. This tool still works with those rods, and most anglers with hesitation needn’t worry about breaking the tip. If you are extra cautious, we would suggest getting the telescopic version of the CatchALure.