Reels for short, lightweight bamboo rods

[NewUtahCaneAngler]

I know that we have lots of threads answering questions about what reel would go with this rod, so I thought that I'd start a thread dedicated to reels for rods 7' and under.

Here are some details that I've picked up from various catalogs and some rod/reel combinations that I own(ed). The rods, that I'll initially be displaying are a 6 1/2' 2-piece Orvis Madison version of the Flea, which weighs 2 3/4 oz. the handle/seat is 9 3/8" long with the grip being 5 1/2". A modified version of the 6 1/2' 3-piece Rocky Mountain Fly & Spin that weighs approximately 2 3/4 oz, The handle/seat is 9 1/4" and the grip is 5 5/8" and a mid/tip/tourist handle version of a Sweetgrass that is just about 5' 10" with a handle that is 8 3/4" and the grip is 5 3/8'. Adding an Orvis 7' Pack Rod with a handle that is 9 3/4" long and a grip that is 6" including the wrap over. Now adding an Orvis Mitey Mite with a handle length that is 7 5/16" and a grip of just 3 15/16". Adding an Orvis Superfine Fly & Spin weighing 2 1/2 oz with a grip measuring 10 1/16".

The reels will be:
- circa 1972 Orvis CFO III, 3", 3 oz
- circa 1972 Orvis CFO II, 2 9/16", 2 oz
- circa 1992 Hardy JLH 2/3/4, 2 7/8", 3 1/4 - 3 1/2 oz reel (BWAG as listed weight is 3.5 oz, but this may be for the disc version)
- circa 1940 Meek 54 2 7/8", 4 1/2 oz
- circa 1964 Hardy Featherweight 2 7/8" 3 oz
- circa 1969 Young made Orvis Battenkill Flyweight, 2 3/4", 3 15/16 oz
- circa 1934 Pflueger Medalist 1392, 2 13/16"
- circa 2016 Hardy Duchess, 2 3/4", 3.1 oz
- circa 2016 Hardy Duchess, 3", 3.7 oz
- circa 191X Hardy Uniqua 2 5/8"
- circa 1964 Hardy Flyweight 2 1/2" 2 3/8 oz

Take time to notice how these attributes: porting, reel size, reel color, foot height and foot color affects visual balance of these combinations.

Modified Rocky Mountain and Orvis CFO II

Modified Rocky Mountain and Meek 54
Modified Rocky Mountain and Medalist 1392

Modified Rocky Mountain and Hardy Featherweight

Modified Rocky Mountain and Hardy JLH 2/3/4

Modified Rocky Mountain and Hardy Duchess 2 3/4"

Modified Rocky Mountain and Hardy Duchess 3"

Modified Rocky Mountain and Hardy Flyweight

Madison Flea and Orvis CFO III

Madison Flea and Orvis CFO II

Madison Flea and Meek 54

Madison Flea and Medalist 1392

Madison Flea and Hardy JLH 2/3/4

Madison Flea and Hardy Duchess 2 3/4"

Madison Flea and Hardy Uniqua 2 5/8"

Madison Flea and Hardy Flyweight

Sweetgrass and CFO III

Sweetgrass and CFO II

Sweetgrass and Meek 54

Sweetgrass and Medalist 1392

Sweetgrass and Hardy Featherweight

Sweetgrass and Hardy JLH 2/3/4

Sweetgrass and Hardy Duchess 2 3/4"

Sweetgrass and Hardy Uniqua 2 5/8"

Sweetgrass and Hardy Flyweight

Rocky Mountain Fly & Spin (pre modification) and Young Orvis Battenkill Flyweight

Orvis 7' 3 3/8 oz and Hardy Featherweight
Superfine Fly & Spin and Hardy JLH 2/3/4

Superfine Fly & Spin and Hardy 2 5/8" Uniqua

Superfine Fly & Spin and Hardy Flyweight

Superfine Fly & Spin and Hardy Duchess 2 3/4"

Ovis Pack Rod and Orvis CFO III

Orvis Pack Rod and Meek 54

Orvis Pack Rod and Medalist 1392

Orvis Pack Rod and Hardy Featherweight

Orvis Pack Rod and Hardy JLH 2/3/4

Orvis Pack Rod and Hardy Duchess 2 3/4"

Orvis Mitey Mite and Hardy Featherweight

Orvis Mitey Mite and Hardy JLH 2/3/4

Orvis Mitey Mite and Hardy Uniqua 2 5/8"

Orvis Mitey Mite and Orvis Battenkill Flyweight

Orvis Mitey Mite and Hardy Flyweight

Orvis Mitey Mite and Orvis CFO II


I'll add more photos as they become available and hope that you do too. If you post, please post the model, size, weight of the reel and the length of rod, weight if known, and the handle & grip measurements. Thank you and enjoy the remainder of your Memorial Day weekend.

