From Hip-Hop to Fly Fishing: Drake’s Unexpected Passion Project With NOCTA, Nike and Abel Reels

The NOCTA/Nike x Abel reel signifies a genuine effort to merge two seemingly disparate worlds, driven by Drake's personal connection to fly fishing.

Drake's limited edition "NOCTA" fly wear collection. A collaboration that involves Nike and Abel reels. / Mayfly Outdoors

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Drake, the Canadian rapper, actor, and singer, has done something unexpected: he's released a fly reel. Yes, you read that correctly. Through his fashion brand NOCTA, Drake has partnered with Nike and Abel Reels, a premier fly reel maker, to create this legit piece of fly fishing gear, which just hit the market a few weeks ago.

There Is a Rhyme to Drake's Reason

A collaboration between the famous rapper, Nike, and Abel reels comes on the heels of Drake's surprise appearance on the cover of The Drake — a fly fishing magazine. This clever and unexpected crossover was timed right before the launch of NOCTA's Opal collection — urban streetwear meets fly fishing.

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What is NOCTA?

NOCTA is a fashion brand that Drake, along with Nike, started in 2020. The brand draws inspiration from Drake's nocturnal creativity, athletics, and the outdoors. It's his love for the outdoors and his business partner Nicholas Carino's love for fly fishing that led Drake to create the Opal collection, an outside-the-box idea that expresses another dimension of who he is.

This collaboration definitely pushes boundaries and challenges expectations. By merging streetwear with fly-fishing and NOCTA/Nike with Abel reels, Drake may open up fly-fishing to a new and predominantly urban audience.

Drake's NOCTA/Nike collaboration with Abel fly reels. / Abel Reels

Abel Fly Reels Brings Fly Fishing Cred to the NOCTA Collection

Fly fishing allows us to enjoy nature at a deeper, more connected level. This motivates the protection of what we love. / Abel Reels

By bringing Abel reels into the collaboration, NOCTA's Opal collection gets a boost of fly fishing credibility. Within the fly fishing world, Abel is recognized as a premier maker of high-quality, durable, made-in-the-USA fly reels. The reel maker has previously partnered with musicians like the Grateful Dead, AC/DC, and Johnny Cash.

Rapper's Delight

Fly fishing has always been a portal to nature and inspires people to care for it. Fly anglers don't just look at nature, they participate in it, and this participation opens their eyes to seeing nature in a deeper, more meaningful way. Fly-fishing can also bring different people together through a love for the same thing.

The Opal collection is Drake's rhyme; the positive impact it can have on people and nature is his reason.

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“The gods do not deduct from man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.” - Herbert Hoover