Redington Behemoth 5/6 Review: budget bruiser with serious drag power

I’ve been fishing the Redington Behemoth 5/6 in gunmetal as my main trout/bass reel for a bit now, mostly on a 9' 5‑weight and occasionally on a 6‑weight. I picked it up because I wanted a reel with a real drag, not the toy drags you get on cheap click‑paws, but I didn’t feel like dropping a few hundred on a high‑end CNC reel. The Behemoth kept popping up in conversations as the "cheap but strong" option, so I gave it a shot.

Right away, you notice this reel is built with one clear idea: big drag and big capacity first, everything else second. It’s not trying to be the lightest or the fanciest. It’s more like a work truck than a sports car. If you’re expecting a super refined, super smooth, perfectly machined reel, this isn’t it. If you want something that can stop a strong fish without murdering your wallet, you’re in the right ballpark.

I’ve had it on rivers for trout, warmwater ponds for bass, and it’s taken a few knocks on rocks and gravel bars. I haven’t done hardcore saltwater with the 5/6, but I have messed around on brackish water and treated it like a beater to see how it holds up. So this is very much a "used and scratched" opinion, not an out‑of‑the‑box impression.

Overall, it’s pretty solid for the price, but it’s not perfect. The drag and capacity are the stars here. The weight, finish, and a few plastic bits are the trade‑offs. If you go in knowing that, you’re less likely to be disappointed and more likely to be happy with what you actually get for the money.

In terms of value for money, the Behemoth 5/6 sits in a nice spot. You’re paying entry‑ to mid‑level prices and getting a reel with a drag that honestly belongs in a higher price bracket. If your main goal is to have a reel that can actually slow down strong fish and hold a decent chunk of backing without emptying your bank account, it delivers. You can definitely feel where they saved money, but the core function – drag and capacity – is there.

Compared to cheap kit reels that come bundled with starter fly outfits, this is a clear step up. Those reels usually have weak or jerky drags and feel disposable. The Behemoth feels like something you can actually lean on if you hook into a stronger fish. On the flip side, compared to mid‑range CNC reels from brands like Orvis, Lamson, or others, you do notice the extra weight, the rougher adjustments, and the cheaper finish. If you’re already in that world, this might feel like a downgrade in refinement, even if the drag power itself is competitive.

For me, the sweet spot use case is: you want one reel that can handle trout, bass, maybe steelhead or light salmon if you size up, and you don’t want to baby it. You’re okay if it gets scratched, and you care more about function than looks. In that scenario, the Behemoth is good value. If you’re very picky about super smooth knobs, zero play, and a lighter setup, you might be happier saving more and jumping to a higher tier.

So, is it worth it? Yes, as long as you know what you’re buying: a strong, slightly clunky, budget‑friendly reel that trades polish and light weight for brute drag and capacity. For a lot of anglers, especially beginners or anyone building a backup setup, that’s a fair trade.

Design‑wise, the Behemoth is not subtle. It has that big, open frame with a deep V‑spool that looks almost overkill on a 5/6. On a trout rod, it kind of gives off "mini saltwater" energy. The gunmetal color is pretty neutral, nothing flashy, which I like. It doesn’t scream for attention, but if you line it up next to more classic reels from Orvis or Sage, it does stand out as more industrial and bulky.

The large arbor is legit. You really do get fast line pickup, and it helps with reducing line memory. When I’m stripping in line after a long drift, it’s noticeably quicker than older, smaller‑arbor reels I’ve used. The tapered (V) shape of the spool is actually handy when you’re putting backing and line on; you can thumb the line into place pretty easily, and it stacks fairly neatly. That said, the design comes at a cost: there’s a bit of spool wobble if you really wiggle it. It doesn’t affect fishing much, but it reminds you this is a die‑cast reel, not a high‑precision CNC job.

The drag knob is big and easy to grab, even with wet or cold fingers, which I appreciate. But it doesn’t feel very refined. On mine, you can feel a slight gritty sensation when you turn it, and the clicks aren’t super crisp. It does the job, but it feels a little cheap. Same with the front spool cap that holds the spool on: it’s plastic, and when you tighten it down you can tell it’s the weak point. You can’t really crank it hard because you’re always aware you might strip or crack it.

Overall, I’d describe the design as functional and a bit clunky. It’s not pretty in a classic way, but it has a certain "brutal" look that some people will like. Personally, I don’t mind how it looks on the rod, but if you care a lot about super clean machining and zero play anywhere, this design will feel a bit rough. It’s clearly built around price and drag power, not around perfection of fit and finish.

The materials are where you see exactly why this reel costs what it does. The frame and spool are die‑cast, not machined. That means they pour molten metal into a mold instead of carving it out of a solid block. The upside is cost and the ability to do funky shapes like the deep V‑spool. The downside is more weight and less precise fit. When you hold the Behemoth 5/6 in your hand, it feels solid but a bit dense for its size. On a modern light 5‑weight rod, you definitely feel that weight, though some people might like that for balance.

The star of the show is the carbon fiber drag stack. That’s the one part that feels like it belongs on a more expensive reel. It’s capable of a lot more pressure than you’ll realistically need on a 5/6, which is fine by me. I’d rather have extra drag than not enough. In actual use on trout and bass, I never got close to the limit. Most of the time I’m running it at a pretty light setting, and it’s smooth enough for that kind of fishing.

