Hardy 1912 Perfect Fly Reel

When you take the plunge to fish a bamboo fly rod, you’re going out of your way to experience traditional, simplistic gear. When I took that leap, finding the right rod with the best action for where I like to fish most (Ron Barch’s “Merlin” design, based on a Paul Young “Driggs” parabolic taper, born of Michigan small river roots), I realized that the rod itself was only half of the package. I needed a classic reel that would be the perfect complement. Hanging an ultra-modern, disc-drag reel off a classic fly rod didn’t feel right–almost akin to putting knobby, whitewall tires on a 1964 Aston Martin DB5. They definitely work, but that’s just not cricket.

My search for “perfect” ultimately led to Perfect. Hardy Perfect. And to be clear, the Perfect is not just for bamboo. It is an excellent accessory to any special rod, from graphite to glass and everything in between. But it’s specifically made to complement something “special.”

Hardy is synonymous with some of the most iconic reels ever made–the Cascapedia, the Princess, the St. George, Bougle’ and others, and the version of Hardy’s Perfect, first introduced in 1912, had a distinctive click and pawl check drag mechanism.

You have two choices to find a 1912 Perfect these days: You can scour the internet and try to find an original in mint condition, for which you will pay an arm and a leg, or you can buy one of the reproduction models that Hardy produces to commemorate the classic. 

Unlike most of Hardy’s modern design reels which are now produced in Asia, the classic reproductions are still made in Alnwick, England, by a relatively small team of craftsmen. The “new” 1912 Perfect retails for $895, so, it’s definitely priced more for its aesthetics, like the red agate line guard and deep anodized gunmetal finish, than it is performance. If you truly believe that a disc-drag in a trout reel makes a difference when it comes to landing fish or not, you are excused from this discussion. No shame intended. 

For the rest, I recommend the 3-⅛ inch diameter version of the 1912 Perfect for anything 4-weight to 6-weight. The narrow spool helps retrieve fly line quickly per crank, but with a narrow spool, you want to be sure you use a line that’s less prone to memory issues, like a new Airflo Superflo Universal Taper.   

You’ll love how the reel sounds. On the river, it makes sweet music, especially as a fish pulls out line. The reel is easy to convert from left-hand to right-hand retrieve. But frankly, who cares? The feeling of the drag differential is so nominal, you’ll hardly notice anyway. What drag pressure it does offer (about a half pound) is about right for tangling with your average trout in the 12- to 16-inch range. You’d definitely be under-gunned if you’re chasing two-footers. 

The one imperfection, in my opinion, is that the spool is fully encased in the frame, so you cannot palm the reel to brake it by feel. So, you really do have to trust that old drag, or use your fingers to stop the line (watch out for burns). If you’re just playing classic trout games, no problem. If you’re going to the monster truck rally, well, you might want those big, knobby tires. 

If you are attracted to the 1912 reproduction, you should grab it soon. Hardy will eventually put this one into the archive and come out with another variation of the Perfect (say, 1923?), and you’ll have to find your not-the-actual-original 1912 Perfect reproduction in the aftermarket, probably for a premium.