Hardy-Made Orvis Battenkill Mark IV + Spool; Mark V Spool

[eastprong]

Orvis Battenkill Mark IV reel with extra spool. These reels were made by Hardy using a magnesium alloy which is extremely light in weight but the finish is prone to "rash", which you can see on the backplate. It's in excellent working condition and set up for RHW. It could use a light cleaning and greasing. The reel comes in a blue Orvis spare spool bag and the spool comes in an Orvis light green felt bag; the logo is barely visible.

$50 shipped to CONUS






Orvis Battenkill Mark V spare spool. $25

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Being an Orvis dealer I remember selling these very light fly reels some time ago.

They have a click-n-pawl or ratchet-type drag system that is very smooth and light with rim drag or rim control.

The #IV size is normally for #6/7 size outfits but I would use it for a #5/6 outfit with that light drag.

Ratchet drags 'usually' can be made to be RHW or LHW by turning over the pawls.

It would be good for trout and small Steelhead where a heavy drag is not needed.

Other than cosmetics this is a great deal for the right person.

[eastprong]

Price lowered,

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Many of us old farts use these click-n-pawl reels for trout and half-pounders because the drag is so consistent and smooth.

We enjoy that old sweet noise they make when a fish is running out line.

[Sonoman]

To me, the two best sounds in fly fishing are the scream of a click-pawl as large trout, steelhead, or stripers take line and the sound of saltwater fish ripping fly line through the water. I find most freshwater reel drag hype is just that, hype. A basic drag to prevent backlash and rim control is fine and we managed to land countless steelhead over the years on old Medalists and click-pawls that don't even have exposed rims. Save your money for good drags on saltwater reels and enjoy the music of an old click-pawl reel.