Whats your opinion on Hardy reels???
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Get a Lamson Velocity instead. I was just looking at the Hardy reels at Avid Angler, and I hear that they are for the traditional guys out there (me included), I would put one on a bamboo 8 or 9 weight. I don't know why I would want to spend so much for tradition when I could get a better, lighter reel for the price, or save a scad of money and buy an Okuma Magnitude or Sierra for a non-traditional graphite rod.
Rob
Rob
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2,581 Posts
When you say for traditional guys, what do you mean?? Im not asking in a demeaning manner, im just curious as to why a Hardy reel would not do the same job as a lamson reel and why one would have to be a traditional fly fisherman to use a Hardy? :dunno The hardy has a disc drag and lifetime warranty. This is basically what I look for in my reels, besides the weight and "feel"?? Thanks for the input...I will research the Lamson also
~Patrick ><>
~Patrick ><>
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1,782 Posts
Aren't Hardy reels kinda Heavy and Expensive? I like light reels myself, throwing a 7w rod with a type3 sinktip and large arbor reel all day puts a toll on my arm. After about 8 hrs I can barely lift my arm.
Good luck Patrick!
Peter ><>
"Follow Me and I will make you fishers of Men"
Matthew 4:19
Good luck Patrick!
Peter ><>
"Follow Me and I will make you fishers of Men"
Matthew 4:19
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2,581 Posts
Hey Peter...what reel have you become accustomed to??
Keep it in the back of your mind, but when ever you get a chance to head over to the right side of the state, or Idaho, or Montana, get ahold of me so we can hook up and do some fishing. later brother
~Patrick ><>
Keep it in the back of your mind, but when ever you get a chance to head over to the right side of the state, or Idaho, or Montana, get ahold of me so we can hook up and do some fishing. later brother
~Patrick ><>
G
Guest
·You buy a Hardy to have a Hardy. Or should I say you buy a Hardy to hear a Hardy. There is nothing like the sound of a hot fish on a click and pawl Hardy. I can't speak to the Sovereign but can to the St. George, Marquis Salmon, Perfect and Bougle. There are better made reels out there and even some that cost a hell of a lot less. There are few reels out there though with the personality of a Hardy.
For what its worth, if you want a disc drag reel, I would look elsewhere. There are a number of good disc drag reels out there including the Velocity, the Teton and Tioga reels, Redington, etc.
The old click and pawl Hardy though is tough to beat as a workhorse reeland they do have style. I know that in recent years that disc drag reels are all the rage and they are certainly nice. For most of the fishing we do around here though, they are overkill. Contrary to what you can read on the internet, you don't need a disc drag for steelhead or trout. Do they make it easier? Probably yes, especially if you are not used to fighting bigger fish. And if you are going for salmon in the salt, I would go disc and certainly keep your non-saltwater Hardys away from the salt.
I fish both Hardys and Tetons for steelhead and on the Teton's, I never set the disc drag any more that to prevent over-run. I fish both because they have a nice sound and this lets me know what is happening with the fish. The Teton's go on my large speyrods and Hardy Bougles on my 7 and 8 weight speys.
I also own a Redington AL 11/12 which is a very smooth and servicable reel but is essentially silent on the outtake so it is for sale if anyone needs one.
One final note, if you are looking for a silent Hardy, there was a silent click Marquis made referred to as the poacher's model. They can sometimes be found on e-bay.
Hope this helps.
sinktip
For what its worth, if you want a disc drag reel, I would look elsewhere. There are a number of good disc drag reels out there including the Velocity, the Teton and Tioga reels, Redington, etc.
The old click and pawl Hardy though is tough to beat as a workhorse reeland they do have style. I know that in recent years that disc drag reels are all the rage and they are certainly nice. For most of the fishing we do around here though, they are overkill. Contrary to what you can read on the internet, you don't need a disc drag for steelhead or trout. Do they make it easier? Probably yes, especially if you are not used to fighting bigger fish. And if you are going for salmon in the salt, I would go disc and certainly keep your non-saltwater Hardys away from the salt.
I fish both Hardys and Tetons for steelhead and on the Teton's, I never set the disc drag any more that to prevent over-run. I fish both because they have a nice sound and this lets me know what is happening with the fish. The Teton's go on my large speyrods and Hardy Bougles on my 7 and 8 weight speys.
I also own a Redington AL 11/12 which is a very smooth and servicable reel but is essentially silent on the outtake so it is for sale if anyone needs one.
One final note, if you are looking for a silent Hardy, there was a silent click Marquis made referred to as the poacher's model. They can sometimes be found on e-bay.
Hope this helps.
sinktip
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1,782 Posts
Hi Patrick. I truely was looking for a reel that would cover all catagories of my taste: lightness,quality,drag,performance,durability,dependability and most of all VALUE! I finally came to a conclusion and ended up with a Lamson Litespeed 3 for Steelhead and Velocity 1.5 for Trout. I got the Litespeed new last year on Ebay for 200.00 and the Velocity new last month for 150.00 also on Ebay, both at the "Buy it Now" option.
