13 FISHING FreeFall XL Review: a heavier inline reel that rewards a bit of patience

I’ve been slowly switching from spinning reels to inline setups for ice fishing, mostly to cut down on line twist and have better control when I’m working jigs. The 13 FISHING FreeFall XL caught my eye because it’s clearly aimed at bigger jigs and bigger fish, not just tiny panfish stuff. Right-hand retrieve, 3.3:1 ratio, around 10 lb of drag – on paper it looked like something that could handle walleye and decent lake trout under the ice, not just perch.

I ran this reel over a handful of trips, mostly on a medium and a medium-heavy ice rod, with braid and fluoro leaders. I used it in about -10°C to -20°C, so not a torture test, but not warm either. I tried a mix of spoons, rattle baits, and heavier tungsten jigs. I also paid attention to the stuff that usually annoys me with inline reels: bird’s nests, sticky triggers, and weird drop behavior when you switch lure weights.

The short version: it’s a pretty solid reel if you’re willing to actually dial it in and learn how it behaves. If you just slap it on a rod, crank the drag, and hold the trigger like it’s a spinning reel bail, you’re probably going to hate it. I can see why some people leave bad reviews – this thing is a bit touchy until you get the hang of the drop and the magnetic braking.

It’s not perfect, and there are a couple of things that bugged me, mainly the overspin risk and the weight. But once I had it set up right, the FreeFall XL did what I bought it for: smooth drop, quick depth adjustment with the trigger, and enough drag to lean into a decent fish without feeling like the reel is going to explode. If you’re expecting magic out of the box, skip it. If you don’t mind a bit of tinkering, it’s worth a look.

Price-wise, the 13 FISHING FreeFall XL sits in the mid-to-upper range for ice reels, especially compared to basic spinning reels you can grab at any big box store. You’re paying for the inline design, the trigger system, and the magnetic braking. If you only ice fish a couple of days a year and mostly for small panfish, this is probably overkill. A cheap spinning combo will catch you just as many bluegills for a lot less money.

Where the value starts to make sense is if you’re serious about jigging and fishing bigger species under the ice – walleye, pike, lakers – and you actually care about line twist and fast depth changes. In that context, the reel feels fairly priced. The drop control, the decent drag, and the ability to fish braid or fluoro with less twist are real benefits, not just marketing noise. I noticed my jigs behaving better and my overall efficiency going up once I got used to the trigger.

On the downside, you’re paying for a reel that demands some learning and setup. If you’re the type who hates fiddling with adjustments and just wants to fish without thinking, the value drops, because you’ll either fight with it or end up not using it. Also, for the same or slightly more money, you can find other quality inline reels or even mid-range baitcasters that some people might prefer if they fish open water too.

For me personally, the value is pretty solid but not outstanding. It does what I bought it for, and I don’t feel like I wasted money, but I wouldn’t call it a steal either. If you already like 13 FISHING products and you want a beefier inline for ice, it fits nicely in that niche. If you’re budget-focused or unsure about inline reels in general, I’d say try a cheaper inline first and only jump to this if you like the style and want something more capable.

The main design feature here is the FreeFall trigger. You pull the trigger, your bait drops. Release it, and it stops. In practice, once you’ve tuned the magnetic braking for your jig weight, it’s pretty slick. I could drop a spoon to a school of marks on the flasher and stop it a foot above them almost instantly. Compared to a spinning reel where you’re flipping the bail, feathering the line, and reeling slack, this is simply faster and more direct. That’s the good side of the design.

The flip side is that the same design makes it easy to screw things up. If the magnetic brake isn’t set right for your lure weight, the spool just freewheels and you get overspin and bird’s nests. One of the Amazon reviews nailed it: it’s ergonomic and sensitive, but you have to be meticulous. I had the same experience. When I first swapped from a heavier spoon to a lighter jig and forgot to adjust the drop, the spool overran and I spent a minute picking braid out with cold fingers. After that, I got into the habit of tweaking the brake every time I changed lure style.

Ergonomically, I like the reel on a medium or medium-heavy rod. On a light panfish rod, it feels a bit bulky and front-heavy. The right-hand retrieve is fine for me since I’m used to baitcasters, but if you’re a left-hand retrieve person, this specific version is not for you. The handle is stainless, solid, and has enough length to give you decent leverage when you’re pulling up a heavier fish from 30–40 feet of water. The overall layout is clean: drag on top, brake adjustment easy to reach, trigger where it should be.

One design choice I appreciate is the magnetic braking instead of just a simple tension knob. It gives you a bit more fine control over the drop speed. But again, you need to actually use it. If you’re the type who hates tinkering and just wants to clip on a lure and fish, this design might feel fussy. If you’re okay spending a few minutes dialing it in for how you fish, the design starts to make sense and becomes pretty efficient on the ice.

The reel is listed as being made from a "blend" with stainless steel bearings and handle. In the hand, it feels like a mix of metal and good-quality composite. It doesn’t have that cheap shiny plastic feel you sometimes get on low-end ice reels. The frame feels rigid when you flex it, no creaking or obvious weak spots. The stainless handle feels sturdy, and there’s no noticeable play between the handle and the main gear when you crank on it with the drag locked down.

The 4 stainless bearings give it a reasonably smooth feel. Is it the smoothest reel I own? No. But it’s not rough either. Under light to medium tension, the spool and handle rotation feel clean. When you put more pressure on it with a heavier fish, you can feel a bit of resistance, but that’s normal for a 3.3:1 ice reel and not a dealbreaker. I didn’t notice any grinding or weird noises during a few outings, which is usually a sign that the internals are at least decently machined and aligned.

