Hardy St Aidan
The Hardy St. Aidan fly reel is a more modern offering from Hardy, positioned as a robust and reliable reel designed for larger fish and more demanding fishing scenarios, particularly salmon and steelhead fishing. While it carries the Hardy name and reputation for quality, it represents a departure from the classic lightweight series, focusing on strength, durability, and a more powerful drag system.
Key Features:
- Robust and Durable Construction: The St. Aidan is built to withstand the rigors of targeting larger, powerful fish. It’s typically machined from high-grade bar stock aluminum, ensuring strength and longevity.
- Powerful Disc Drag System: Unlike the click and pawl systems of the Lightweight series, the St. Aidan features a more modern and powerful disc drag system. This provides a wider range of adjustability and the stopping power needed to control strong running fish like salmon and steelhead. The drag is designed to be smooth and consistent, protecting tippets under pressure.
- Large Arbor Design: The large arbor spool allows for faster line retrieval, which is crucial when trying to keep up with fast-moving fish. It also helps to reduce line memory.
- Saltwater Safe: Many versions of the St. Aidan are designed to be saltwater safe, making them suitable for coastal salmon and steelhead fishing, as well as other saltwater species. This often involves specific anodizing processes and sealed drag systems to resist corrosion.
- Ergonomic Handle: The reel typically features an ergonomic handle designed for comfortable and secure grip, even when fighting large fish under significant pressure.
- Spool Release Mechanism: The spool release mechanism is designed for easy and quick spool changes, allowing anglers to switch between different lines or backing capacities as needed.
- Protective Finish: The reel is finished with a durable anodized coating, providing excellent protection against scratches and corrosion.
- Supplied with a Protective Case: The St. Aidan often comes with a protective case, typically made of neoprene or a hard shell, for safe storage and transport.
Specifications (Specifications can vary depending on the specific model and year of manufacture, but here’s a general overview):
- Model: St. Aidan (often with a size designation like #4/5, #6/7, #8/9, #10/11)
- Line Rating: Designed for heavier line weights, typically ranging from #4/5 up to #10/11 or even higher for some models.
- Weight: Heavier than the Lightweight series reels due to the more robust construction and drag system, typically ranging from around 6 to 10 ounces depending on the size.
- Diameter: Larger diameters to accommodate more line and backing, often around 3.5 to 4.5 inches or more.
- Capacity: Significant backing capacity to handle long runs from powerful fish. For example, a #8/9 model might hold WF8 + 200 yards of 30lb backing.
- Drag System: Sealed or partially sealed disc drag system, often featuring multiple carbon or composite discs for smooth and powerful performance.
- Material: Machined from bar stock aluminum, often 6061-T6.
- Finish: Anodized, often with specific treatments for saltwater resistance.
- Hand Retrieve: Convertible Left/Right.
In summary, the Hardy St. Aidan fly reel is a modern, powerful, and durable reel built for anglers targeting larger, stronger fish like salmon and steelhead. It represents a shift from the classic click and pawl designs of the Lightweight series, offering a robust construction, a smooth and powerful disc drag system, and features designed to handle demanding fishing conditions. Its saltwater-safe capabilities further enhance its versatility. If you’re looking for a reliable workhorse reel for big fish, the Hardy St. Aidan is a strong contender.
