Abel Reel’s Satin Slate Finish with an inshore slam design
When it comes down to it, all anglers will tell you that what they really want from their tackle is performance. We all want tackle that works, and we want tackle that works in efficient, dependable ways. In the world of saltwater fly fishing, the demand for hard-working, reliable reels can often be met with disappointment. But, Abel Reels have earned the reputation of being world-class equipment for saltwater fly anglers.
In addition to reliability and performance, though, most anglers also want their gear to look good, and there is no question that Abel Reels have cornered the market on beautiful reels. In 2014, Abel introduced a new line of finishes to their already highly-sought saltwater reels, and some of their tools, as well. Even though Abel Reels are built for strength and longevity, these new finishes make them look like art work that should adorn mantles and museums. They are, in fact, so aesthetically amazing that it almost seems a shame to fish with one. Almost.
Abel Reels are made from an aerospace-grade aluminium and FAA TSO C149 aircraft bearings. They use a unique cork-based drag system that Abel calls the “Stop-A-Sub” drag system, and the drags are strong enough to probably do just that. The Abel drags have a reputation as giving absolutely no hesitation and maintaining consistent tension from strike to release. It’s this kind of performance that has earned Abel Reels the reputation of being one of the best-made fly reels available. Given that Abel has only been around since 1987, that’s an amazing record of achievement in less than thirty years in a competitive market.
Abel Reel’s limited edition Grateful Dead Steal Your Face reel
But Abel’s new finishes are what really push these reels over the top. The new finishes use a standard high-gloss black coral or matte non-reflective finish and then can be customized with unique designs which are anodized individually by hand using a exclusive artistic metallurgical process. And the results are spectacular. When Abel released its limited edition Grateful Dead Steal Your Face reel, the reels sold out in ten days. Abel re-released the reel in a 250 unit limited edition. They then also worked with Rhino Entertainment and Grateful Dead band members to produce the Grateful Dead Dancing Bear reel, also in a limited 250 unit run.
Abel Reel’s limited edition Grateful Dead Dancing Bear reel
Of course, Abel hasn’t limited their artistic prowess to epic jam bands, they have also produced some absolutely jaw-dropping fish-themed and native-themed designs, as well. They’ve also taken the same artistic approach to their knives, pliers, and snips, as well. We’ve included a gallery of many of their amazing reel designs below, but ahead of the drool-factor-eleven gallery (ours goes to eleven), here are a couple of short videos about Abel that are well worth watching to get better acquainted with the company and the reels.
This Inventive Fishing Product Introduction is for informational purposes only. Inventive Fishing has not field-tested the product addressed here and, thus, neither endorses nor criticizes the product. For critical reviews of specific products, please see Inventive Fishing’s Gear Reviews and Tech Reviews.
fish, Fishing, Fishing Reel, Fishing tackle, Fly Fishing, Fly Reel
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