Modern design meets classical elegance in the Hardy Ultralight reel series. Designed and crafted by Hardy in Alnwick England it would be difficult to find a more venerable reel in this price range. Winner of the 2011 best in show award at the International Fly Tackle Dealer show, the Ultralite DD (Disc Drag) is offered in sizes suitable from 3 weights to 12, can easily be switched between left to right hand retrieves without tools and simply looks stunning. The audible click of the drag reminds you of the reel's historical roots. MSRP starts at $225 but if you would have had me guess the price upon handling and fishing with it I would have guessed $400 without much of a thought. This reel is sexy and has the performance to match. 

The size to weight ratio is remarkable. By designing an extra large aluminum arbor it allows the angler to retrieve line quickly while keeping the weight marginal. Perhaps, some may be concerned about the durability of a reel this light, but I can attest that after 3 years of hard fishing and abuse the reel has withstood wear well. Hardy employs nothing less than aircraft grade aluminum in the Ultralite's construction. In other words, if it is tough enough to support a landing Boeing 747 it is more than enough for a fly reel. Some minor scratches are present from dropping it on that occasional rock you misinterpreted to be less slick than it really was but honestly the finish is still superb and the integrity of the frame remains perfect. The drag is precise and what you would expect from Hardy, easily adjustable and will tighten down more than enough for most any freshwater or  saltwater applications. Maybe a 100 lb Giant Trevally could push this reel to it's limits but that applications is not what this reel was designed for. It is more than enough plus some for your 8 lb trout or 25 lb muskie should you be so lucky. 

This is a strong, lightweight, simply captivating reel at a great price considering what you are getting and who you are getting it from. It will look and feel like you have an Aston Martin in your hands, yet you will know you only paid a Toyota price. As rods become lighter and stronger we expect the same for our reels, but many have had difficulty cutting weight without compromising strength or functionality. Strong, smooth, and elegant. The Hardy Ultralite delivers. 

Few could argue that fishing Saltwater pushes us as anglers to our limits. The fish often are bigger, fight harder, and the seascape captivating. Yet saltwater fishing presents its own unique challenges to our gear, specifically saltwater easily corrodes metal and will ruin your new $200 reel without much thought. However, corrosion is not inevitable and there are steps you can take. First and foremost, rinse your reel after each use with fresh cold water. Secondly, periodically remove the spool and wipe down exposed parts with baby shampoo and then rinse in cold water, dry. Doing this will go a long way in preventing corrosion, yet invariably we all have days when we are in a hurry or just forget to take the extra maintenance steps required after fishing saltwater and corrosion does occur. Is there anything you can do then? Well yes and no, if it has gone on too long your reel is probably ruined, but if you catch it early enough there are some things you can do to minimize the damage from corrosion. First, take the reel apart and liberally spray WD-40 on the parts, allow to soak overnight. Secondly, rinse in cold water and allow to fully dry. Third, place parts in a plastic or glass bowl filled with enough white vinegar to cover them fully, add baking soda and allow the reaction to take place. When the reaction is complete rinse parts in cold water, dry, and reapply grease. From experience, I had to get just one more trip to the water before heading to the airport, the above steps saved a reel which was barely serviceable to one which was performing at 80-90%. Obviously the efficacy of the above steps will depend on the amount of damage already done and some reels will not be able to be saved, that said it takes little time and money to try it and the result could save you a lot of money. Daily and regular maintenance are paramount to fishing in saltwater but hopefully if you do start to find corrosion you can at least minimize the damage. Good luck out there and tight lines. 

Abu Garcia has done an excellent job in recent years defining itself as a leader in the low profile baitcaster market. Further, they offer a wide range of products that can fit a variety of budgets and fishing styles. I recently picked up a Revo SX, played around with it for a few weeks in a variety of conditions and have the following thoughts on it. 

First the specs: the reel weighs in at 6.7 ounces, offers 9 + 1 ball bearings, has a max drag of 10 lbs, is offered in either a 6.4:1 or 7.1:1 retrieve ratio, and has an MSRP of $159.99. 

Aesthetically the reel is very sharp looking with tight tolerances. It is a pleasure to hold and will look sharp on a variety of rods with its matte black modern look. Ergonomically it feels light enough in the hand and palmed well for me. 

Performance: I used this reel up north fishing for large pike and also here in Kansas for bass. In testing I  used a variety of crankbaits, frogs, spinnerbaits, and buck tails. Overall I was moderately happy with the results in how it handled the retrieve of these baits but did notice it seemed to be lacking some force when it came to deep-diving crankbaits and double bladed buck tails, nothing terrible but for larger baits one would appreciate something with a little more backbone in her gears. Casting was as expected. Nothing extraordinary nor disappointing either. Braking System: Unlike the STX, the SX only has magnetic brakes instead of a dual system. However, they are easily adjustable, seemed quite responsive, and it was easy to dial it in to get the results I wanted. 

Conclusion: A good mid-range reel from a very reputable company. I enjoy fishing this baitcaster and it  didn't break the bank. Anglers wanting to throw oversized baits or win a casting competition should look elsewhere. That said I have no doubt this reel will serve me well for several years to come and bring many bass to hand. It is an excellent reel for general purpose fishing and for me will fit the niche of a frog/spinnerbait reel.

The Pfluelger President Spinning reel is high quality reel for a great price. Current MSRP is ranges from $45-$70 depending on the size. Features include 9 stainless steel bearings, graphite frame, instant anti-reverse on/off settings, and stainless steel/felt disc drag system. 

I am tough on gear and fish several times per week during my high season and you cannot beat this reel, in this price range. Drag is smooth and consistent. Easily handles runs from that surprise big fish. Line management for monofilament and braid is superb and spool is equipped to be braid ready. One caveat to this is the reel lip is somewhat shallow for fluorocarbon and its handling is marginal with this line type dependent upon the stiffness of the line. The bail flips back with minimal effort if you start to reel prior to manually resetting it. 

As with all felt drag systems, the felt can be permanently compressed over time so be sure to disengage your drag while storing your reel. Secondly, felt drag systems do break down over time at a faster rate compared to carbon, rulon, or cork. That being said, I cannot overemphasize the smoothness of the drag for the price, excellent value. Decompress your drag and maintence your reel at least yearly and it will last you a long time with little decline in performance. My oldest President is 5 years old, is my most fished spinning outfit, and the drag remains solid and smooth.

Aesthetically I find it to be a pretty sharp looking reel and really like the light metallic blue color. Finish holds up well, despite me banging them around continually. My only critique on the looks is the President used to come with a wooden knob on the handle. Really gave the reel a nice touch. Unfortunately the newer models have a rubber knob, while this certainly improves the grip, I cannot help but remain somewhat sentimental for the older look. 

I own three of these. It is the only reel I own three of. I trust them day in and day out and have for years. For the price you cannot find a better real and really need to jump up at least $100-$150 to get a higher performing reel for which you are mostly upgrading the drag to a carbon or ralon system.