To go along with my traditional outlook on fly fishing. I just got a CFO C&P reel. He thinks it might be a Hardy built model, but he’s not sure. Is there anyway to tell?
When I first starting reading about the C&P reels I wondered how they were any good. I come from spin fishing where the drag is very important. I also see all the new fly reels talk about the great drags they have. I was confused on how a C&P drag could work, because it’s almost like no drag at all. It just keeps the line from over running as I understand it. Then I hear everybody telling me to set my Lamson drag very light that all I want it to do is keep the line from over running. All of a sudden the light goes off. For fly fishing you palm the drag. The C&P reels make sense now. One more thing to learn.
I read the CFO makes a wonderful sound when the line is running off it. I’m looking forward to my fish fish on it.
So, how many of you use the old CFO reels? How do you like it?
I have some fine old Ocean City C & P reels that I very much enjoy useing. I am not saying I would want to tackle a large Salmon, Steelhead or Stripper with them but I have been able to bring to net some fine large bass, trout and channel cats with them. Like any reel, cleaning and maintaining the reel in good order is paramount. I have an old Hardy Zenith that has a screw down drag and a Hardy Princess mulitplier and when using it on Salmon or Steelhead never really thought the drag was subduing the fish as much as the way I pointed the rod and reeled in at the right time. I know from bottom fishing for Halibut in Alaska, it is more important when and how you pump the fish in and let it run when it wants to, rather than how much drag you use. Enen though the Penn 1/0 or the Pflueger Rocket had a star drag, I almost always used my thumb on the spool to keep pressure on the fish. I always used a very light drag, as in almost none at all. Let the debates begin. Finally, lets not forget the the leader tippet strength. If you are using light leader, then the drag has to conincide so why use any drag at all under these circumstances? Jonezee
If there are 2 rivet heads showing on the back plate it is certain it is Hardy made. There were a some click pawl reels which were machined and made by Hardy without the rivet heads…these had a mounting plate on the inside that negated the need for the rivets but most of these were made by BFR
Both of these reels were made by Hardy. The silver one is an anniversary reel from 1992. The other is an older, die cast reel that shows the rivet heads on the back plate.[/img]
I Googled CFO C&P reels and came up with many things. One of them was a forum talking about steelhead fishing. One guy was talking about always breaking the leader when he used the drag on his reel. When he set it very light and controlled the drag with his fingers he never lost another fish. I would imagine it’s all relative. Big fish big leaders, small fish small leaders. You always have to protect them.
Drag is a way that I’m used to seeing people dressed since I used to live in NYC; it’s not something I’m used to in trout fishing.
I have two vintage CFO’s; a CFO II and a CFO III and the old clickers work just fine for most of my eastern trout fishing. Both have served me well for years. As matter of fact I didn?t own any trout reels with anything BUT click & pawl until a few years ago.
IMO fly reel manufacturers have sold their customers on a “need” for bus stopping drags that is just not necessary in trout reels.
It boils down to confidence in ones equiptment. If you don’t feel comfortable without a drag that will lift a house then by all means get one.
For me I have confidence in my ablility to land even big fish with a CP reel. They are usually lighter in weight. If you just set the tension tite enough to stop overtravel as you strip line off on a disc reel who has the presencs of thought to adjust the drag while fighting a big fish?
Had I started fly fishing when I was younger. I’d probably have a gazillion bamboo rods and old Hardy reels by now. I’d probably have a closet full of flies too.
Heck, Gramps, if we had a time machine that would allowe us to go back in time but still know what we know now (sounds like a song :lol: ) MAn wouldn’t life be great! I passed on a Trident TL way back at a pawn shop cause it had a crack in the ferrul. Knowing now they would have still fixed it, I kick myself.
By the way Gramps…FLY “GODDESS” …I am woman hear me roar LOL
Heck, Gramps, if we had a time machine that would allowe us to go back in time but still know what we know now (sounds like a song :lol: ) MAn wouldn’t life be great! I passed on a Trident TL way back at a pawn shop cause it had a crack in the ferrul. Knowing now they would have still fixed it, I kick myself.
By the way Gramps…FLY “GODDESS” …I am woman hear me roar LOL [/quote]
I need to pay attention more. I thought Fly Goddess was a strange name for a guy, but I try not to judge…
I have an older click & pawl C.F.O. I on my 3 weight. It’s one of my favorite reels. For trout fishing, you’ll find the C & P drag more than adequete. And of course the sound it makes when a fish is running is second to none.
Click & Pawl is all you need for trout fishing and the old CFO is the king of click & pawl in my book. To tell the new ones from the old ones, in addition to the rivets, you can easily tell by the finish. The older ones have a slight shine to the finish, while the newer ones have kind of a dull finish. Enjoy your reel in any case!
I own over a dozen click & pawl CFO’s. All of mine are made by Hardy. At first they are a little loud, but the more they are broken in, the more quieter and sweeter they become.
WHAT! Nothing better that that whizzing sound when a fish takes you down to your backing and all the friends you make when that happens :twisted:
They all want to be close to you and share your water
Personally I think the Orvis CFO reels are the nicest looking “classic” fly reel on the market. Sure I have some super fancy, “tricked out” machined models in my collection but I think the CFO is the nicest looking reel going.
Click and Pawl is really all you need for most species.
