The best 6 weight trout fly reel ever?

[zach vandehey]

Hey all,

So I was thinking about when I was younger and how I would fish with any reel that would hold line without much thought to the “nice” equipment. So what is the best 6 weight trout reel ever made (in your own opinion)?

It can be the reel you fish with, a classic or something that you dream about. I just thought that I would see what everyone thinks!

I still don’t own a fancy or even nice 6 weight reel, I’ve been dumping all my money into spey stuff in search of steelhead.

Zach

[allen schaugaard]

The Hardy Perfect! That reel has proudly served anglers for generations.
I want one!

[jt benton]

I’m afraid that the answers to your question are going to be pretty darned subjective.

[zach vandehey]

I’ve heard people say the Hardy Perfect, why does that reel have such a reputation anyway?

JT–yeah i know that its pretty subjective, thats kinda why I wanted to know what everyone thoug. And yes, most 6 weights are over engineered for trout lol.

[boydo]

G’day guys, I also have a preference for the House of Hardy. My favorite 6wt reel is the Ultralite Disc #6. I have been using this particular reel for close to 20 years and has never missed a beat.

Cheers Boydo. 😎

[none]

I’ve heard people say the Hardy Perfect, why does that reel have such a reputation anyway?

JT–yeah i know that its pretty subjective, thats kinda why I wanted to know what everyone thoug. And yes, most 6 weights are over engineered for trout lol.  

Because the Perfect has been around since 1890’s? I doubt any of the current reels will survive such a time.
Perfect is just an amazing reel in terms of functionality and grace. It’s engineered ‘just enough’ for trout fishing.

I think any click and pawl reel is perfect for trout fishing. All those cork drag reels are just too much for this type of fishing. But hey, anyone is allowed to make a fashion statement on stream!

I’d say the Orvis CFO IV (old model).

Update:
Why the CFO IV?

* readily available (Orvis sold them for many years in large numbers)
* spare spools readily available
* has a rim for hand palming
* is lightweight yet strong
* has lots of holes for getting the line dry
* looks very classy on both graphite, glass and bamboo
* very affordable (<$200)

[Zach Matthews]

There’s no right answer; these kinds of threads are basically just invitations for people to list their preferences.

[allen schaugaard]

Jay, I hate to disagree, I know most people believe that gear pawl reels are only suited for trout situations. However I don’t think there is a fish in freshwater that you cant catch on a gear pawl reel including Steelhead and Salmon. I think that most of the reels we use are way over engineered for what we do with them. Even on my sealed disc drag reels I set the drag just enough not to back spool and prefer to palm the spool rather than cranking up the drag.

But that’s just me an I realize most people want a bomb prof sealed drag for everything they fish for.

[none]

Allen, I don’t think we disagree. In fact we agree!

In those days of Lee Wulff fishermen battled salmon, steelhead, bonefish and tarpon on simple click and pawl reels by hand palming. In fact, fighting fish became too easy with all those corked tefloned sealed drags. It’s just like ABS on cars. Some folks don’t know how to use the brakes simply because they rely on the ABS when situations get tricky.

[allen schaugaard]

Glad to hear im not alone in my thoughts

[zach vandehey]

I know that there is no “best” reel out there, just thought that it would make for some fun conversation. I was able to catch trout after trout on the old reel that my grandpa gave me and the drag barely functioned at all.

I just thought that I would see what reel is in everyone dreams. What reel they choose for trout over any other (be it over manufactured or not)

Zach

[flybyknight]

1) Hardy Perfect. Have mine over 55 years now and still going strong.
2) Lamson for 8 & up
IMHO

Dick

[zach vandehey]

1) Hardy Perfect. Have mine over 55 years now and still going strong.
2) Lamson for 8 & up
IMHO

Dick

Those Hardy’s must be pretty nice reels to last that long and still keep going

[henry schmidt]

Are the newer Hardy reels actually as good as the older made in England Hardy’s?

[none]

The current re-issue of the Hardy Perfect are all still made in England.

[allen schaugaard]

I have played with a couple of the new Hardy’s and I think there every bit as good as the old ones and probably better. Which makes me a little sad because there not made in England.

I know they claim the new perfects and made in England but I have my doubts. They Might be assembled in England but I wouldn’t be surprised if there machined in Japan, than shipped for assembly

Zach, as for the reel I want above all others it is an Olson, and it would go on a C.F. Burkheimer Two handed 8 wt.
http://classicangler.blogspot.com/2009/08/hand-made-fly-reels-by-william-olson.html

[none]

Let’s stop the chance of misunderstanding.
The new Hardy Perfects are made in England:
http://fly.hardyfishing.com/en-gb/products/reels/heritage-reels/perfect-trout-reels/

[Morsie]

Sage 2560. I had a Hardy Perfect. Inherited it from grandfather. I slipped on a rock and landed on it – shattered the frame like glass. I find Hardy reels too noisy. The sound of that ratchet is like a chainsaw.

Morsie

[none]

I find Hardy reels too noisy. The sound of that ratchet is like a chainsaw.

That’s part of the charm. Letting the whole neighborhood know that you’ve got fish on! 😀

[allen schaugaard]

I find Hardy reels too noisy. The sound of that ratchet is like a chainsaw.

That’s part of the charm. Letting the whole neighborhood know that you’ve got fish on! 😀

I agree, I love the sound of the Hardy

[Author]

Posts