Abel Super 5N Large Arbor Fly Fishing Reel
Specifications
• Weight: 5.7 ounces
• Spool diameter: 3.500 inches
• Spool width: .750 inches
• Capacity: Standard WF 5 line plus 125 yards of 20 lb. Dacron backing or WF 6 plus 100 yards of backing
• Material: Spool, frame and foot machined from 6061-T6 cold finished
aluminum bar stock
• Drag system: Draw bar actuated cork disk
• Finish: Corrosion-resistant anodized
• Colors: High gloss black coral or non-reflective matte black, other custom colors available at an additional charge
A little history…
So, what’s this?? A beefy, brawny saltwater tough guy posing as a trout reel? Isn’t that a bit …well, overkill?
After
all, in fly fishing, unlike conventional spinning or bait casting, we
don’t actually use the reel to make the cast. In the old genteel days of
trout fishing, the reel simply stored line until we’re lucky enough to
hook something that took out more line than we had in our hand. I grew
up using a stamped, Japanese import, then a stamped Pflueger Medalist,
and finally graduated to a variety of die cast Hardy reels, the gold
standard of trout reels in the early 1980’s. I treasured all of them in
their time. Maybe it was the insistent buzz made by the clicker as a
trout peeled off line, or maybe I felt the reel was my fishing
companion, sharing in each new adventure.
Fast forward to 2007.
Our “genteel” art has become, on many fronts, a slugfest. No longer are
we satisfied plying our trade in bucolic settings fishing for small
trout. Today, many of us 
travel
the world seeking larger trout in New Zealand, Patagonia, and Chile. We
fish the salt water flats for species such as bonefish and permit that
swim much faster and pull much harder than their similarly sized
freshwater cousins. Consequently, we’re harder on our tackle and have
come to expect greater performance from our fly reels.
You’d
think it wouldn’t take rocket science to come up with a little metal
wheel with a brake that was dependable. But I’ve seen just about every
brand of reel fail at one time or another. Whether it’s grit or grime,
extreme heat or cold, component wear, or impact from a hard fall, if
there’s a weakness, we usually find out about it exactly at the wrong
time.
Enter Steve Abel. Although not a rocket scientist, he is
an experienced aerospace machinist, who started selling his fly fishing
reels in 1987. His motto then, and the company’s motto today is “to
design and build the best, most dependable gear in the world and give
world class customer service.” In the ensuing twenty years, Abel Quality
Products has succeeded in carving out a niche in the increasingly
competitive arena of high quality fly fishing reels and built a devoted
following of end users. The latest offering from Abel is the Super 5
Narrow Large Arbor, a trout sized reel that boasts a robustness usually
found only in its larger, saltwater brethren.
Features
The Abel Super 5N Fly Fishing Reel is the newest addition
to the Abel Super Series, which have a large arbor design for faster
line retrieve, reduced line coiling, and better drag continuity. The 5N
spool, frame, and foot are cut from a solid block of 6061-T6 cold
finished high molecular density aluminum. The spool and frame are
aggressively ported (ventilated) to reduce weight, while maintaining
great strength and rigidity. The draw bar, main shaft, pawls, and screws
are machined 303 stainless steel. The drag is comprised of a large 
surface
area, cork composite covered drag plate tightened against the inside of
the aluminum spool by the draw bar. All aluminum surfaces are protected
against corrosion by Abel’s proprietary hard anodizing process. The 5N
is convertible to left or right hand retrieve. At 5.7 ounces, it’s
relatively light considering its bombproof strength. The drag system is
silky smooth, with low start up inertia, and based on a simple design
that has proven itself over two decades. The spool capacity is suitable
for 5 or 6 weight lines, making it ideal for large trout and small
steelhead. Substituting smaller diameter gel spun backing in place of
Dacron, one could pump up the backing capacity to over 150 yards for
medium steelies, smaller bonefish, specks and reds. Overall, a nearly
flawless, extremely rugged and reliable fly fishing reel for taking
fresh and smaller saltwater species on light tackle.
• Large arbor, narrow spool design for quick line pick up
• Machined from 6061-T6 cold finished aluminum bar stock
• Impact resistant spool rim and frame
• Smooth, reliable cork-draw bar drag system
• Durable, hard anodized finish
• Custom colors, handles, and engraving available at additional charge
Materials, Fit, and Finish
Fly fishing reels machined from a solid bar of metal have
the greatest rigidity and strength per weight, but in the long run, are
more costly to produce than stamped, or die cast reels. Over thirty
years ago, American companies such as Seamaster and Fin Nor pioneered
the construction of machined fly reels, primarily for a small following
of hard core salmon and saltwater fly enthusiasts. The increased
popularity of fly fishing, coupled with political and economic expansion
of the Far East in recent years, has led to an influx of many
reasonable quality, less expensive machined imports primarily targeting
entry and mid level customers. Many U.S. makers of good reels have
folded under this pressure, and the majority that have remained, like
Abel and Tibor, have done so by directing there efforts at top of the
line products.