Some observations/favorite pairings: The Orvis Mitey Mites screams for a tiny reel, thus I like Hardy's version of the Flyweight with it best and the 2 5/8" Uniqua comes in second; The Sweetgrass looks best with the Hardy Duchess 2 3/4"; Although many of the smaller lightweight reels such as the Hardy Flyweight balance the Madison Flea fine, IMHO, it needs a larger reel for visual balance due to the length of the downlocking reel seat, thus I like the Hardy JLH, Hardy Featherweight, and Battenkill Flyweight reels with it best; Due to the weight of the Meek 54, it really needs a longer or heavier rod than I currently own or plan to keep, so it will be moving on to a new owner soon;

Cheers,
Joe

[DireWolf53]

CFO 111's on short Orvis rods are about as perfect a combo as there comes.
Almost as classic as Red Molly astride the Vincent Black Lightning 1952

[blackdog]

You’re showing the Meek 54 as LHW. Mine is RHW but wish it was left hand.

[Skeet1969]

They all look good. The CFO III looks RIGHT.
Mike B

[BP Green]

You’re showing the Meek 54 as LHW. Mine is RHW but wish it was left hand.

I noticed that also. Very nice...

[NewUtahCaneAngler]

I actually use the Meek in LHW. It was biased that way when I purchased it, so I didn't even have to bias it that way. I did bias the 1392 LHW as that is the only way that I will wind. To many options not to and not all of them come at a premium.

[teter]

Very nice combinations. Thanks for showing them.

[Caneghost]

CFO's were born for this. Here is my brookie rod: a Tom Smithwick 5' 5" one piece with a forest green CFO I. Sorry, its too early in the morning to drag it out to measure it but I think the proportions speak for themselves.

[NewUtahCaneAngler]

CFO's were born for this. Here is my brookie rod: a Tom Smithwick 5' 5" one piece with a forest green CFO I. Sorry, its too early in the morning to drag it out to measure it but I think the proportions speak for themselves.

Nice looking combination. I believe that the circa 1992 CFO I is 2 3/4", but I don't have any later catalogs to confirm this or its weight. I hope that we'll see a Sage 503 and 504, some Uniqua 2 5/8" and 2 7/8", Hardy's Flyweight and St. George Jr., 2 5/8" and 2 7/8" Perfects, a Baby Bougle, and Duchess 2 3/4" soon.

Although the CFO III is a great looking reel, personally, I've always considered the CFO too large to visually balance smaller rod grips, often found on smaller rods, and too light for longer rods.

[Short Tip]

Fun stuff.

Here's a Leonard 46, 6' 3/2, with a Flyweight, and a Leonard "Special", 5' 2/2 with an independent handle, sporting a JW Young 2 3/8" reel.



A Leonard 38H and 2 7/8" Perfect.



An F.E. Thomas 6'8" Fairy and a Leonard 44.

[DaveNJ]

My 90s CFO III seems to work on every rod I use around 7' +/-

[ibookje]

I hope that we'll see a Sage 503 and 504, some Uniqua 2 5/8" and 2 7/8", Hardy's Flyweight and St. George Jr., 2 5/8" and 2 7/8" Perfects, and Duchess 2 3/4" soon.

Although the CFO III is a great looking reel, personally, I've always considered the CFO too large to visually balance smaller rod grips, often found on smaller rods, and too light for longer rods.

The CFO 123 is a great size for shorter rods.
Here's one on my Leetle Feller.



Here's a Sage 504L on my Scott Wojnicki.

[quashnet]

Paul H. Young Midge #2104, 6'3", with a Hardy Uniqua 2-5/8". Young told a friend that if he did not already own a Hardy St. George Junior, he would choose to use the smallest Uniqua on his own Midge rod.

[LeeB]

Orvis Flea with a St. George Jr.

[DaveNJ]

That Sage Hardy reel is so dirty...... looks amazing but it's Sage.

[ibookje]

Yes it was a wet dream when it was in the shops as the price was outrageously high.
And it’s a Hardy made reel still

[NewUtahCaneAngler]

Yes it was a wet dream when it was in the shops as the price was outrageously high.
And it’s a Hardy made reel still

I purchased some NOS a couple of years ago and the early 90's price was $185. I'm sure many here recently scratched their head's at a 509 selling for $600 + tax and shipping...but now back to our regularly scheduled program.

[Flykuni3]

Great thread, many thanks. Lots of good reel and rod combos shown, you know, we have some really good sheet on this board. Hat's off to you. I'm usually fishing Hardy reels, CFOs, some assorted British makers and Medalists. Not all feet fit all rods, some balance better and some just look correct paired up.

Lightweight on 7' Edwards Autograph, DT4, fishing California's Sierra range with buddy Royd of Palo Alto. A newer fisher, but he took to it like a starving man. Good fisherman that guy.



The great Medalist, a 1492, with Pfoot expertly installed by Russ of Frazier Mtn. Good pair, 6' Duracane and the Medalist, DT4.



St. George Jr, last week of the season, mounted on a Guba-Bacon Payne 96, DT4, and brrr. Excellent balance in this set up.

[NewUtahCaneAngler]

Flykuni3, nice rod and reel combinations and great photos! I suspected that, as a big fan of short rods, that you'd be along sooner or later.

[Flykuni3]

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