Oregon Fly Fishing with Stan

I saw my first Hardy fly reel years ago while I was fishing the lower section of Oregon’s Rogue River. The reel was a Hardy Princess and the following year I was the proud owner of a brand new one. The Princess was introduced in the l950’s and 60’s in a stable of seven fly reels that Hardy called their lightweight series. Features included: A right hand crank that could be switched to left hand if needed, similar adjustable drag systems with a clicking sound that is special only to Hardy fly reels, and a machined aluminum “foot” that is dovetailed into a reel frame of cast aluminum and riveted for added strength. All models featured unique but simple chrome line guards a beautiful gray finish and a removable aluminum spool.

Choosing your first fly rod and reel is very important. You need to have a balanced fly-fishing outfit that will match the type and size of your fish. For example, the fly rod and line need to be the same weight, [...]