Quick Hit Review: The Hardy 1921 Wide Spool “Perfect” Fly Reel

Quick Hit Review: The Hardy 1921 Wide Spool “Perfect” Fly Reel

The Hardy Perfect fly reel, in my opinion, is the perfect complement to any classic fly rod, especially those made from bamboo and fiberglass. The reel’s weight, design and click-pawl drag system were intended to balance, or offset, the heavier weights of these materials, while also providing simplicity and reliability to the reel’s inner mechanics. Trout reels require smooth startup inertia, not the ability to brake saltwater species.

These days I always fish the Hardy 1912 Perfect on my bamboo rod and absolutely love it.

Recently, Hardy came out with a new version, the 1921 Wide Spool Perfect Fly Reel, based on the improvements the company made to the Perfect back in 1921. The main difference between the 1921 Perfect and the 1912 Perfect is that the 1921 has a wide arbor spool. Fans of wide arbor reel design, who might want more line retrieval and backing capacity, will like how the 1921 performs over its predecessor.

One other interesting aspect is that the line guard rotates. Back in the day, when fly lines were more abrasive, they would form grooves in the old line guards the more they were fished. With subtle adjustments, you could ensure a smooth surface for the fly line. Today, it’s largely an irrelevant feature with the advancements in fly line coatings, but still a unique design detail that distinguishes this reel. 

Still made in Alnwick, England, the 1921 Wide Spool Perfect is a good looker, with two tone hard anodized finish and a brass spindle. The 1921 check mechanism is about as adequate as any click-pawl classic, but what really sets the reel apart is the sound it makes–a distinctive purr. 

The price point isn’t cheap, coming in at $795-$895, depending on size.

Likely buyers? This reel is a collector’s model, and pricey, but also utterly fishable on the trout stream.