Please remember that there are no ads on this page and 100% of our funding comes from your purchases, so if you find this review to be informative, please help us keep the reviews coming by purchasing your next fly reel from us.
Introducing the Hardy Resonate, Hardy’s new high-performance click & pawl fly reel that replaces the beloved Ultraclick. With an extremely low weight and some solid performance features, the Resonate certainly asserts itself as one of the finest clicker reels on the market. For small stream anglers who aim to shave every possible ounce, the Resonate offers noteworthy durability and a touch of elegance to a minimalist tool. Read on to learn more about the new Hardy Resonate, including details about its weight, spool design, and ergonomics.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Ultra lightweight - great for backpacking with featherweight Trout setups
- Full-cage frame for enhanced durability
- Solid retrieval performance for a small-water Trout reel
Cons
- Expensive for a click & pawl reel
- Ergonomics could use some improvement
Who It’s For
The Resonate is a lightweight, fast-retrieve click and pawl reel, making it ideal for backcountry fishing for Trout with lightweight creek rods. New England Brook Trout streams, small spring creeks, the Driftless streams, and western high-alpine creeks are all zones where the Hardy Resonate will shine.
Weight
Like the outgoing Ultraclick, the Resonate is an incredibly lightweight fly reel at a mere 2.85 ounces in the 4000 size. This is among the lightest reels on the market, right up there with the Echo Shadow Click (2.85 ounces), the Sage Click (2.95 ounces), and the Redington Zero (2.95 ounces). When shaving every possible ounce is important, the Hardy Resonate is one of the best options available in 2025.
Drag
Although the Resonate is a click-and-pawl reel, it does offer a tension check knob which provides some adjustment in the clicker tension. This can be useful in preventing over-spooling if you’re targeting bigger fish.
Sound
Hardy has a reputation of crafting reels with great sounding drag clicks, and the Resonate lives up to its name with a delightful incoming and outgoing click. We especially appreciate the louder outgoing click, which offers a crisp, mechanical sound that is reminiscent of heritage click-and-pawl reels.
Spool & Cage Design
Similar to the old Ultraclick, the new Resonate features a modern large arbor spool with respectable retrieval performance. In the 4000 size, we measured a maximum spool diameter of 3.5 inches, a spool width of 0.8 inches, and an arbor diameter of 2.4 inches. These specs result in about 8.3 inches of line pickup per turn, which is very solid for a click-and-pawl reel. If you’re targeting plump Brookies in the Rangely Lakes region of Maine, you’ll have no problem taking up line quickly and efficiently. However, if you’re looking for the absolute best retrieval rate on a clicker, the crown goes to the new Lamson Purist at 9 inches per turn.
One of the major upgrades the new Resonate received is a full-cage frame. This new frame design accommodates long, thin leaders much better than the old Ultraclick. Additionally, the full cage contributes to better durability, which is often a concern with ultra-lightweight Trout reels. Remarkably, the Resonate is still extremely lightweight even with the new full-cage design.
Looks & Ergonomics
Aesthetically, the Resonate is very similar to the outgoing Ultraclick. It features a similar highly ported frame and spool, and is offered in a similar anodized bronze color. This is likely a smart move by Hardy, as the Ultraclick was one of the most popular click and pawl reels on the market for several years with regards to its elegant yet sporty appearance.
The handle and tension check knob on the Resonate are rather small for a high-performance Trout reel. Although their small size surely shaves some weight, we’d appreciate enlarged components for a more user-friendly product, especially at the higher price point.
Warranty
Value
Price: $330
At $330, the Hardy Resonate Fly Reel sits at the higher end of the price spectrum for click-and-pawl reels, though it’s not the most expensive, with competitors like the Lamson Purist ($390) and the Ross Colorado ($375). Despite its premium price, the Resonate delivers impressive value through its thoughtful design and performance. Its incredibly lightweight build reduces fatigue on longer outings, while the full-cage frame and quick line retrieval provide solid functionality, especially for technical small-water scenarios. For anglers who appreciate Hardy’s heritage and are willing to invest in a high-quality reel with standout aesthetics and performance, the Resonate justifies its price point.
Conclusion
The Hardy Resonate Fly Reel is a worthy successor to the Ultraclick, combining the lightweight performance that small stream anglers need with thoughtful upgrades like the full-cage frame for added durability and functionality. While it commands a premium price, the Resonate offers excellent value for those who appreciate Hardy’s signature craftsmanship, timeless aesthetics, and precision engineering. Whether you’re bluelining high-alpine Cutthroat creeks or targeting wary Brook Trout in tight quarters, the Resonate shines as a reliable, elegant tool for the dedicated small-stream fisherman. For anglers seeking a refined, high-performance click-and-pawl reel, the Resonate is a standout choice.
Buy it with Free Shipping Here
Questions?
Give us a call at 888-413-5211 or drop us a line at [email protected]
Comments
(0)No comments yet. Be the first!