any thoughts about Hardy GEM reels? thanks
anyone?
I don’t know… but does Hardy make a bad reel?
I have 3 that are superior… in my mind.
an Oregonian
Well they charge $500 for their lrh series trout reels, trouts with little drag for 12 inch fish.
I mean seriously, I am going to respond to EVERY PRO HARDY. I have a lrh and they told me “sorry, it only has a 1 year warranty”. PLEASE TELL ME ANY, ANY!!! REEL OVER $250 that has a 1 year warranty? PLEASE!!! “HARDY WILL LAST YOU A LIFETIME”. PLEASE!!! HOW FU**ING CRAZY DOES ONE HAVE TO BE TO BUY A $500 TROUT RELL WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY?
And dont tell me it will last, because it wont. A ICP song comes to mind,(partial lyrics) “Insane in the membrane, INSANE IN THE BRAIN!!”
[quote=“nympher”]
Well they charge $500 for their lrh series trout reels, trouts with little drag for 12 inch fish.
I mean seriously, I am going to respond to EVERY PRO HARDY. I have a lrh and they told me “sorry, it only has a 1 year warranty”. PLEASE TELL ME ANY, ANY!!! REEL OVER $250 that has a 1 year warranty? PLEASE!!! “HARDY WILL LAST YOU A LIFETIME”. PLEASE!!! HOW FU**ING CRAZY DOES ONE HAVE TO BE TO BUY A $500 TROUT RELL WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY?
And dont tell me it will last, because it wont. A ICP song comes to mind,(partial lyrics) “Insane in the membrane, INSANE IN THE BRAIN!!”[/quote]
Personally, I don’t spend more than $100 on a fly reel for 8wt on down. Salt and big game are another creature. The damn thing just holds line and sometimes has a drag on it for bigger fish. My $69 STH MR POP II will do the same thing as a Hardy, and mine has a lifetime warranty on it. Beyond that you are just talking yourself into believing whatever the sales pitch was that you were told as to WHY you NEED to spend so much more. I just love to hear all the rationale people use when justifying paying too much for something, and then listen to the comp[laints when they cannot get a warranty longer than 12 months. Sometimes the internal laughter cannot be contained. Overpaying just smacks of that whole purist and poo-poo thingy that some believe is fly fishing. I just can’t understand it. If a company that is taking that much money from you cannot give you a decent warranty, then I would not have anything to do with them. But that’s just me, and your mileage may vary.
Maybe the Hardy’s are special because just of:
It’s not about what you need, but what you like, or want. Each to his own.
Now I have a Hardy, because I felt I wanted a Hardy, because it was a Hardy and I did not have one. Now I do.
I think they are a crap reel for the money when you compare it with what modern technology can do (especially in the hands of some GREAT US reel makers), but would not sell mine for anything.
I can see why somebody would want a Hardy, or a Jaguar car. If you drive a Jag, its not because you need one, or think they are the best car on the road. Its because you like Jags.
So please let Bryston ask a simple question about Hardy reels without the judgment on whether you personally like them or not; or if you think he really needs one!
To each their own. It does seem kind of nuts at times what we are willing to spend, but if you can afford it and love the look, feel and sound of the reel buy it, use it, and pass it on when your fishing days are over. You’re going to laugh, but I am using 30+ year old Pflueger (and Orvis version) Medalists and love the way they purr and sound. What are they worth - I really don’t care. Don’t worry about the warranty - in this case I’m sure the company will stand behind the product. 
As someone who has fished and collected Hardy reels, I am certainly biased. While I certainly don’t think you need to spend $500 on a fly reel (by the way, like Bob below I also fish a 1940s vintage Pflueger Medalist), Hardy reels are definitely known for their longevity. While the 1-year warranty is a bit bizarre, the company made products for over a century that simply did not break. Many Hardys 50-75 years old are fished every day. I would think the Gem would be a safe buy, even with the weak warranty. And “Insane in the Membrane” is a Cyprus Hill song, not ICP.
Tight lines,
Deke
The first Hardy I bought was a Hardy LRH that had NO warranty. It still works just fine after 20+ years. I also have a Uniqua that is at least 50 years old and works just fine. Hardy’s NEW warranty policy on reels is 1 year UNCONDITIONAL on defects. They feel that any manufacturing defect should appear in a year and I agree. If it breaks after that whose fault is it really? Most cars only have a 3-year warranty and cost a LOT more than a Hardy. How many bamboo rods have warrantees?
Warrantees are a load; if you really need one it’s probably you that is the problem, not the product. I really wish the warranty thing never happened. It has clouded many people’s view of what they should be looking for in equipment.
If a Hardy isn’t worth the money I guess all of those old reels selling for WAY more $$$$ than they were purchased for are owned by crazy people and bought by crazy collectors.
