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Dutch Tom Biesot made some beautiful leather cases for his homemade fly reels

Leather maker Remus Stanescu describes the dirty work behind making a couple of Hardy style reel cases.

Why is it that some reels simply don't fit some rods? There is a standard of course... but not all manufacturers seem to follow it.

If I had enough money (and space) I would indulge in an extravagant fly reel fetish

This article tries to explain in simple terms what it is to fish with a fly - fly-fish or flyfish.

The debate about whether to use the right hand or the left hand on the fly reel is almost as old as fly-fishing itself. Let's look a bit rationally on the issue at hand...

This is a first! Rod building is common, but how about making your own fly reel? Dutch Tom Biesot takes us through the process of making a beautiful home made fly reel, step by step and in meticulous detail with tonnes of pictures.

The article is in essence about fly reels, but diverges into bikes and even cars, GFF partner Martin Joergensen wonders why fly reels have to be so expensive. When manufacturers can make cheap and long lasting bike hubs, why can't fly reels be the same?

Martin had a tremendous fly reel breakdown this past season! Upon returning from a fishing trip he did one one the rare maintenance rinses of his LAW-reel, and noticed that the small rubber tube holding the ratchet had cracked. Disaster!

This is a beautifully shot and produced DVD, which will be candy to anyone interested in the history of fly fishing and of Hardy in particular. It's slow paced in a very good way, and takes its time to listen to the interview subjects and dwell on footage and images from way back.

Hand painted Abel reels. Whoa! Derek DeYoungs work. Whoa! Combined? Double whoa!

Most of us know how, but this article is for the ones who never set up a fly reel from scratch. See which knots will work where and what type and amount of backing you most probably want. Start with this simple trout setup, and you can expand to other types.

The second part on keeping your fly fishing gear in the best possible condition. This time about reels: how to clean them, how to store them. By fishing guide Roland Henrion, whose expertise results in good and sound advice.

Please, say it isn't so

Larger arbor reels are much touted as the best thing since sliced bread. A reel that's designed and tooled like the ULA reel just might be - but not because of the large diameter spool.