I saw my first Hardy fly reel years ago while fishing in the lower Rogue River section of Oregon. The reel was a Hardy Princess and the following year I was the proud owner of a new one. The princess was introduced in the 1950s and ’60s in a seven-reel fly stable that Hardy called his lightweight series. Features include: a right crank that can be shifted to the left if required, similar adjustable drag systems with a clicking sound that is special only for Hardy fly reels, and a machined aluminum “foot” that engages to a cast aluminum spool frame and riveted for added strength. All models featured unique yet simple chrome lines, a beautiful gray finish, and a removable aluminum spool.

Hardy light series reels no longer in production include Princes (1953-2003), Zenith (1960-2003), St Aidan (1964-2003) and St. Andrew (1961-1964). These models, like many other Hardy reels that are no longer in production, will only increase in value as time goes on. This is one of the reasons I believe that if bought carefully from the used market these classic fly reels can be a good investment and a fly fishing reel that you can use and enjoy. Zenith, Saint Aidan and Saint Andrew were larger fly reels that included all the features of the lightweight series and were originally designed for sea trout fishing in Europe. They have stronger, more adjustable drag systems with larger fly reels for heavy lines and more line backing capacity. Although sometimes difficult to find, these reels are very good vintage Steelhead fly reels very nice.

There are three lightweight models that are still in production, the Flyweight, Featherweight, and lightweight LRH. These updated versions of the classics are now manufactured from high-quality bar aluminum, but still have all the features of the early models. They can be purchased or ordered from most quality fly stores.

One of the most popular trout fly reels in the lightweight series has to be the lightweight LRH. The “LRH” is the initials of Lawrence Robert Hardy, who undoubtedly had some influence on the lightweight series. I think the LRH is also the fly reel featured in the Federation of Fly Fishermen’s logo. The LRH is ideal for most trout fishing applications. It has a nice adjustable click drag system with Hardy’s distinctive “click” sound, and can hold fly lines up to a WF-6 or DT-5 floating fly line and about 75 yards of fly line backing. . Additional reel reels are also available if the angler needs to make use of different types of fly lines during a fishing trip.

The next fly reel to consider in the lightweight series is the Hardy Princess, only available in the used market. The Princess is slightly larger than the LRH and has a 3-1 / 8 “spool diameter that can hold a WF-6 or WF-7 fly line and 100 yards of 20 pound fly line backup. This reel also has the same type of adjustable drag system as the LRH and additional reels are also available in the used market. The Princess can handle larger freshwater fish, in rivers and lakes and is also a good fly reel. “all around” that can be used to fish streamers or catch other types of heavy flies.