The Galvan 'Enlightenment'

I've been seduced by Galvan Fly Reels.


I've long been skeptical of the argument that the weight of your fly reel is important in "balancing" your rod. The argument, of course, is that a reel which is too light or too heavy upsets the balance of your rod, disrupting the advantage of the lever when you cast. But the argument just never made sense to me (in years past, I routinely fished a massive Pflueger Medalist 1498 on my 4-weight rod with no ill effects, so I could retrieve line more quickly; you might say I originated the large-arbor reel).


First, balancing makes no sense, because the reel is located at the wrong end of the fulcrum to cause much concern. Second, balancing implies that we should have replaced all our reels when we transitioned from cane rods to fiberglass, from glass to graphite, and with each succeeding generation of graphite (now, there's an argument that every good sales rep should embrace). Third, balancing assumes that everybody grips their rods in the same place, which is demonstrably false. And fourth, balancing assumes that the length of line outside your rod tip is always the same, which suggests you can never change the length of your cast.


As I said, balancing the reel makes no sense, at least not to me.


Minimizing weight is another matter, and it's a concept I understand. From the standpoint of casting, minimizing weight allows you to stop the rod faster, because there's less inertia, and a faster stop makes for a better cast. Lighter also enhances overall comfort. I'm not sure I buy into the idea that a heavy reel will wear you down any more quickly than a light reel; it's not like you're swinging the thing non-stop all day without a break. But light really is delightful when you cast. If I ever doubted it before, those doubts vanished when I put my new Galvan Torque T-8 on my BVK 8-weight rod from Temple Fork Outfitters. I felt: 


Enlightened?


Galvan is a family-owned company that has earned a reputation for manufacturing top notch reels in the United States since 1994. Fully machined from 6061 bar stock aluminum, these reels feature a compression disc drag that sandwiches an anodized aluminum plate between carbon fiber and Ertalyte TX. And Galvan stands behind these products with a lifetime warranty that promises to repair or replace any of its reels at no charge to the original owner.


Galvan's classic styling and anodizing make for some beautiful reels. But what really jumped out when I took my new Torque out of its box was the weight. The T-8 spool has a 4-inch diameter, meaning this reel is no baby. And yet the weight is only 7.6 ounces. My T-12, with a spool diameter of 4.5 inches, is just 8.6 ounces. And if you're really into big game fishing, consider this: The Torque Tournament Series T-18 weighs in at only 12 ounces despite a 6-inch diameter.


I am truly impressed.

OK, not everybody needs or wants a really big reel. So if you're looking for a reel to match your 5-weight rod, the Spoke S-5 weighs 4.45 ounces. And that's not too shabby.

The Rush R-5, which retails for $240, isn't as impressive in weight at 5.4 ounces, but the workmanship and materials are the same. Even the drag is identical to that on the more expensive models. The only difference is that the machining is less extensive, so Galvan can keep the price down.


You can find more information on the models and sizes on Galvan's web site, so check them out. You may find it's time to join the Enlightenment.