Product reviews
Tackle
Guideline Aeon salmon reel
Visually sophisticated and offering high-performance braking and line management, this premium-priced fly reel is impossible to ignore
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Items of tackle generally fall into two categories: form – aesthetically pleasing but not always the most user-friendly – or function – where practical requirements outweigh appearance. However, every so often, something comes along that balances both. Enter the new Aeon salmon reel from Guideline.
The reel’s designer is clearly well-versed in the principles of classic design. The front of the reel has porting inspired by the famous Fibonacci Spiral or Golden Ratio – a recurring shape found throughout nature and named after the 13th-century Italian mathematician Leonardo Pisano (Fibonacci). Beyond being a mathematical marvel, this shape is believed to represent the most visually pleasing proportions in nature and is widely used in art, photography and architecture. This, combined with the organic curves and fluted texture machined into its aircraft-grade aluminium frame, along with the use of contrasting matt and gloss finishes, gives the reel an almost shell-like quality and feel. Unsurprisingly, its name has classical origins too, meaning ‘eternity’ in ancient Greek – an apt reference to its timeless aesthetics and, hopefully, longevity.
Beneath its elegant exterior, the reel houses a sealed, high-performance carbon drag capable of delivering an impressive 7.5kg (16.5lb) of resistance, making it suitable for freshwater and saltwater species. It has a full-frame design to reduce tangles, additional weight to balance larger rods, and a spool nut and drag knob whose winged design minimises snagging when shooting or clearing loose coils of fly-line. A thoughtful touch is the reel’s line capacity, engraved on the inside of the reel foot, providing an instant reference for how much backing and line each spool size can accommodate.
Finally, the Aeon’s audible click has been precisely tuned to echo that of a classic salmon reel, adding a spine-tingling buzz to every capture. Each reel is presented in a premium neoprene case, accented with leather and finished with brass or chrome detailing, depending on the chosen reel finish.
With its striking fusion of classic and modern elements, we think it has unmistakable presence.
Guideline Aeon reel, in black/gold or black/silver; 7/9wt, £459.99; 9/11wt, £499.99; 11/13wt, £539.99. guidelineflyfish.com
See also Sage Spey II reel
