Light-year. The distance traveled by light in a single year; the time it takes for design to evolve to a next step. What can be said about larger but lighter, lighter but stronger? Of course it can be done. We’ve done it over and over again, but does there come a time when the bar can’t be raised?No, there are always improvements to be made, new ways of thinking, new materials, and processes to exploit. As we’ve said – the performance benchmark for a fly reel is retrieve rate per ounce. If you haven’t thought about it before, think about it now: there’s no downside to high retrieve rate other than extra weight. As an example, consider the 2021 Gen 6 Litespeed: CNC machined with material distributed artfully along critical load paths, stable and strong, so light you might forget it’s there, but beautiful enough to make you remember it is.The art of the fly reel derives from the science of the fly reel, but at the end of the day both art and science, when held in balance, serve to make us smile. LSF – The LSF is the freshwater version of the new Litespeed. The chassis is based on the conical system found in our other reels with the addition of a click stop drag knob and a unique spring set that creates a linear progression of torque with very fine resolution at the light end of its range. LSF spool and frame architecture is super-arbor in scale for high retrieve, but spare and open to promote line drying and, of course, reduce weight. Color: Fuego Ultra Large Arbor Format Lightest yet largest diameter Litespeed to date Space frame construction – Exceptional Strength-to-Weight Ratio Re-engineered seals – Enhanced reliability and waterproofing Indexing click drag knob Made in the USA Weight: 0.8 lbs Dimensions: 6 × 6 × 4 in What material are these reels made of? The Litespeed F reels feature a fully CNC machined frame and spool for durability and lasting finish. How are the Litespeed F reels sized? Our reels are sized for one line weight up or down. For example, a -5+ is appropriate 4/5/6wt fly lines. If you are in between sizes staying with the smaller reel is usually a good guideline. If you would prefer to prioritize backing capacity or like a larger arbor, the larger size will work better. Are the spools interchangeable? Yes, spare spools are available and they work on both the standard and HD reels. Are these reels lightweight? The Litespeed F reels are designed to maximize strength to weight ratio. They are incredibly lightweight and maximize line pick up. How strong is the Drag? We use a proprietary sealed, conical drag that offers a wide range of drag settings with plenty of stopping power on the high end. This sealed drag can be used in fresh or saltwater and helps keep water and debris out. What does large arbor mean? The core of a fly reels performance is retrieve rate per ounce, a measure of how efficiently a reel picks up line relative to its weight. There’s no real downside to a higher retrieve rate beyond added mass, which we minimize through advanced design and precision machining. All of our reels qualify as large-arbor designs, with a few pushing the limits like our Hyperspeed reels. A large arbor refers to the reel’s overall diameter, as well as the diameter of the spool’s base where backing and fly line are stored. Increasing a reel’s arbor size delivers faster line pickup, more line retrieved with every revolution of the spool and provides a more consistent drag as line is taken out or wound in, since the diameter changes less dramatically. Compared to traditional arbor reels, which lose diameter (and drag consistency) quickly as line is stripped off. Large-arbor reels also reduce line memory, resulting in fewer coils and smoother line handling.
