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Reel developer: ‘The industry is solving backlash in the wrong way’

Rob Carter July 5, 2026

Backlash isn’t the problem, backlash management is – that’s the view of Svivlo founder and CEO Patrik Zander, the man who has turned line management technology upside down and is now seeking global distributors for his game-changing reels.

Angling International: The fishing industry seems more focused on backlash than ever before. Why now?
PZ: Backlash has been on the industry’s lips for decades. But recently we have seen an acceleration with solutions such as VoltiQ, ParaMag, iReel2 and other systems. More manufacturers are moving toward digital cast brakes and electronic control. That tells us something important. The industry now agrees on the problem of backlash. But I believe it is still solving it the wrong way.

AI: What do you mean?
PZ: Backlash isn’t the problem. Backlash management is. For decades, the industry has tried to help anglers manage backlash. They have tried:

Mechanical brakes
Magnetic brakes
Digital brakes
Brake settings
Spool tension
Thumb control

Every new generation of reels adds another layer of management. But management is not the same as a solution. The more settings a reel has, the more ways it can fail, it’s as simple as that. Every setting exists because something still needs to be managed. And every time conditions change – wind, lure weight, casting technique or fishing style – someone must adapt. The question is: who should be responsible, the angler or the reel? At Svivlo, we believe it should be the reel.

Al: That’s a bold statement.
PZ: I don’t think it’s bold. I think it’s inevitable. Look at other industries. Cars no longer require manual choke controls and cameras no longer require manual focus for most users. Technology evolves by removing complexity. Baitcasting should be no different. For decades, baitcasters have been judged by how many adjustments they offer. Maybe they should be judged by how few they need.

AI: And how did Svivlo approach the problem?
PZ: We started with a simple question: why should anglers have to manage backlash in the first place? Traditional baitcasters put the responsibility on the angler.

Adjust the brakes
Adjust the spool tension
Use your thumb
Adapt to the wind
Adapt to the lure
Adapt to line
Adapt your casting style

We believe the responsibility was placed on the wrong side of the equation. The reel should adapt to fishing and not the other way around. That’s why Svivlo reels have:

Zero brake settings
Zero brake profiles
Zero modes
Zero backlash management

It’s not because we removed functionality, but because we solved the problem and removed interruption. We don’t believe control is adjustability. Control is repeatability. The best cast isn’t the longest cast, it’s the cast you can repeat over and over again with confidence.

AI: So where do you think the industry is heading?
PZ: I think the direction is already clear. The entire industry is moving toward easier casting, less thumb dependence and fewer backlashes, making baitcasting more available. We’re seeing it everywhere. The debate has never been whether backlash is a problem. Everyone agrees it is. The debate is about how to solve it. The industry keeps adding management.