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Nice shots from Belgium. Beautiful photographer. Reel looks like an exceptional St. George. Great photography!

Okay, I did not have my personal photographer with me, but I recently put two reels to the test in New York in the Catskills on the Beaverkill River, Cairns Pool. The purpose was to put to rest the many arguments about the relative merits of Hardy reels and their copies. Under identical conditions, I used the same brand 5-weight line, same fly. First with a 3 3/8" Hardy St. George, 5-weight DT Cortland line, #14 caddis; next with a 3 1/4" St. George wannabe (acquired from a fellow Forum member), possibly by Ernest Dingley. Aside from he 1/8" difference in reel diameter, the only difference in reels was the line guide: agate on the Hardy and the bronze on the wannabe. Results of this test, in the pictures below, are self evident and conclusive.

I also want to thank two fellow Forum members visiting from Germany who kindly supplied me with the most effective flies, without which this work would not have been possible. We met by chance while fishing the Beaverkill that day and exchanged notes on modern cane rod builders. Much praise for Wojnicki and Norling, but results of those tests are not in.

Now first the Hardy St. George. (Note: After attaining the right amount of single malt in your bloodstream, if you look closely, you can begin to make out the trout fighting at the end of the line in this picture.)


Results with St. George: a big Beaverkill brown.



Next. Results with Hardy wannabe reel, possibly by E. Dingley: baby brown trout.


Even a close up can't make him bigger.


End of a long day of scientific testing.



And here's one caught many years ago on pre-modern tackle, when they were all much bigger.