Ocean Prince
The Hardy Ocean Prince reel is a classic and highly regarded fly reel, particularly favored for its robust construction and suitability for larger, powerful fish like salmon and saltwater species. Here’s a detailed description based on available information:
Key Features:
- Construction:
- Typically built with durable materials, often featuring machined alloy components.
- Known for a strong and rigid frame.
- Design:
- Often features a medium-arbor design, which provides a good balance between line retrieval speed and capacity.
- Single-action operation, offering a direct feel during fights.
- Rim control, allowing for manual drag adjustments during battles with strong fish.
- Drag System:
- Compression drag systems, known for their strength and reliability.
- Often includes an overrun spring and pawl clicker.
- adjustable drag that is known to be very strong.
- Anti-Reverse:
- Many models incorporate an anti-reverse feature, which helps to prevent the handle from spinning during powerful runs, protecting the angler’s knuckles.
- Variations:
- There are “One” and “Two” models, which differ in spool width, affecting line capacity.
- There are also first edition models that are more sought after by collectors.
- Intended Use:
- Designed for handling large, powerful fish in demanding conditions.
- Suitable for salmon, steelhead, and saltwater fly fishing.
- Line weights typically range from 8 to 12, depending on the specific model.
- Historical significance:
- Hardy reels in general have a very long and storied history, adding to the value and collectability of many of their products.
In summary:
The Hardy Ocean Prince is a reel built for strength and reliability. Its robust construction, powerful drag, and anti-reverse features make it a dependable choice for anglers targeting large, hard-fighting fish. The different versions available allow the angler to choose a reel that best suits the type of fishing they will be doing.
