Hardy Fly Reels

Hardy was founded in 1872 by William Hardy, a gunsmith from Alnwick, England. Soon after being founded, the company shifted from guns to fishing. By 1891, they built the first Hardy Perfect fly reel. These reels were the standard for fly fishing quality for many years. Even today, Hardy reels inspire visions of fishing on English chalk streams.

The Perfect is still produced to this day and remains a quintessential Hardy reel. The 2013 Perfect still features much of the same features as the original, but its made of great modern materials. Be on the lookout for special editions! The Hardy Perfect Diamond Jubilee is the perfect companion for a custom bamboo rod.

But Hardy has come a long way from the first perfect. In 2011, Hardy released the acclaimed Ultralight DD. The Ultralight DD features an extra large arbor - much larger than even supposed "large arbors" set on a narrow frame. The narrow size means that you'll have to do less line winding. Combine high-tech with rugged good looks, and what do you have? A Hardy fly reel.

Need the ultimate weapon for tarpon and other big game? There's a Hardy reel for that too. The new Fortuna X fly reel was designed in conjunction with legendary tarpon angler (and a pretty good skier), Andy Mill. With up to 32lbs of drag, the Fortuna is one of the toughest reels on the market. It features a fully sealed drag that's tested by submerging the reel and then freezing it - so you know that there's absolutely no chance of corrosion in the salt. Need more evidence? Check out the videos of Andy catching sharks and you'll be hooked too.

Whether you're seeking the latest in high-performance or classic good looks, look no further than Hardy reels.