Classic Fly reel for the nostalgic and devoted Salmon angler
It seems to me, that after many years of vast and great innovations in the Fly tackle industry, numerous of angler’s starts to pick up some of the older stuff again these days. I believe that one of the reasons could be, that a lot of the old stuff still representing outstanding performance/design and high quality combined with tremendous durability – Features you don´t come across easy today.
My own passion for old Fly reels and especially old Hardy reels, started already as teenager, fishing for Brown trout in Danish Jutland. That is more than thirty years ago now, but for me the classic Hardy reels still symbolize some of the best stuff you can buy and use today. I also find it charming, that a lot of the young Hard core Steelhead bums who is flogging the big BC. Steelheads Rivers now at days, have a big fat classic Perfect or Bougle reel attached on their favorite Spey rods.
For many Fly fishing anglers following story should be well know – Nevertheless – It is a pleasant window into a fascinating Fly reel history – A history we have to remember in our futuristic and high tech age.
The first Hardy reel patent was registered in 1888, and since then many patents have followed. One of Hardy’s most popular reels appeared in 1891. It was understandably called the “Perfect”. It included most of the improvements that fishermen had been asking for up to that time. The spool was narrow and deep. An adjustable check supplied the friction to keep the spool velocity from over running the line while playing a fish. Up to that time most fine reels were made from brass. The first Perfect reels were also made from brass. After a short period they were machined from an aluminum casting. This made the Perfect very lightweight for its time.
A great contributor to the reels success was its ease of disassembly which is accomplished by rotating the side plate backwards. Both ends of the reel turns. This allows the angler to palm or finger a side plate for more friction while playing a fish.
The “Perfect” can rightly claim to be the most successful fly reel of all time, having remained in production for over of a century, during which time many dozens of variations and improvements to the original design were made.”, is quoted from “A History of Fly Fishing” by Dr. Andrew N. Herd.
In 1903, Louis Bouglé, a French tournament caster, asked Hardy to make a lighter variation of their Perfect reel for competition casting.
The Bouglé Mark V is most advanced version yet of the reel that the legendary Monsieur Bouglé asked Hardy to make in 1903. It comes in five sizes of click check reels for freshwater fishing.
With the MkV Hardy has taken a classic reel, made it more beautiful and brought it pounding into twenty-first century.
It is now machined from aluminum alloy bar-stock. The Bouglé looks as lovely as ever on a rod, but now performs like the most modern of reels on the market. Looks? Its stunning, hard anodized, racing green frame combines strikingly with the anodized silver spool and side-plate. Practicality? The deep spool gives you big line and backing capacity, vital for those facing ever bigger, faster running fish. The ventilated spool and frame has created a model that is the lightest Bouglé yet whilst still retaining its legendary strength. The aluminium spindle has only reduced weight further.
Maybe I have become an old fashion bastard in my old age – But I want and love to hear the “music” when a Salmon takes me far into the backing
Beside that – Remember – “Loud reels save lives”
Best regards
Steffen Juhl
