Gear » Fly Reels

I've had the pleasure to fish the Hardy Averon reel for a few weeks now. While a full review from guide Kubie Brown is here, I wanted to give out my first impressions with one of the newest additions to Hardy's lineup. The Averon has a fully-enclosed spool and frame, a welcome feature after their old Ultradisc UDLA reel, which had a partially-open frame...

Hardy's wide spool Perfect fly reel has been in production for over 135 years, and the company has just released an update for the product. The upgraded 1921 Wide Spool Perfect sports an upgraded check mechanism (the reel's drag). Hardy says the check mechanism has been "refined to offer smoother performance, ensuring that anglers continue to enjoy the...

Hardy Fly Fishing has announced the launch of a new reel series called the Resonate. This reel is the brand's newest lightweight-focused product, replacing the Ultraclick reel currently in their lineup. This reel features a click-pawl drag system, although Hardy says this one is more adjustable than any the company has previously produced. Per a press...

Redington is continuing its recent run of fantastic machined reels with the release of the ACE. This reel is likely the follow-up to the company's well-received RISE reel, and builds on that foundation of attractive machining and an even more attractive price. The ACE utilizes a new lattice structure on the spool that Redington says is the "first of its...

Hardy announced the release of their new Averon reel, which will replace their current Ultradisc reel series. The Averon utilizes the same drag system, notably an unregulated adjustment knob that allows the angler to set the drag to whatever position best suits their current needs. Hardy says the Averon also has low startup inertia, which would be similar...

The fishing has been good here lately - good enough that I've shirked work duties and spent more time on the water than I should. And while being on the water is a blast, I've lost more than a few good fish over the past two months. I'm no fish-catching machine, by any stretch, but I feel like I've lost more fish than I normally do. Most of those lost trout...

Greys Fishing has released a new rod and reel combo they've dubbed the "Cruise." The rod and reel combo is available in weights 5, 7, or 8, and comes in lenghts of 9 or 10 feet. The Cruise retails for $189.95, but you can buy the reel separately for around $65. The Cruise rod is a medium fast action rod that's at home in both fresh and saltwater...

Cheeky has announced the release of a new line of fly reels—the Spray. The Spray reels won the Best in Category award at the most recent ICAST Trade Show in July. Spray reels are a premium reel family from Cheeky, sporting a brand-new drag system for the company. This drag system is fully-sealed and boasts "top-end power that can stop those monsters in...

In this story over at Gink & Gasoline, Louis Cahill takes readers through a few tips on getting the best performance from their fly reels. As Cahill notes, you probably paid good money for the reel, so it's worth knowing how to make it perform at a high level. You can read the story here.

In this most recent video in the How to Fly Fish series over at Orvis, Tom Rosenbauer walks us through why we need reels with a smooth drag. For most trout fishing, reels are nothing more than fancy line holders, but there are occasions when you need a solid drag. You can watch the video here.