Hardy Featherweight Reel

The Hardy 150th Anniversary Edition Lightweight reels pay tribute to a time tested design. They are patterned after the 1970 Lightweight series of reels, and are considered part of the Heritage Series lineup. These limited edition reels have the double screw line guard and rivets of brass, with the frame in a grey anodized finish. Yeah, they look classy. While Hardy stopped selling these Lightweight Anniversary reels in December of 2022, they do offer the same reel in a production model with a one screw line guard...which is good news because these reels are really nice.

The Hardy Featherweight reel (part of the Lightweight series) has been locked into fly rods worldwide for over 60 years. It's an iconic reel and is home on a bamboo, glass, or a classic graphite rod. I will be pairing my Featherweight reel to Winston IM6/WT 2-3wt fly rods because the model is part of the same fly fishing era as my classic rods. A click-check type reel is all you need on small streams and I must say, the drag on the Featherweight is smooth and the reel sounds great with a running trout on the end of the line. An angler doesn't need to let out a whoowhoo when they hook a trout, because the scream of the drag will let his fellow anglers know he has a trout on the line.

My Featherweight reel will be spooled up with a Winston Energy WF3F fly line. This reel, line, and IM6 7'6" 3wt rod combination makes for a really nice, classic, fishing kit to cast into my small mountain Rios.

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