July 17, 2012
By Jeff Weakley
Wright & McGill Co. was awarded a Best of Show award in the Fly Fishing Reel category at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), held in Orlando, Florida, July 10-13, 2012.
The new Sabalos Fly Reel series packs impressive construction and features for a modest price: $199.99 for the 7/8-weight model, up to $219.99 for the 11/12 model. Look out snook (the reel's namesake), as well as tarpon, permit and other popular Florida fly targets.
The frame and spool are built of 6061 bar stock aluminum, machined and two-tone anodized. Even the handle is aluminum. Fish-stopping power comes from a dual-disc, cork and Teflon system. Ball bearings are sealed. As the image at left reveals, it's a large-arbor design, with extensive cutting for weight reduction. Florida Sportsman staffers are eagerly looking forward to water-testing the new Sabalos reel.
The Sabalos fly reel, as displayed at ICAST, was also featured in a recent news item on Floridasportsman.com.