DEMYSTIFLY

Images and words by Abel Reels: Every now and then, we come across an artist whose work naturally fits Abel's palette of custom finishes. This time, we're proud to collaborate with outdoor artist Casey Underwood.  Check out all the details below. - Six original Casey Underwood designs created to correspond with a specific model in the Abel lineup - Each reel is individually laser engraved, and put through a proprietary polishing/texturizing process featuring an innovative, fi

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship Abel has been busy. Their TR series was introduced not too long ago, they already have the revamped Super Series and SDS/SDF reels which are all still quite fresh, so what could there possibly be room for in the Abel product lineup? The new VAYA series, that's what! I have to admit, I was totally caught off-guard when seeing these reels on social media for the first time. I had zero intel on their arrival and wasn't expecting an all-new reel series t

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship I can still recall handling an original Abel TR many years back at my local fly shop in California. I couldn't afford one at the time, but I remember drooling over its smooth lines, flawless finish, and elegant wood accents. It was a thing of beauty then, and would still be a stunner even today. Classic is an understatement—every old school Abel was a straight up legend in my book. Now over 20 years later, guess what? The TR series is back. Abel has

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship With the introduction of the SD (Sealed Drag) series a few years ago, Abel finally entered the world of, well, sealed-drag fly reels. After building their legendary reputation with offerings like the still-awesome-to-this-day Big Game series and several others, many of us (me included) were elated that they finally had a reel family offering a maintenance-free drag system. While the SD series was indeed pretty great, Abel found a way to turn up the d

Intro/Specs/Craftsmanship The year 1999 was a special one. Sure, I graduated high school which was great and all, but that's also the year Abel released their Super Series fly reels! Unlike Abel's Big Game Series reel offerings, the biggest feature of these new reels were their large-arbor designs. While the Super Series underwent some small changes over the years, 2017 marks a major refresh for this iconic lineup. Having owned several reels from both the Big Game and origina

In addition to new finishes like the Jon Osiris Tribal Grizzly and the new Grateful Dead designs, Abel introduced their Sealed Drag Saltwater reels. This new series sports a sealed drag system consisting of 16 polycarbonate and stainless discs for up to 20-pounds of fish-stopping power. Although it looks similar to the current Sealed Drag series, there's been some slight design changes to the spool and frame. Available in January, there will be a #7/8, #9/10, and #11/12 offer