Abel Super 4N fly
reel is made in the USA with precision!

Date: |
8/22/11 |
Tackle type: |
Fly Reel |
Manufacturer: |
Abel |
Reviewer: |
Wolbugger |
Total Score: 8.5 -
GREAT
Introduction:
The Abel Super 4N takes
over where the old Abel Super 4 left off, offering several upgrades in design
such as a narrower spool, lighter weight, as well as a slightly larger arbor and
overall diameter. With a solid design and dizzying array of optional custom
colors available, the Super 4N appears to be one of the highest quality reels
available. Is this reel merely looks, or does it have the performance to back
it up?
Abel
Super 4N
Fly Reel
Specifications
|
Line
Capacity |
4wt + 125yds
Dacron
5wt + 100yds
Dacron |
Line
Weight |
4-5wt |
Spool Width |
.675 inches |
Diameter |
3.300 inches |
Weight |
4.6 oz
ported frame
(solid frame
also
available) |
Colors
Available |
Standard
gloss black,
as well as
custom
finishes |
Materials |
Machined
from 6061
T650
aerospace
quality
aluminum bar
stock |
MSRP (Reel) |
$500.00 |
MSRP
(Extra
Spool) |
$225.00 |
Impressions:
When I took the reel out of the box, I was absolutely floored at how amazing
this reel looked and felt. It was ordered in the custom camo color with a
ported frame and army green aluminum handle. The color scheme was everything I
had hoped for, and the reel felt much lighter than I expected. This is a reel
that will balance perfectly with modern 4 and 5 weight fly rods. Impressive to
say the least, the 4N was a reel I could not wait to fish with.

The Super
4N is right at home on lightweight, modern fly rods
Real World Test:
My Abel Super 4N has seen usage on both ends of the country. It's entire
fishing life thus far has been spent affixed to one of the lightest and best
bang for the buck fly rods available, the Cabela's 9 foot 4 piece 5 weight
L-Tech. At a scant 2.8 ounces, this rod demands a lightweight reel. In
Florida, the combo has tackled small Snook on Gulf beaches and big Tilapia in
residential ponds. On the other extreme, it has traveled to Nevada's Pyramid
Lake twice to intercept Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in the spring time.

A nice
spring time Lahontan Cutthroat from Pyramid Lake, NV on the Super 4N
Casting:
There is not much to speak of here, since a fly reel does nothing but store the
line until a fish is hooked. With that said, fly casting with the 4N secured to
the rod is very pleasant. The light weight of the reel helps keep fatigue down,
allowing you to fish more comfortably.

Generous
porting keeps weight to a bare minimum
Retrieve:
Overall the reel felt great on the retrieve. Standard fare when ordering an
Abel is a walnut, zebra, ivory, or ebony handle. These handles are nice, but
their new aluminum handles are too good to pass up in terms of looks, strength,
and comfort. The handles are actually 1/8 inch longer than the standard wooden
handles, and the end is knurled to improve finger grip. It also precisely
matches the weight of the spool counter balance so no wobble is present, and has
a Delrin insert inside the handle for smoothness. The aluminum handles are
available in any of Abel's custom finishes, making a nice custom touch.

The knurled aluminum handle provides an attractive, sure grip
Another thing I really
like about this reel is the retrieve speed. At just .675” in width, the narrow
spool coupled with the increased arbor size allows you to pick up line fast. An
added plus is that your finger doesn't have to sweep so far back and forth to
guide the line back on the spool evenly. This is a very nice feature when you
are winding as fast as you can as a fish speeds towards you.

I have always
been a fan of a narrow spool and frame
The tone on the retrieve
is a very pleasant classic Abel sound. Super 6N and larger reels feature a new
dual pawl design for added durability and unique sound, but the smaller sized
reels still retain the single pawl design. The single pawl exhibits a
“click...click...click” tone where the dual pawl is more of a
“clickclickclickclick” sound.
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stopping power