Galvin Fishing Reel
This is a review of the Galvin Open Back OB3 Fly Fishing Reel.Until a fly fisherman spends countless of days on the water, it is hard for them to realize how important a fly reel really is when it comes to landing large fish. Many cynics will profess that a fly reel is merely a tool for holding and storing one's fly line. While this may be true the majority of the time, I would not want to be caught dead with an inferior reel because at that very moment, a huge fish would take my fly and I would become a bundle of nerves worrying about the drag.
I bought my Galvan Reel about seven years ago and I must admit, it was an impulse-purchase. There was no need for me to own another reel at the time, but I was getting a good deal on it, so I figured I would give it a try. The Galvin OB3 was my first reel of the large-arbor variety and it was also my first high-end reel.
Eager to see what all the fuss was about, I quickly put on a fresh fly line and headed down to a spot known for holding many large brown trout.
On the way to the water tragedy struck. I slipped on some wet leaves and my rod and reel were tossed high into the air. The brand new Galvin slammed flush into a large rock - the rod was fine, but I was scared to even look at the reel. To my surprise, it looked perfect, so I proceeded to the water and vowed to me more careful.
Fishing was slow that day, so I went down to 6x tippet to see if that would make a difference in the action. Within minutes, I was hooked into something big. Worried that the Galvin may have been damaged internally, I held my breath as that critical moment of getting the fish on the reel rapidly approached. Much to my astonishment, the drag engaged flawlessly and I was extremely impressed by how silky-smooth it was. After landing that 20-inch brown I remembered how I used to avoid playing large trout on the reel. Now, I relish the opportunity to put the Galvin Open Back Reel to the test and in seven years, it has done an amazing job of protecting the lightest of tippets.
The only downside to the Galvin fly fishing reel is that it is slightly heavier than some of the other pricier makes available, but I can live with that considering its durability, smoothness and reliability. Galvin fly reels are the perfect choice for someone who wants to buy an exceptional reel without ever having to worry about it failing. This product takes a beating like no other and that means something to serious anglers who are hard on their gear.
Also check out this Simms G4 Goretex Fishing Waders Review and this review of the Lamson Velocity Fly Fishing Reel.