Inland,

Indeed, you don't fit any manufacturer's demographic if you machine your own reels. How was I to know? I responded to your criticism of the Hardys. I agree that they are not built as well as it is humanly possible to make a fly reel. However, most of us don't require one that perfect. From what I know, most Hardys give most owners a lifetime of service. Obviously your mileage has varied. Fortunately, you have a better option.

I recall when Wes Drain decided to machine some reels of his own. While the craftsmanship was impeccable, he basically copied the Hardy design of the St. John, without the spool perforations.

I have a Bogdan steelhead model, but I rarely use it. Aside from some sentimental value, I keep it as an example of precision machining. It's hardly necessary to meet the needs of practical angling. Which is what I began this thread about. How much reel is necessary for our rather simple task? How necessary is a disc drag for the relatively simple effort required to play most freshwater gamefish? The concensus, if any, is that they are handy for playing king salmon, and a fishing guide's day is easier if his clients are equiped with them. If you're machining your own reels, you probably have experience enough that you don't require a disc drag either, altho you may like one nonetheless.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Salmo,

"you probably have experience enough that you don't require a disc drag either, altho you may like one nonetheless."

On a lot of the new reels you go 3 clicks to far and you are nearly to lock up. I have worked real hard to get a soft bottom end so my drag can function in the range of a spring/pawl reel. And I purposely set my reel light enough so I have to palm the inside spool flange, or thumb the arbor, to add resistance. Certainly none of the high tech stuff is required. But that super-smooth reel, purring away, has a certain feel to it that, quite frankly, I am addicted to.

William

You really don't need those fancy disc drags for salmon or steelhead, I keep my drags light to prevent over run of line and palm the rim or hold the line against the spey rod upper butt section. Most of the time though I am using 4-10 lb leaders. Landed lots of steelhead and salmon within nothing more than the old Pluegers and Martins click/pawl drags. Have to chase them many times though. LOL

FL

While a guess you could say I have some fancy reels, But all of them are set so over-run is not a problem. Any thing more then that is over kill, your palm is the best drag! I give all the Hardy guys a bad time about the sound of them but it is a sweet sound. Don’t tell any of my friends I said sweet sound.