[dropcap]A[/dropcap]spen Reels sent me this reel to try out mid-season and it has been hugely impressive. I used it for much of the season on a 10 weight Sage Salt and found it thoroughly capable of handling anything I threw at it, namely double digit bluefish. Rigged with 350 yards of backing and a fast sinking 400 grain line, Aspen Reels’ Large Arbor 450 balanced my beefy 10 weight nicely, picked up line quickly, exhibited silky smooth drag and a fine anodized finish that holds up well to scratches and nicks.
Aspen makes reels available in both mid arbor and large arbor designs and multiple sizes depending on what weight rod you wish to pair it with. Customer service was easily reached when I called with a simple question that they answered clearly and promptly. At a price tag of $350 for their largest reel, there is great value in this US made product that comes in priced closer to its overseas competitors than it does to more pricey domestic reels. If you are in the market for a new reel, priced in the middle of the pack, do yourself a favor and check out Aspen Reels offerings at a dealer near you.
Specs for Aspen Reels’ 450 Large Arbor
Line weight – 10-12
Arbor – Large
Drag – Teflon and Stainless Steel disc
Reel Diameter – 4.50”
Reel Body Width –1.51 ”
Spool Width – 1.14”
Spool Arbor Diameter – 2.30”
Retrieve – Left or Right
Weight – 8.9 oz
Line Capacity* – 11 wt + 300 yds of 30lb backing
Watch how they are constructed from bar stock aluminum. Very cool…
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