Although you may find some custom $2000-$10,000
titanium reel models on the Internet, aluminum is the choice for mere
mortals. Abel uses 6061-T6 cold finished bar stock in all of their
reels, which is the strongest, densest, most corrosion resistant
aluminum for this purpose. The spool, frame and foot of the 5N Super are
cut from this, and the mainshaft and drawbar from 303 stainless steel,
on Computer Numerical Control lathes and mills. In fact, every
machinable part in the reel is made in the Abel factory to insure utmost
quality control, right down to the stainless steel screws. The only
non-metal parts are the cork drag washer, a neoprene o-ring, and the
laminated, sealed wood handle.
The overall weight of the reel is
significantly reduced, while retaining structural integrity, by
precise, aggressive porting throughout the spool and frame. All parts
are hand de-burred, hand polished, cleaned and inspected and aluminum
parts are protected from wear and corrosion (and colored) by Abel’s
unique hard anodizing process, which penetrates and bonds to the metal.
Two sealed waterproof ball bearings on the spool and one on the drag
plate provide near frictionless rotation.
Abel currently employs
28 production workers and 7 support staff in their Camarillo,
California facility. They offer a lifetime warranty on manufacturing
defects for all their reels. Although you’re not likely to need that
warranty, it’s nice to know that Abel, due to their success, will
probably be around to back it up if you do.
What a drag
In a nutshell, there are two basic types of fly reel
drags; the classic spring and pawl, popularized by Hardy Brothers of
England well over a century ago, or one of many variations of the more
modern disk drag. Most anglers, and manufacturers today overlook the
click pawl, unfairly in my opinion, in favor of disks for all fly
fishing. Actually, the click pawl, if well constructed, is very reliable
for smaller trout and is the lightest, simplest, and least expensive to
build. And as it works, it creates that sweet sound that many of us
find synonymous with fly fishing.
As we seek fish that pull
harder and faster and fight longer, our fly reels are progressively
subjected to greater amounts of what most often kills them; heat. A disc
drag slows the spool by friction, applying pressure between two or more
discs, usually one on the spool and one on the frame, or within a hub
mounted on the frame. A great number of variations of this seemingly
simple concept are available today, each one claiming superior
performance.
However, the big game fly reels that have been the
most successful in landing fish over 100 pounds, and, therefore, operate
smoothly and survive the greatest amounts of stress, have draw bar
drags. This simple system has two center mounted disk shaped brake
surfaces that meet when the spool is attached, and drag is increased as
the draw bar tightens the frame against the spool through the central
shaft.
Although most newer disk drag systems use synthetics such
as Rulon, Delrin or carbon fiber, as the brake material, natural cork
(ground and mixed with a polymer), is still considered by 
many
to offer the best balance of durability, low start up inertia, stopping
power, and adjustability. This cork composite, unlike the synthetics,
is compressible, providing for its smoothness. The Abel 5N Super has the
largest drag of this type of any 5 or 6 weight reel I’ve seen, and the
“open” design dissipates heat rapidly into the rear of the spool and
throughout the reel frame. “Closed” or completely sealed drag systems
offer the advantage of low maintenance, but generally can not cool as
effectively.
Cork must be lubricated occasionally to replenish
its natural moisture, usually with pure neatsfoot oil. Make sure to
follow the manufacturer’s directions, as petroleum products or solvents
may harm the cork, and back off the drag tension when not in use.
Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of the draw bar drag is that it does
not allow for quick change spools, as some disassembly is required.
Choose another design if this is a priority for you.
According
to the International Game Fish Association, Abel reels where used in
setting the greatest number of new world records for 2006. Though you
may not land a world record, you will at some point encounter that fish
of a lifetime. The Abel 5N Super Large Arbor Fly Fishing Reel, with its
impeccably machined strength and superb drag, is as likely as any to get
the job done.
Pros
Rugged, beautifully machined and finished trout-size reel with a very smooth and reliable drag system usually found only in larger, saltwater fly reels.
Cons
At $550, the Abel 5N Super is much more expensive than
some other very serviceable trout reels and is an ounce or more heavier
than others with lighter drag designs and frames. The draw bar does not
allow for the convenience of quick-change spools. Open design requires
occasional cleaning and lubrication.
Bottom Line
The Abel 5N Super, compared to other reels of its size, is most likely to withstand extreme conditions, and the one you’ll probably hand down to your grandchildren.
Reviewer. . .
Having been in the fly fishing industry for over 25 years
as a professional guide, fly fishing school director, writer, and
manufacturers sales representative, I’ve been fortunate to fish with a
wide array of equipment from almost all of the top makers.
– Dean Schubert
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