MidCurrent Tested and Trusted: Abel SD Series Reels
The author’s lineup of Abels is a testament to their performance and durability. Photo: Jake Burleson
The comments section under nearly every Abel Reels social-media post reads the same: “No one needs a thousand dollar reel.” “That costs more than my whole setup.” “I would never spend that much just to hold line.” They are not technically wrong. No one truly needs a reel of this prestige. But when fishing is your only vice and a reel fails under pressure, it becomes more than an inconvenience. It means a lost day on the water, a missed trip, or worse, the fish that could have been the one.
The Abel SD series of reels stands out for one reason above all others: reliability. These reels are built for anglers who fish hard and expect their equipment to last a lifetime. I fish two SDF (Sealed Drag Fresh) 6/7s, one in Blue III and one in Satin Slate, along with an SDS (Sealed Drag Salt) 7/8 in Full DeYoung Carp Flank. None of them is a display piece or trailer queen. They are fished constantly—dropped, dunked, thrown, and trusted to work without issue.
The SD is available in an astonishing variety of finishes.
Build and Design
The frames and spools are machined from cold-rolled 6061-T650 aircraft-grade aluminum. Cold rolling happens below the metal’s recrystallization temperature, increasing strength through strain hardening by up to 20 percent. This process also improves the surface finish and allows Abel to achieve extremely tight tolerances. The result is a reel that feels both refined and indestructible.
Abel’s craftsmanship is immediately apparent. Every reel is rock solid, the machining is flawless, and the anodized finishes are some of the best in the business. My Blue III shows every scratch and scuff like a journal of long days on the water. The Satin Slate version hides wear and has developed a patina that brings to mind the classic leaded finish on old Hardy reels. The DeYoung Carp Flank SDS gets a little more care. It was a gift from close friends, but it gets fished hard, bouncing around in skiffs and tossed on the bank when it is time to put a fish in the net.
The author fishes the Denver South Platte with SDS 7/8 with a Carp finish by Derek DeYoung. Photo: Jake-Burleson
Performance on the Water
Any reel can look good and perform well in low-stakes use. What separates the SD series is how consistently they do it after years of use. I fish these reels more than any others I own and hand them to clients who expect my guidance and gear to land big fish under pressure. I have never had one jam, fail, or lock up. They can be dropped in the sand, rinsed in saltwater, or stepped on, and they keep spinning smoothly.
Each model offers more than enough drag for its class. The SDF delivers around 10 pounds of usable drag, while the SDS reaches well above 25 pounds—more than you would ever need for everything from bonefish and redfish to giant carp and hard-pulling wiper. The drag engages instantly and smoothly, with no startup hesitation. The knob is large, easy to find, and easy to adjust mid-fight, even with wet hands or a good case of the shakes from a special fish.
The author’s SDF 6/7s in Blue III shows signs of abuse, but it’s still in the main rotation.
The reels are not especially light, with the SDF 6/7 weighing 5.6 ounces and the unported SDS at 8.8. I prefer a reel with some substance, and these balance modern rods well. The weight adds confidence and certainly does not contribute to fatigue.
Durability in the Real World
One night while fishing for carp on the Denver South Platte, a big fish ran around a bridge piling. I climbed up to work it free, and as I tried to pass the rod back to myself, the fish surged and ripped it from my hands. The reel smashed into the concrete and fell about thirty feet onto the base below. When I got to it, the impact had sheared the two screws attaching the reel foot to the frame and broken the hardwood handle. The frame and spool, however, were still true and unbent.
Although they are beautifully made, these reels are designed for hard use, and the author has no qualms about letting young Sloan fight fish with his SDF. Photo: Rick Mikesell
I landed the fish by holding the reel above the rod and reeling with the remaining handle skeleton. Back in the fly shop, I extracted the broken screws, replaced them with new ones from an Abel repair kit, and attached a fresh handle using a little Loctite. The reel was back on the water the next day, working as smoothly as before—no frame bend, no grinding. That is the kind of exceptional durability that defines Abel.
Good. Durable. Cheap. Any Two, but Never All Three.
Abel reels are expensive. The SDF and SDS start at $999.99, and custom finishes can push some well past $2,000. But every one of them is machined, assembled, and anodized in Montrose, Colorado. The variety of anodized colors and hand-painted finishes are endless, unmatched in fly fishing, and reflect the same care that goes into the internal mechanics. The Abel SDS and SDF represent the kind of craftsmanship, durability, and top-level performance that many anglers only need to experience once to understand why they have become the benchmark for reliable and beautiful fly reels.
