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The New Hardy Perfect

Many years ago, while I was still a young shucking dun, I entered The House of Hardy on Pall Mall in London. There I bought a Perfect.

I cannot recall when I lost it, but I still remember the smooth pleasure it gave.

The Perfect, coveted by generations, is perhaps the most famous reel ever produced by Hardy Brothers of England. First introduced

in 1888 and patented in 1891, the Hardy Perfect fly reel is legend. The first Perfect was brass, each part (including the spring brake and

ivory handle) made by the hands of one person. Hardy catalogs advised the angler to strike the fish from the reel, letting the check system set the hook and hold the

fish. Although the six-inch Brass Perfect weighed 46 ounces, the smaller Houghton model was significantly lighter. Some early brass models, if tilted, had open bearing

races that allowed the brass ball-bearing to fall out. Hardy then enclosed the races to capture the bearings. Constant modifications, such as the line guard, allows dating

of many early models. Before the turn of the century, Hardy experimented with alloys to make a lighter reel. However, Victorian anglers believed in brass.

After the demise of the brass-faced Perfects around 1912, the alloy Perfects, begun in the early 1890s, dominated the market and were scattered throughout

the Empire. The alloy reels were cast from “alumin,” a rigid and strong aluminum alloy, and then machined to final tolerances. A coin disassembled the three-part reel:

frame, line drum and revolving plate. By 1896, Perfects had ball bearings, a regulating check-drag and a unique agate line guard. All parts were eventually standardized and interchangeable, a first in reel-making. Hardy produced a few reels in the late 1970s to the mid 1980s. Some special and limited editions came out in the 1990s. Today, an antique Perfect can bring thousands of dollars at auction.

Returning to its past, Hardy’s new Heritage Range now includes a modern Perfect. They are made, with technical improvements, in the original Hardy factory at Alnwick

(pronounced “annick”), Northumberland, England. Rather than cast like the originals, these reels are machined and hand-finished from 6061 bar-stock aluminum. This

makes a lighter and stronger reel than the original. “The other materials,” says John Shaner of Hardy North America, “are faithful to past construction and include nickel

silver, naval brass, a distinctive ‘ivorine’ handle, and the traditional natural agate line guard.” They have the traditional and durable anodized gunmetal-gray finish. Shaner

concludes that the new Perfect is actually better than the original Perfect. There is a sense of sepia, a warm tradition about Hardy’s new reel. For the angler

who wants a fabled icon, an elegant investment and quality tackle, the new Perfect is perfect. It certainly has traveled the long road home. There are three new Perfects;

$850 for 2-weight lines, $900 for 3- and 4-weight lines, $950 for 5- and 6-weight.

                                                                    Hardy Cascapedia                                                                                     Hardy Zane Saltwater Reel

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Cascapedia Fly Reel

Another Hardy legend. Those looks. Who doesn’t love that sweeping 'S' shaped handle? But the beauty is more than skin deep.

The Cascapedia’s durability is proven over decades of use. The capture of thousands of fish testify to this incredible reel's performance.

There’s a Cascapedia for every fishing situation. The smaller sized models have a centralised click-check braking system which famously protects the lightest tippets.

The eight/nine weight reels and upwards are braked by a one-way steel clutch, designed for faultless big fish handling.

 Effective braking system for across the board fish control

 6061 aluminium construction for lightness and durability

 Hand-polished rim, classic looks, timeless performance