Leland on the Abel TR/Light Trout Fly Reel
Elegance IS simplicity when it comes to proven classic functionality in a solid, machined reel for your finest graphite or bamboo fly rod. Abel, always known for their precision, has built this fine lightweight TR/Light Trout Fly Reel, designed for 0 to 3 weight fly lines, with the classic "purrrr' of a click-pawl drag. This time-honored drag system is always my freshwater fishing preference, particularly for trout, due to its simple, reliable, and lightweight design that protects the lightest tippets. This anodized black beauty weighs in at only 3.10 ounces, yet because it"s an Abel, you'll enjoy fishing with it for years to come. If you love the classic noise of an outgoing click drag, you'll love the rugged simplicity of the TR/Light when the big one makes his run!
Leland on Specification
Back by popular demand, Abel has reintroduced their modernized version of the classic click pawl drag trout reel. The Abel TR/Light Trout is the lightest and smallest of the TR/Trout Fly Reel Series, weighing in at a mere 3.1 ounces with a spool diameter of 2.55" and designed to hold a 0 to 3 weight fly line with backing. With only two moving parts, the individually adjustable ingoing and outgoing pawls, you have the lightest fly reel drag system made with over a century of proven design reliability. You won't stop a truck with it, but that's what 'hands on' fishing is all about, and its timeless good looks add a modern touch to a treasured bamboo rod. And the ample, smooth palming rim on the spool edge let's you apply the brakes the old fashioned way, just in case you tie into something a little bigger than you anticipated.
Specifications:
- Weight: 3.10 oz
- Spool Diameter: 2.550 inches
- Spool Width: .625 inches
- Individually adjustable spring-pawl click drag
- Line weight + yards of 20# Dacron backing: 1 + 90yds, 2 + 65yds, 3 + 45yds
- Standard Color: Black Coral
Leland on the Abel TR Trout Fly Reels
The Abel TR Trout Series Reels were an instant classic when they were first introduced back in 1993. These beautifully machined and polished click-pawl drag reels offered a stronger and more reliable alternative to the very popular die-cast English made click-pawl drag reel at the time. In the intervening years, many anglers lost interest in click-pawl reels, in favor of disc drag models with more powerful drag systems. Well, guess what? A lot of smart anglers today are figuring out, (again), that you don’t need to stop a truck when you’re trout fishing. In fact, when you’re fishing with 5x, 6x, or 7x tippet, and a big trout takes, you want to let that baby run with just enough drag resistance to prevent overspooling, and no more! That’s where click-pawl drags shine, wet or dry! The Abel click pawl drag is infinitely adjustable for both the in-going and outgoing click with just the tip of your finger, so you can fine tune your Abel TR drag to handle any big fish/ fine tippet situation. And when the fish starts to tire, you can rely on the large smooth Abel TR palming rim to control his movement, as experienced anglers have been doing for over 100 years! Now, the Abel TR’s are back with a vengeance, so listen to the purr and feel the joy of a trouble free, very lightweight reel with the minimalist’s hands-on experience. And remember, it’s an Abel, so big trout will fear you!
Leland on Abel Products
Established in 1987, the Abel name is synonymous with quality fly fishing products. Their fly fishing reels have set the industry standard for excellence. Steve Abel, the Abel behind the company name, was schooled as a machinist in the aerospace industry. Frustrated with the fly reels available to the demanding saltwater angler, he set out to create the "perfect fly reel;" and as Steve will gladly admit, he became obsessed with this pursuit. The time and effort Abel craftsmen have spent developing their superb reels becomes clear the first time you fish with one.
Skillfully machined from solid blocks of high molecular density cold finished 6061-T6 aluminum and 303 stainless steel, Abel reels maintain an ideal balance of durability, weight and performance. Every possible facet of Abel reels are beautifully ported, or ventilated, by CNC (Computer Numerical Control) lathes and mills without compromising structural integrity. In fact, every machinable part, right down to the stainless screws, is produced in Abel’s Camarillo, California facility to insure the utmost in quality control. All parts are hand polished before assembly. The result is a light, yet extremely robust reel that can survive a lifetime of fishing. Though their outward appearance exudes precision, with an Abel reel, it's what is inside that really counts.
At the center of every Abel Big Game and Super Series Reel is a large cork composite disk actuated by a draw bar through the center of the reel. This cork drag system is elegantly simple, with very few parts, yet, is highly effective. As the drag knob is tightened, the back of the spool is drawn against the cork drag disk. This large drag surface can create a substantial amount of friction and thus can effectively slow a powerful fish. The resultant heat is the reason that many reel drag systems fail. However, the Abel open draw bar utilizes the entire spool and frame to dissipate this heat quicker than any other drag design.
Cork is the only durable drag material that is compressible, offering a very low start-up inertia and silky-smooth transition with a wide range of adjustability The results speak for themselves; fly reels that have been the most successful in landing fish over 100 pounds, and, therefore, operate more smoothly and survive the greatest amounts of stress, have draw bar drags. That’s why, according to the International Game Fish Association, Abel Fly Fishing Reels landed more World Records in 2006 than any other brand.
The Leland Team has fished Abel reels all over the world, from New Zealand to Nantucket, and they have consistently landed fish without problem, time and time again. Whether pursuing ocean giants or fishing your favorite trout stream, you can count on your Abel Reel.
Abel on their TR Trout Reels
We Heard You!
Since discontinuing our Trout Series (TR) reels we have heard from countless fly-fishers bemoaning the loss of this simple, elegant, classic reel – round ventilation holes, adjustable click, easily converted from left- to right-hand retrieve.
They are available now . . . just in time for the ’08 trout season.
TR/Series reels are precision machined in the U.S.A. from 6061-T6 cold finished aluminum in three sizes to accommodate 0- to 6-weight lines. Hang one on a bamboo or new graphite rod.
The state-of-the-art fully enclosed internal click drag system with two adjustable hex nuts gives you a virtually unlimited range of control of both incoming and outgoing click, plus rim control.
The result is the best traditional trout, steelhead, salmon and bass reel you can find.
Abel on Abel
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
To design and build the best, most dependable gear in the world and give world class customer service.
WE’RE NUMBER ONE!
According to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), Abel Reels were used to set 56 Fly Fishing World Records during 2006. Abel’s World Record catches were for both fresh and saltwater fish in a variety of species and tippet classes.
With Abel's unique FlexABELity of spools and frames, it substantially increases your options. FlexABELity means that spools from the Standard Arbor Super Series fit into the same frames as the Large Arbor Super Series; a feature that essentially gives you two separate reels for the price of less than one-and-one-half.
Abel drag systems are made from cork. Despite everything we know about drag systems for fly reels, some manufacturers still use cheap plastic. Plastic can’t be compressed, so the drag plate flexes. On an Abel reel, the cork compresses and serves as a brake. We use a superior high grade cork with a little neat’s-foot oil on it. Our cork drags do not wear; we have 1987 vintage reels at lodges and camps in Alaska, Lees Ferry, Mexico and Belize to prove it. Check out the ability of cork to compress by opening your favorite champagne bottle. Aha! It works.
Abel reel frames and spools are machined from cold finished 6061-T6 aircraft quality aluminum. Cold finished aluminum is significantly more expensive than extruded aluminum; but the cold finishing process dramatically increases the molecular density. It creates a stronger metal. Reels are then precision machined (not die cast) on C.N.C. lathes and mills. They are then both machined and hand de-burred, hand polished, cleaned and inspected. The end result is a lightweight reel that’s tough as a Marine drill sergeant and destined to be fished by you, your children, grandchildren and theirs!
