Our History

Every breakthrough begins with a spark, an idea bold enough to challenge the ordinary. For Mako Reel Company, that spark came from aerospace engineer and passionate angler Jack Charlton, who transformed precision aerospace machining into a revolution in fly fishing. His vision reshaped an aging tool into a world-class reel that forever elevated the sport.

Jack’s earliest reels introduced the first truly sealed drag system, a benchmark that changed industry expectations. At Mako, we proudly carry that legacy forward. Every reel we build centers on a sealed carbon-fiber drag engineered to withstand brutal saltwater conditions and the hardest-charging gamefish on the planet.

Charlton was also the first to introduce true Type III anodizing for unmatched exterior durability, along with a configurable system that allowed multiple spools on a single frame, giving anglers a level of versatility never before seen. Those innovations remain woven into the DNA of every Mako we make.

A Mako Reel isn’t just equipment, it’s a lifetime investment. Built to endure, built to be handed down, and built to hold its value, much like the earliest Charlton reels now sought by collectors. When you fish a Mako, you hold a piece of fly-fishing history in your hands.