Made by Cheeky: See the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 fly reel on cheekyfishing.com
The Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 is a pre-rigged fly reel for 2 to 4 weight rods, arriving with 20 lb backing, a 90-foot green floating line and a 9-foot leader already installed. It weighs 4.1 oz and uses Cheeky's S-Power Drag. It suits small-water trout anglers and beginners. FFIP score: 8.1/10.
Overall: 8.1/10 and Highly Recommended
Verdict: A ready to fish reel for small water that just works.
Best For: Newer anglers and small-water trout, grayling and panfish anglers who want a light 2 to 4 weight reel that arrives spooled and ready to fish.
Not For: Anglers who want to choose their own fly line, or fish big water or large fish that call for a bigger reel and a heavier drag.
Price: MSRP at time of writing: $119 (per Cheeky's site).
Pros:
- Arrives with 20 lb backing, a weight-forward floating line and a 9-foot leader, so there is nothing to spool
- S-Power Drag uses a stacked alternating disc design with no detectable start-up inertia
- Light at 4.1 oz, with a quick-change spool and a CNC-machined blade-design frame
Cons:
- The included line is a general-purpose floating taper, so specialists may swap it
- It is sized for 2 to 4 weight lines, so it is not the reel for bigger rods
- Ships left-hand retrieve, so right-hand anglers need to convert it before fishing
The FFIP Scorecard
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drag performance | 30 | 8 | Smooth with no jerk on the first pull, and plenty for the trout and small fish this reel is made for. |
| Build/materials | 25 | 8 | Machined frame, ported spool and a solid feel in the hand; the finish has taken splashes and rock time just fine. |
| Weight/balance | 15 | 8.5 | At about 4 ounces it balances well on a light rod, and I never notice it on a short day. |
| Line capacity/retrieve | 15 | 7.5 | The 20 lb backing and 90 foot line show right through the ports; plenty for small water, not for anything that runs. |
| Value | 15 | 8.5 | At $119 and already spooled, it is hard to beat, with no trip to the shop to get it set up. |
| Overall (weighted) | 100 | 8.1/10 | |
How Is the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 Built? The Engineering Behind It
CNC-Machined Blade-Design Frame
Cheeky says the PreLoad 2.0's new CNC-machined frame uses a blade design that minimizes weight and strengthens structure. In engineering terms, a blade profile puts material where the loads are, along the edges that resist bending, and removes it where loads are low. That is how a 4.1 oz reel stays rigid enough to keep the spool aligned when a fish pulls sideways. A frame that flexes lets the spool rub, and rubbing means inconsistent drag.
S-Power Drag: Why Stacked Discs Start Smoothly
Cheeky's S-Power Drag is a stacked alternating disc system. In a disc drag, pairs of discs press together, and the friction between their faces is the resistance you feel. Stacking several discs spreads the pressure over a larger total contact area, which keeps each interface cooler and the resistance steadier. The key quality, which Cheeky calls no detectable start-up inertia, refers to the gap between static friction (before the discs slip) and kinetic friction (after). When that gap is small, a trout's first surge does not meet a hard stop, which is what breaks 5X and 6X tippet.
Pre-Rigged by Design: Backing, Line and Leader
Cheeky preloads the reel with 20 lb backing that it describes as low-friction and abrasion-resistant, a Cheeky-designed weight-forward floating line in green with a 90-foot length, and a 9-foot tapered loop-to-loop leader. The weight-forward taper puts more mass in the front section of the line, which helps load the rod and turn over flies; the maker says it has the taper to cast small streamers, dry flies and nymphs. The 300 comes with a 5X leader. Because the pieces are matched, there are fewer knots and mismatches to fail. The spool on my reel is stamped 300, which is the size I fish.
Quick-Change Spool, B2 Channel and Retrieve Conversion
The quick-change spool lets you swap lines, and the B2 Backing Channel is designed to make good use of the spool space. The reel ships left-hand retrieve and converts to right-hand. The retrieve is silent, which is a plus on quiet water. If you are new to setting up a rod, start with our guide to what gear you need to start fly fishing and our explainer on fly rod, reel and line weight.
On the Water with the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 fly reel
The main photo has the PreLoad 300 perched on a granite boulder next to a frothy, snowmelt-looking creek, with the sun flaring in the corner. It looks like a mountain stream in spring or early summer. The conditions were bright sun, white water and cold mist. I set the reel on the rock so the sun lit up the green line through the spool. It was a quick photo for a good product shot.
The second photo shows the reel riding on a Moonlit 3wt on a small forested stream, where I walked a log bridge with my dog. There are no fish in either shot. I have fished this reel for a season or two of small water trips, and it is a great small stream reel. Let's face it, there is not a heavy demand on a reel on water like this, so for the price it is an easy decision.
For the moment a trout takes the fly, see how to set the hook, fight and land a trout.
How Does the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 Score, Criterion by Criterion?