Where Redington clearly saved money is on the plastics. The spool retaining cap on the front is plastic, and it feels like it. It works, but when you tighten it, you’re always a bit careful not to overdo it. That’s probably part of why some users notice a little spool wobble; you just can’t clamp it down like a metal cap. The drag knob also doesn’t feel like high‑end hardware. It’s big and usable, but the material and the feel of the threads are a bit cheap.

All in all, the materials are good enough for a hard‑use, budget reel, but not more. You get a legit carbon drag and a tough, if slightly clumsy, metal body, at the cost of some cheap‑feeling parts and extra weight. If you’re rough on gear and don’t baby your reels, this mix is acceptable. If you’re picky about tight tolerances and premium feel, you’ll notice the shortcuts pretty quickly.

Durability has been a mixed bag, but overall more positive than negative. The die‑cast body itself is tough. I’ve dropped this reel on river rocks a few times, banged it off the side of the boat, and it’s still perfectly usable. No cracks or warping, just cosmetic stuff. You can feel that it’s a fairly chunky piece of metal, and that does help it survive impacts better than ultra‑light reels that feel like they’ll dent if you look at them funny.

Where you really see wear is in the finish. The coating scuffs and scratches pretty easily. After a handful of trips, mine already has noticeable marks around the rim and edges. It’s purely cosmetic, but if you like your reels looking clean, this one will age fast. Personally, I don’t really care how a reel looks as long as it still works, but it’s something to know upfront: this is not a reel that stays pretty.

The plastic spool cap and the drag knob are the parts I’m less confident about long term. So far, nothing has failed on mine, but I’m always aware that if something is going to break, it’ll probably be one of those. You can also see in other users’ feedback that the spool can have a bit of wobble because you can’t really crank that cap super tight. It hasn’t caused me functional problems, but it doesn’t give the same confidence as a fully metal assembly.

With basic care – quick rinse after dirty or slightly salty water, don’t throw it loose in a gravel driveway – I think this reel will last several seasons for most people. It’s not bombproof, but for the price, the durability is pretty solid. Just don’t expect the finish or plastic bits to look or feel new after a season of hard use. It’s a beater you won’t cry over if it gets roughed up, and that’s kind of the point.

Performance is where the Behemoth actually earns its reputation. The drag is strong, no question. On a 5/6, you’re not exactly targeting 30‑pound fish, but it’s nice knowing you’ve got real stopping power. On trout, you honestly barely touch what the drag can do; you’re running it light and just using it to protect tippet. On bass and the occasional surprise bigger fish, it feels solid. It doesn’t surge or stick at startup in any way that caused me problems.

Line pickup with the large arbor is fast, and that’s handy when a fish runs toward you and you’re trying to keep tension. I’ve had a couple of bass charge the boat and I could crank down line quickly enough not to end up with a big slack mess. The twin molded handle has a decent grip and doesn’t slip, even wet. It’s not fancy, but I never found myself annoyed by it, which is what I care about.

There are some downsides though. The drag adjustment isn’t very fine. You go from fairly light to pretty tight in not that many turns, and the gritty feel of the knob doesn’t help. Setting a very exact drag level is not its strong point. It’s more of a "close enough" type of adjustment. Also, because the drag isn’t sealed, I’m a bit cautious with it around sand and salt. After any brackish or dirty use, I make sure to rinse it, otherwise I definitely notice it feeling rougher.

In practice, for trout, bass, and general freshwater, the performance is absolutely good enough, and the drag is honestly overkill in a good way. If you’re thinking about pushing this 5/6 into serious saltwater duty, I’d say that’s not really what it’s for; step up in size or to a better‑sealed reel. But as a budget workhorse that can actually fight decent fish and not just spin, it gets the job done well.

The Redington Behemoth 5/6 is marketed as a "heavy‑duty" fly reel that can pull double duty for freshwater and some light salt stuff. On paper, the 5/6 size holds around 125 yards of 20 lb backing plus a standard 5‑ or 6‑weight fly line, and that feels accurate in real life. I loaded mine with a full 5‑weight line and had plenty of backing for trout and bass. You’re not going to spool a bonefish with this size, but for normal freshwater use, capacity is more than enough.

It uses a die‑cast frame with a carbon fiber drag system and a large arbor, deep V‑spool. Translation: they pour the metal into a mold instead of machining it from a solid block, which saves a lot of cost but usually means it’s a bit heavier and not as tight in tolerances. That’s exactly how it feels. It’s not junk, but you can tell it’s not a $500 reel when you look closely and spin things in your hand.

The reel comes set up for one hand retrieve (mine came left‑hand retrieve), and it’s easy enough to swap over if you’re not afraid to pop the spool off and follow the little diagram or a quick YouTube video. There’s no fancy case here, just the reel and a simple pouch. Nothing premium, nothing fancy, just the basics. And honestly, at this price, that’s fine by me.

In short, the Behemoth 5/6 is a budget‑minded reel with a strong drag and big‑reel vibes. If you’re expecting a polished, super light trout reel, you’ll think it’s a bit overbuilt. If you’re coming from truly cheap starter kit reels, it will feel like a decent upgrade that actually lets you use the drag for once.