VR REELS - A Dispatch from Vlad

When Ukraine was invaded by Russia, now over a year ago, I was concerned and wondered if Vladimir Rachenko of VR Reels had escaped the conflict and if he was okay.  I sent him an email and heard back a few weeks later that he had fled his home, leaving everything behind, but that he was safe. 

For months now, he's again building fly reels that he's having made for him in Korea and he's working on setting up a shop where he's living now as well.  Quite a story of resilience and I hope that he will be able to return home at some point to resume fly reel building in his own workshop.

The VR Reels Classic Series offerings are some of the most beautiful fly reels being made right now and if you're not familiar, you should be.  The VR Reels Instagram page is a rabbit hole of fly reels photographs that you might not be able to get out of without ordering a fly reel...or several.

Vlad wrote...  "Here's a little about me.  I was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and I started fishing in my childhood with help of my uncle and grandpa.  I graduated in 1993 with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Kharkiv Aviation Institute. 

Although my career has been in aerospace and transportation engineering, for the past twenty years I have worked with fishing companies within the United Kingdom and USA as a reel designer.

With VR Reels, I have been designing and making fine fly reels for more than 20 years.  All in all, we have designed over 30 different models of reel from small 2 1/4″ Trout Classics to huge 5 1/2″ super-modern disc drag reels capable of subduing a shark.  Our range extends from a simple traditional "Click & Pawl" design drag to a very complicated, fully sealed, cutting-edge carbon fibre drag system!  We have designed and manufactured many full Titanium models as well.

Our reputation has been built on delivering beautiful, innovative, high-end products that assist you not only while fishing but are also pieces of art on your shelf or in a collector’s cabinet!

Since the Russian invasion many many different things have happened in my life but I have finally managed to get the reels made and they are available again.



Even though because of the obvious reasons I was unable to produce the reels in my home country, I found a very accomplished engineering company in South Korea.  I'm truly delighted with the high quality of manufacture and I'm sure you will be too.  I visited the factory and controlled all the manufacturing processes in person.  Each reel has been inspected and built by myself personally.  So, I am delighted to say that I'm very much satisfied with the result!

Take a few minutes to visit the VR Reels website and follow along with the latest shop news on Facebook and Instagram.  Free express shipping worldwide is available on all fly reel purchases.

VR Reels are distributed in the United States by Graywolf Rods and you can visit the website to see what is currently in stock.