I let my patience take over for months til finding these deals on Ebay. My patience sure paid off because I wasn't about to pay Retail prices for these reels.
For under 200.00 off the shelf, seriously look into Lamson's Velocity Large Arbor reels:
http://www.waterworks-lamson.com/velocity.html
IMO, NOTHING under 200.00 can touch this reel!
I'll get ahold of you this spring/summer and promise to get you hooked into a Steelie if you haven't already by then.
Good luck! Peter ><>
"Follow Me and I will make you fishers of Men"
Matthew 4:19
I let my patience take over for months til finding these deals on Ebay. My patience sure paid off because I wasn't about to pay Retail prices for these reels.
For under 200.00 off the shelf, seriously look into Lamson's Velocity Large Arbor reels:
http://www.waterworks-lamson.com/velocity.html
IMO, NOTHING under 200.00 can touch this reel!
I'll get ahold of you this spring/summer and promise to get you hooked into a Steelie if you haven't already by then.
Good luck! Peter ><>
"Follow Me and I will make you fishers of Men"
Matthew 4:19
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2,862 Posts
Hardy reels have a sort of religious quality: you either
believe in them or not. The House of Hardy has been around forever. At one time, Hardies were the only reel of great quality and they were pricey then and they fetch a good price now. The Hardy Perfect was available to me for about $60.00 and I wanted it badly but it was just too much money. Today, a Hardy Perfect is worth about $500 to $800 depending on condition.
I own two Hardies and they are more than reels to me. We go back together a long way and we have taken our share of fish. I am very sentimental about them and I would not part with my Hardies, regardless of the price offerred.
One of them is a St. Aiden (several Hardies were named after saints) and is my favorite reel. I paid $80.00 for her in 1960. I don't know what price she would fetch today. But that reel sings! To hear her sing is one of life's great pleasures.
The other reel is a Hardy Longstone which was designed as a single action mooching reel. She still runs perfectly. You can reach inside the spinning spool and apply the breaks all the way down to lock up with your fingers. A very fine reel,indeed. We've caught a gob of fish together and none was ever lost because of the reel.
If you are a techey, then hunt around for one of thousands of new reels, all good, all pricey.
If you are a romantic, then get a Hardy that suits your fancy and pocketbook. You will always be proud of it.
Personally, I belong to the school that says a reel is simply something to hold your line in an orderly manner.
But Hardy is more than simply that. It is a Hardy.
BOBLAWLESS :thumb
believe in them or not. The House of Hardy has been around forever. At one time, Hardies were the only reel of great quality and they were pricey then and they fetch a good price now. The Hardy Perfect was available to me for about $60.00 and I wanted it badly but it was just too much money. Today, a Hardy Perfect is worth about $500 to $800 depending on condition.
I own two Hardies and they are more than reels to me. We go back together a long way and we have taken our share of fish. I am very sentimental about them and I would not part with my Hardies, regardless of the price offerred.
One of them is a St. Aiden (several Hardies were named after saints) and is my favorite reel. I paid $80.00 for her in 1960. I don't know what price she would fetch today. But that reel sings! To hear her sing is one of life's great pleasures.
The other reel is a Hardy Longstone which was designed as a single action mooching reel. She still runs perfectly. You can reach inside the spinning spool and apply the breaks all the way down to lock up with your fingers. A very fine reel,indeed. We've caught a gob of fish together and none was ever lost because of the reel.
If you are a techey, then hunt around for one of thousands of new reels, all good, all pricey.
If you are a romantic, then get a Hardy that suits your fancy and pocketbook. You will always be proud of it.
Personally, I belong to the school that says a reel is simply something to hold your line in an orderly manner.
But Hardy is more than simply that. It is a Hardy.
BOBLAWLESS :thumb
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5,768 Posts
It would depend on the condition of the reel. If it's new, that's not a bad deal. I would look for disc drag and lifetime warranty on any reel I buy these days.As for fishing salt and then fresh or visa versa; you should rinse out your reel and follow manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning and lubing etc. There can be important differences in lube types, drying methods etc. You guys hear me harping about Ross reels allot. It's about as workmanlike a reel as you can get, with a simple but effective drag system and the best service and warranty in the business.I like the older Hardys and would collect them if I could afford it. I find the loder click models annoying. I have fished them and they are a bit of the old sod, tweedy and remind me of the irish wool sweater my uncle wore fishing in springtime. Might not be a steelhead reel though.
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1,135 Posts
I have owned 3 Hardy Perfects and a St George and sold them all. They looked cool and sounded great but I,ve just decided that U.S. made Pflueger Medalists just can't be beat for day in and day out salt and freshwater fishing under all conditions. I broke a spring in one Perfect and had another freeze up with ice in the winter. If I were going to keep my bamboo rods and only fish summers I would have kept them but they were worth too much money to fish the way I fish. Pfluegers are practically indestructible but they don't have that grating screech (sorry...music)when a big fish takes you into your backing like a good Hardy. Nothing does!
Randy
Randy
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118 Posts
wouldn't think of changing out my salmon no.1 for nothing even though there are much better reels out there. I guess they just get under your skin matches up with my english rod to
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