I wonder what old Ross & Abels with their lifetime warrantees will be selling for in 20 years?
I take it the Gem is a disc drag reel. $500? All the Hardys have gone through the roof. I have a few Lightweights and like them, but would never have payed what they want for them now. I don’t think they’re worth all that. Abel and Islander make better reels (and they’re cheaper). That’s just a couple names. There’s plenty of other reels on the market that are just as good…and lots cheaper. You may want to take a look at the specials on www.just-reels.com
where you can get a very well crafted reel for $500.
The seemingly always present comment, when ANYTHING pertaining to “fly reels” comes up, someone always has to always make the point “a fly reel only holds line”. True. Very true. If you only fish for 12" and under fish in relatively passive waters.
And, a FLY ROD, only CASTS that line. What do we pay for our rods? If you own a Sage trout wt. rod and paid over $325.00 for it, what’s the difference, in what it will do, over a $149.00 TFO? Nothing. No, sorry, it doesn’t “cast easier”, “load easier” or “throw more line”.
It only does those things, because in our own minds, we’ve come to believe ALL the hype on our sport’s gear, so when we DO cast that overpriced rod, it sure seems like it does all the hype said it would. If a "$325.00 rod, is worth the investment, say over a TFO at half the price, then how was Lee Wulff able to cast a 90’ fly line, hook a large Salmon and land it, ALL, without the use of a rod at all!?
Learning the hard way, I’ve had the "cheapie reels, “that only hold line”, throw their spools off when a small fish has taken off on its first run… right into the stream like it’d been taken apart and thrown into the water. Fly lines, ruined, when cheep spools have been so poorly made they’ve wedged line, between frame, or the foot breaks off, whatever.
“To each his own”, in this lovely sport of flyfishing, I believe. I like the beauty of an extremely well machined fly reel. The sound of a solid, well put together drag. And, especially, that “song” that the old Medalists make, no matter what you’re doing… reeling in, or letting a fish run with your line!
I own Sage rods, Thomas and Thomas, Green River, Winstons and Powells. I also own TFOs, a few antique glass rods and several I’ve built myself. For reels, I have Abels, Ross, Hardy made Sages, Hardys, Tiogas and I, think, 9 Medalists. I just “LIKE” fly fishing equipment and make no excuses for what I have, or, don’t have.
Bryston, my own opinion, “Buy that Hardy GEM, if you like it”. If you treat it right, the warranty doesn’t mean squat anyway.
Amen!
i have a few hardy reels and enjoy them all, they work perfectly and have never let me down. i had one problem with my reel it started to pit, i sent it back to them and had it back pronto with only the cost of shipping, if you like the gem buy it.
I have to agree with, flybinder. To each his own.
Touch it, wind it, listen to it, smell it, and either fall in love or not. There is no reason to buy an expensive reel when there are so many more economical versions on the market. You buy it because you want it and it is your money. It only has to be better for you. It is a personal decision completely divorced from economics. Kinda like single malt whisky, waxed cotton, and Cuban cigars.
I have old skeleton reels all the way up to a Billy Pate and I love them all. And at least one is a Hardy.
Godspeed,
Bob Bolton
Just because you don’t need something. That’s no reason to not buy it.
Life is short. Enjoy yourself.
Gramps:
So, simply said and so very, very, true! Thanks!
Besides one to fish with, maybe another as an emergency back up, there isn’t a member of this board that can justify “NEEDING” more than two fly rods and two fly reels. Thats’ one of the biggest and most enjoyable things about fly fishing gear, (to me, anyway), "The enjoyment of trying to self justify the “TRUE NEED” of that 14th reel, or that 11th rod!
I believe that J. Austin Forbes reels are gorgeous. If I could afford them I would have them. Life is too short. My wife is also pretty. I am a lucky guy. 
Nympher - those lyrics are from Cypress Hill, not Insane Clown Posse.
Well they charge $500 for their lrh series trout reels, trouts with little drag for 12 inch fish.
I mean seriously, I am going to respond to EVERY PRO HARDY. I have a lrh and they told me “sorry, it only has a 1 year warranty”. PLEASE TELL ME ANY, ANY!!! REEL OVER $250 that has a 1 year warranty? PLEASE!!! “HARDY WILL LAST YOU A LIFETIME”. PLEASE!!! HOW FU**ING CRAZY DOES ONE HAVE TO BE TO BUY A $500 TROUT RELL WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY?
Every Hardy I’ve purchased and that’s about 8 reels presently has come with a 0 year warranty, they are all used. Do I need a warranty? No cause they are going to last my lifetime and then some. Hardy reels are $400-$500 because they are made overseas and priced in Euros. With our weak dollar the price has really jumped.
Fact is if there’s anything wrong with a new Hardy you’ve discover that in well under a year. Once problems, if any, are resolved that reel will last 50 years or more.
Al