SA System Reels

An impressive click-check reel that’s perfect for mountain Rios is my Scientific Anglers System 5 fly reel, and it’s been around for ages. It’s a bit of a classic, and it likes to be paired with a classic fly rod for a nostalgic feel. Mine holds the SA Trout Mastery DT3F fly line, which works great with almost any 3wt rod I take to the mountains.

The Scientific System Reel series was launched in 1969 and was part of the first balanced system of reel, fly rod, and fly line. It was a huge hit back then and is still being used with classic fly rods from many brands today. Why do I have this reel in my tackle box? Because the System 5 reel is 3 inches in diameter and fits perfectly with classic 3 weight fly rods. The solid back plate and palming spool are two of my favorite features in a fly reel. It may not be the most stylish reel I use, but it’s reliable and comfortable. I actually think it’s pretty cool in a Hardy DNA kind of way. You see, Hardy made this reel series for Scientific Anglers in their England factory, so there’s some trustworthiness that comes with these SA System reels.

SA System 5 spools are interchangeable with the Hardy Marquis 5, and they work with most 3-5wt lines. The nickel-silver reversible U-shaped line guard can be easily swapped LHW/RHW with the flip of a pawl. Yep, it’s a great 3” click-check reel that performs just as well as any reel (old or new) when fishing for wild trout in the mountains. Mmm…