Hardy Ultralite SDS

Green means go on the color-coded drag system of the new Hardy Ultralite SDS reel. When you want to slow the fish down, you can visually adjust the drag into the amber color zone, and when you want that running tarpon to stop and turn, you crank it into the red zone. The Ultralite SDS has a one-turn drag knob that goes from zero to 13 pounds of drag—on the 12-weight version. (The six woven carbon-fiber pads in the drag system create a maximum of 8 pounds of drag in the smallest SDS.) While quick and easy stopping power is what you need with fish that streak away from you, many big, hard-mouth fish are lost when they run straight toward you and create slack. The 5.3"-diameter SDS solves this problem by picking up 14 inches of line with one crank of the handle. For more information, see the video below. ($450-$495 hardynorthamerica.com)

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