Abel
Abel started as Steve Abel's precision machine shop in Camarillo, California, making parts for aerospace and medical work. In 1988 the shop turned out its first fly reel, and that same machinist's eye still shapes every Abel today. The reels are now machined and finished in Montrose, Colorado, and each one is anodized by hand. AvidMax carries Abel fly reels for trout streams, steelhead rivers and saltwater flats, with real anglers ready to help you choose.
Why fish an Abel fly reel?
Machined in Montrose, Colorado
Abel learned its trade making tight tolerance parts for aircraft, computers and medical devices. That background shows up in every reel. Today Abel builds its reels in Montrose, on Colorado's Western Slope, and it machines its parts in house on CNC equipment. Frames and spools start as solid bars of aerospace grade aluminum, with stainless steel where strength counts. Design, prototyping and testing all happen in the same shop. Abel makes its products in the United States by choice, so the people who design a reel are the people who build it.
Sealed drags and hand anodized finishes
Abel's saltwater and big game reels use a stacked drag of alternating carbon and stainless steel discs, fully sealed to keep sand and salt out. The SDS is rated at over 20 pounds of stopping power. Lighter trout reels use the same carbon and steel idea, or a classic click and pawl for small water. Then there is the art. Abel's art department anodizes each graphic by hand, from solid colors and fades to detailed trout, permit and tarpon patterns. No two custom reels look exactly alike.
Which Abel fly reel is right for you?
- Abel TR: A light click and pawl trout reel with a large arbor, built for small streams and dry flies in sizes 2/3 and 4/5.
- Abel Vaya: A versatile disc drag reel with a carbon and stainless stack that handles everything from trout rivers to light saltwater.
- Abel SDF: A fully sealed drag reel for freshwater and light salt in sizes 4/5, 5/6 and 6/7.
- Abel Rove: An ultra large arbor reel with a simple cork drag that is easy to clean in the field, made for steelhead, spey and saltwater in sizes from 4/6 up.
- Abel SDS: Abel's sealed drag saltwater reel in 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12, built for bonefish, permit and tarpon.
- Abel SDX: Abel's largest and fastest reel, a sealed drag model in 9/11 and 12/14 for tarpon, giant trevally, big steelhead and offshore fish.
Buy your Abel fly reel from AvidMax
Abel backs its reels with a lifetime warranty for the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship when you buy from an authorized dealer. Not sure which model fits your water? Our team fishes this gear and can help you match a rod, reel and line. Call 720-836-3619 (9 to 5 MST, Monday to Saturday). Standard shipping is free on orders over $45.
