Harris Solitude Fly Reels

("The Guides Reel")

     In March 1994 steelheader Craig Harris designed a steelhead fly reel that has become a standard for guides all over the world. This reel, without a doubt, is the most reliable and affordable steelhead/salmon reel on the market. To boot, cosmetically it is a great looking reel (John Nagy had to put it on the cover of his newly revised and expanded 3rd edition of Steelhead Guide, Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead!)

Here are some of the criteria Craig used in designing this reel:

1. The drag must function properly and the reel cannot lock up or free-spool when the air temperature is below 32 degrees F. and when the water temperature is near freezing.
2. The finish on the reel must protect it from the rigors of steelhead and salmon fishing; exposure to stones, sand, boat gunnels, water loaded with ice and sediment, pick-up truck beds, etc.
3. The spools need to be easy to change.
4. The reel needed to be lightweight to reduce casting fatigue
5. It had to be low maintenance.
6. The reel should be able to be operated with gloves on - oversize knobs.
7. There should be no shapes or objects on the reel that could catch the line or tippet.
8. And, most importantly, the drag must have a zero start-up inertia to let the drag engage instantly and apply constant pressure. A drag that intermittently sticks/slips means lost fish.

     John Nagy uses the Harris Solitude Large Arbor V (8.5 oz.) with his custom 10 1/2 foot steelhead "noodle" fly rod. It has the right amount of weight to balance this long fly rod. The Solitude III (not available with LA) and Solitude IV (available with LA) are ideal for shorter/production steelhead fly rods. 

     As a Solitude reel dealer, John Nagy can ship out any of these reels (and spare spools) to your location using standard shipping or overnight. Please contact John Nagy at (412) 531-5819 or steelheadguide@hotmail.com for more details on the reel and ordering information. See below for information on the new Solitude reel. 

     Visit the EDCO, Inc. website below for specifications, pricing and more information on this great reel.

www.solitudereels.com  

 The Harris reel production facilities have been sold and moved from Michigan to Mount Vernon, Washington. Full production will resume in the winter of 2006 and be available to dealers sometime in November/December 2006. The new reel will be marketed under the Solitude name and will have some improvements including a new reversible clutch housing giving better left/right handed retreive reversability, an improved drag and overall tighter tolerances for the entire reel. It is to be noted that the new Solitude reel will not be interchangeable with the old Harris Solitude reel since the new clutch housing will not fit into into the Harris spool. 

Edco, Inc. (360-424-6600) has announced that it will no longer service/supply parts for old Harris reels. Also they do not have any old Harris reels or spare spools in stock.

The following are news releases concerning Solitude fly reels by EDCO, Inc.

Winter 2005 news release:

The Solitude Reels line was purchased from Harris by EDCO, Inc. in Mount Vernon, WA. The reel will continue with the Solitude branding. Currently, quality control standards are being implemented as stock is inventoried. Manufacturing will begin as soon as all standards are in compliance. EDCO expects to have reels ready for dealers by March, 2006. Check the website for any updates on production. Solitude Reels will be back again with the highest possible quality.

Any reel that needing service should be sent to Edco. We are continuing to honor any warranty and will return the repaired reel to the owner. We want to assure you that Solitude will continue to be manufactured with the highest standards.

April 3, 2006 news release:

The new line of Solitude Reels is making progress toward production. In response to dealer requests we have decided to spend the extra time necessary to develop a reversible clutch housing. With a pair of snap ring pliers the clutch can be converted right vs. left retrieval quickly and in the field if necessary. As you may imagine this takes considerable time and effort in design, prototyping, and testing. Thus, we have delayed our release date to implement the changes our customers have urged us to consider. Other changes have to do with the quality standards that effect the inner workings of the reel. We are committed to making the Solitude Reel even better. Your patience is greatly appreciated, and we are confident that you will be pleased with the results. Our website will be updated as we approach production. www.solitudereels.com

August 9, 2006 news release:

The first production of Solitude 2 is in process. To paraphrase Henry Ford: You can have any color in this first production line as long as it’s black. It will feature a reversible clutch as will all our models. We are asking Harris Reel Solitude owners to please hold off on sending any reels needing repairs. We are ramping up for production and our present focus is on making the new reels. Since we do not have a full inventory of Harris parts and with some of the new parts being different it will be difficult if not impossible to repair many of the Harris reels. In the Fall/early winter of 2006, we will be offering Harris Reel Solitude owners with warranties (you must be on the warranty list) a limited time offer on a new Solitude at a reduced price. These will be made available through our dealers. We appreciate your patience as we prepare for the next generation of Solitude. The Solitude Reel has a loyal and enthusiastic following, and we greatly appreciate your encouragement and support as we venture forward to the enhancement of a great fly fishing

June 3, 2008 news release

The new Solitude reel design is now available! Please contact Solitude directly (see web link above) since it is not available through dealers presently. The new reels are only available in standard arbor spools as of now.

 

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