Drag performance (Score: 8/10)
On a 2 to 4 weight reel the drag job is gentle: protect fine tippet and let a spirited trout run without a stick. Cheeky's S-Power Drag uses a stacked alternating disc design, and the maker says it has no detectable start-up inertia and enough power to stop fish. In practice, the first pull should release smoothly rather than jerk, because light tippet cannot absorb a sudden spike in tension. This is not a big-game drag, and it is not meant to be. It is tuned for trout, grayling and bluegill, which are the species Cheeky lists for the 300. In my hands the drag is smooth with no jerk on the first pull, which is plenty for the trout and small fish this reel is made for.
Build/materials (Score: 8/10)
The frame is CNC machined in a blade design that Cheeky says minimizes weight and strengthens the structure, and a new notched spool cap improves grip. The reel ships with a case. Machining gives the frame a precise spool fit, and the ported, blade-style layout keeps the reel stiff without extra mass. At $119 this is a more refined build than most pre-rigged reels, though it will not match the fit and finish of reels costing several times as much. I like the machined frame, the ported spool and the solid feel in the hand, and the finish has taken water splashes and rock time just fine.
Weight/balance (Score: 8.5/10)
At 4.1 oz, the PreLoad 2.0 300 is a good match for light rods in the 2 to 4 weight range, where a heavy reel would make the tip feel dead. Balance depends on the rod: on a short light rod, a light reel keeps the center of mass near your hand so you can cast and hold the rod comfortably for hours. A reel that is too heavy tilts the rod butt-down and makes accurate small-stream casts tiring. The 300 is built to avoid that. At about 4 ounces it balances well on a light rod, and I never notice it on a short day.
Line capacity/retrieve (Score: 7.5/10)
The 300 is a small reel, and Cheeky designs it around a quick-change spool and a B2 Backing Channel, with a silent retrieve. It comes with 20 lb backing, a 90-foot weight-forward floating line and a 9-foot loop-to-loop leader, which is plenty for the species the reel targets. Small-water fish rarely run far, so capacity matters less than retrieve behavior: the spool turns quietly, and the ported frame lets you see how much line you have out at a glance. The 20 lb backing and 90 foot line show right through the ports. It is plenty for small water, but not for anything that runs.
Value (Score: 8.5/10)
The value case is the whole package. Cheeky's own site lists the PreLoad 2.0 300 at $119, and that price includes the reel, a case, backing, a purpose-designed floating line and a leader. Buying those pieces separately would add up, and spooling a reel correctly is a skill many new anglers find intimidating. The trade-off is that you are locked into Cheeky's line choice unless you buy a spare spool or re-spool. At $119 and already spooled, it is hard to beat for me, with no trip to the shop to get it set up.
Who Should Buy the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 (and Who Should Skip It)?
Buy the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 if you are starting out, want a spare reel for a light rod, or fish small water for trout, grayling and bluegill and do not want to think about line choice. It is also a handy second reel for a travel rod. Skip it if you fish larger rivers, big fish or heavier rods, where Cheeky's 350 or 375 PreLoad sizes, or a different reel, would be better. Skip it too if you already have a line you love. Even a simple reel benefits from care, so read maintenance that protects your fly fishing investment.
How Does the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 Compare?
| Reel | Line weight | Weight | Price and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 | 2-4 | 4.1 oz | $119 (Cheeky); S-Power Drag; backing, 90 ft floating line and leader included |
| Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 350 | 5-6 | 4.4 oz | $124 (Cheeky); same system sized for 5 and 6 weight rods |
| Moonlit Eclipse 2/4 (FFIP Shop) | #3-4 | 4.27 oz | Starting from $104.99; sealed stainless steel and carbon disc drag; the listing describes the reel only, not a preloaded line |
If you want the reel to arrive ready to fish, the PreLoad is the clear choice. If you would rather choose your own line, the Eclipse costs less and leaves the rigging to you.
Our Pick in the FFIP Shop
Moonlit Eclipse Reel (Starting from $104.99)
The Moonlit Eclipse is a machined die-cast reel with a sealed stainless steel and carbon disc drag, offered in 2/4, 5/6 and 7/8 sizes. Unlike the PreLoad, it does not come rigged with line, so you choose and spool your own, but it costs less and has a drag built around the same disc idea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What line weight is the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300?
The Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 is built for 2 to 4 weight lines. Cheeky's page lists a line weight of 2-4 and says it is designed for trout, grayling and bluegill.
What comes with the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300?
The Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 comes with a reel case, 20 lb backing, a weight-forward floating line about 90 feet long and a 9-foot loop-to-loop tapered leader, so you only need to tie on a fly.
How much does the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 weigh?
The Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 weighs 4.1 oz according to Cheeky's product page. It ships left-hand retrieve and can be converted to right-hand.
How much does the Cheeky PreLoad 2.0 300 cost?
Cheeky lists the PreLoad 2.0 300 at $119 on its website at the time of writing. The 350 is $124 and the 375 is $129. Dealer pricing may differ.
Final Verdict
This is the reel I hand to a friend who is just getting started. It comes spooled, it is light and the drag is smooth. For me this is a great price point reel.
Christian's Pro Tip: On smaller rods you can jump up and down quite a bit in line weight. I use this reel on a 2, 3 and 4 weight rod, and it is a good all-arounder.
Tight lines, everyone!