One thing I pay attention to with ice reels is how they handle cold and moisture. I used this in sub-zero temps, and while I didn’t dunk it in slush on purpose, it did get the usual snow and wet line treatment. I didn’t have any immediate freezing issues on the internals, and the trigger kept working fine. That said, this isn’t some sealed saltwater reel – if you’re sloppy with maintenance and just toss it in a bucket wet all season, don’t expect miracles. A quick dry and a bit of lube once in a while will go a long way.

Overall, the materials and build are pretty solid for an ice-specific reel in this category. It feels like something that can handle a few seasons of regular use if you’re not abusive. I wouldn’t call it indestructible, and I wouldn’t use it as a beater you throw around the truck bed, but for normal ice fishing use – on a rod case, in a sled, in and out of a shack – it holds up fine so far. There’s better-built gear out there if you want truly bulletproof, but you’ll pay more for it.

I haven’t put years on this reel yet, but after several outings in typical winter conditions – snow, slush, sub-zero temps, being thrown in and out of a sled – it’s holding up well. No loose screws, no wobbly handle, no sudden roughness in the gears. The stainless handle and bearings seem to be doing their job. The frame hasn’t picked up any cracks or obvious stress marks, and the trigger still feels as crisp as on day one.

One thing I watched for was any sign of the drag fading or becoming inconsistent after a few fish. So far, the drag is still smooth. I tested it by locking down a bit on a snag and pulling pretty hard, then backing it off again for normal use. It didn’t suddenly become jerky or weak, which sometimes happens with cheaper reels after you stress them. The click adjustments on the drag knob still feel defined, not mushy.

That said, at 7.2 oz, this isn’t some ultra-light magnesium build. It’s more of a solid, functional piece of gear. I wouldn’t toss it loose into a bucket with metal tools and expect the finish to stay pretty. The multi-colored finish and external bits will scuff and scratch if you abuse it. Also, this is not a fully sealed reel, so if you constantly dunk it in slush and never dry it or lube it, you’ll probably shorten its life. Basic care will matter here.

My honest take: durability seems good for normal, regular ice fishing. If you’re the kind of person who takes basic care of gear – lets it dry, doesn’t slam it in doors, throws a bit of oil on the moving parts once in a while – I don’t see any big red flags. If you’re rough on reels and want something you truly never have to think about, you might want to look at simpler, more overbuilt options, but those usually come with less finesse and fewer features.

Performance-wise, the drop control and trigger system are the main reasons to buy this reel, and that part mostly delivers. Once I set the magnetic braking for my jig weight, I could send baits down quickly and stop them exactly where I wanted. When fish were moving up and down on the flasher, being able to bump the trigger, drop a couple of feet, and stop instantly was genuinely useful. Compared to a spinning reel, I was definitely faster at adjusting depth, especially when I was hole-hopping and chasing suspended fish.

The 3.3:1 gear ratio is on the slower side compared to some spinning reels, but for ice fishing it’s fine. You’re not burning baits back like open-water casting. It still feels fast enough when you’re pulling up from 30–40 feet. On a couple of better walleye, the reel kept up just fine. I never felt like I was cranking forever to bring them up. The drag, rated around 9.9 lb, felt consistent. I set it so it would give a bit on surges, and it didn’t jerk or stick. For the usual walleye, pike, and lake trout sizes most people see through the ice, it’s more than enough.

Now, the downsides. If you don’t dial in the drop adjustment, this reel will absolutely overspin and give you a bird’s nest. It’s not as forgiving as a basic spinning reel where you can just pinch the line. A couple of times, when I got lazy switching between a heavy spoon and a lighter tungsten jig, I paid for it with tangles. After that, I treated it more like a baitcaster: every time you change lure weight, adjust the brake. Once I did that, the tangles basically stopped, but you have to be disciplined.

Line management is good in terms of reduced twist compared to spinning reels. My braid stayed straighter, and my jigs behaved better in the water, especially when I was working them aggressively. No weird spinning of the lure like you get with twisted line. So in actual fishing terms, the FreeFall XL helped with presentation. Overall, I’d say performance is strong if you use it properly, average or frustrating if you try to treat it like a no-brainer beginner reel.

On paper, the 13 FISHING FreeFall XL is a right-hand retrieve inline ice reel with a 3.3:1 gear ratio, about 9.9 lb of max drag, and 4 stainless bearings. It weighs 7.2 oz, so it’s definitely on the heavier side for an ice reel. It’s marketed as an "XL" version, which basically means it’s built for heavier baits and a bit more power than the tiny finesse inline reels you see for panfish. It has an Instant Hookup System (that’s the trigger you pull to drop your bait) and a Core Balanced Magnetic Braking system to control how fast the spool spins.

In the hand, it feels like a compact baitcaster that’s been adapted for ice. You get the trigger under your index finger, the handle on the right side, and a dial to adjust the drop/braking depending on the weight of your lure. It’s meant for braid, mono, or fluoro, which is pretty standard. I ran 10 lb braid with a fluoro leader and had no problem. The drag knob is easy enough to grab with gloves, and the frame feels solid, not hollow or toy-like.

Out of the box, it’s just the reel – no pouch, no extra spool, no fancy tools. You get what you see: one inline ice reel. The packaging is basic, more like "get it on the rod and go" than any kind of premium unboxing experience. Honestly, for an ice reel, I don’t need anything more, but at this price point a simple neoprene cover would have been nice to keep it from getting banged around in a sled or bucket.

Overall, the first impression is that it’s built more for function than looks. It sits in that mid-to-upper price range for ice reels, and the spec sheet fits that: not some ultra-high-end piece of jewelry, but clearly not the cheap plastic stuff either. If you’re already familiar with 13 FISHING gear, it lines up with what they usually do: slightly quirky design, but aimed at people who actually fish hard, not just once a year.