MFC’s Madison II Reels: Unique Look, Solid Performance
Montana Fly Company (MFC) – Madison II Reel,
$220, http://www.montanafly.com/Camo/Reels.html.
Known in the industry for their wide offering of flies and their waterproof Guide Boat Box, MFC has released a line of quality reels featuring unique graphic anodized finishes. The Madison II is an attractive lightweight, large arbor reel that is offered in three sizes (4/5, 6/7 and 7/8) and seven different graphic finishes.
Function -
The Madison II is a ported out aluminum large arbor reel with a disc drag system, single hand spool release and aluminum drag knob. The spool has a “V-channel” design that allows for additional backing to be added to the spool without using up the available spool capacity needed for the fly line.
I took the Madison II (7/8) for a test drive this spring on my favorite smallmouth creek, Cow Creek, located just outside of Redding, California. Though the fishing wasn’t great, I had ample time casting as I covered the water in attempt to find the three pounders that were hammering dragonflies the year previous. I found the reel to be surprisingly light for a 7/8 weight reel. The drag system is smooth and allows for fine adjustments. The knurled aluminum drag knob has a great feel and is easy to find while fighting fish.
Form –
The look of the Madison II makes this reel standout among others. Graphic finishes include olive, bonefish, the trouts (brown, rainbow and brook) and the hard-to-find (grey camo and river rock). I found the reel’s finish to be like Gina Carano, beautiful and hardy. I banged the reel several times on rocks without marring it. Other reel manufacturer’s charge up to an additional $200 to provide the specialty graphic anodized finish that MFC provides standard in this reel.
MFC’s Madison II is a great blend of beauty and brains: an affordable, uniquely attractive reel with a design that does not compromise function.
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Tags: backpacking, fishing, fly fishing, fly reels, gear, Madison II, Montana Fly Co, travel
Author: Andrew Borgic
July 20th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
[...] couldn’t agree more. Check out the full article here! Posted in Accessories, Artist Series, Fishing, Uncategorized | Tags: Fly boxes, iPad folders, [...]
February 28th, 2013 at 6:17 am
I have this reel and love it. The disc action drag is great. I recently got a rainbow on this reel that was putting up a fight, and there was no fuss about finding and adjusting the drag. Retrieve is very smooth as well, and the spool holds so much line that I am not constantly fighting for space when I’m short on line. The one thing I would say is that it almost took a degree to figure out how to switch to a left handed retrieve without the instructions and MFC didn’t have it posted to the website. I’d get this reel again.