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Every year we have the privilege of outfitting anglers all around the world. But as any serious angler knows, not all gear is created equal. Here are our picks for the best gear of the year, the items that set themselves apart from the fray.
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Ah, the Trout Bum. You probably know one or two of these characters. The ones whose waders are always wet, who have bits of fly tying material perpetually stuck to them. If that sounds familiar, and if you have one on your shopping list this year, fear not. We've got you covered.
Saltwater anglers are a special breed, braving wind and waves to chase the fish they love. Here we've pulled together some of our favorite gear for your favorite saltwater angler, tried and tested by our customers and expert team here at the shop.
January 07, 2020 2 min read
For my annual trip tarpon fishing in Boca Grande, Florida this year, I brought a new reel -- the Abel SDS 11/12 wt.
Why a new reel? And why an Abel? A few reasons.
First, I like supporting an 100% Made in the USA product. Simple as that. But the good news story from Abel goes further. They have donated 10% of sales to conservation causes, and so have raised a lot of money for issues that matter to fly fishermen. And, they have a foundation that supports women in fly fishing -- much like Orvis's fantastic 50/50 initiative. How can you not want to support a company like that?
But you can't land a tarpon on good vibes alone. It's got to perform, and perform well.
The Abel SDS 11/12 handled a 80 or so lbs tarpon flawlessly. I was impressed. A few of the things I like about this reel include:
According to the Abel specs, this will take 250 yards of 30# backing with a 12 wt line -- something I found to be true in rigging this up before the trip. This is due to the 4.5" spool diameter. It's big, but not beefy, due to all of the porting, which makes the reel almost airy light.
It's not, however, cheap. The Abel SDS 11/12 will set you back $1,095 at full advertised retail.
For more of my thoughts, check out the above video!
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