The original “Taupo” Perfect fly reel was introduced in 1958 to fill the need for a larger capacity trout reel to handle the legendary monster Rainbows and Browns of New Zealand. Despite a relatively short production life of only four years, the “Taupo” was eagerly sought after as a Steelhead, Light Salmon, and large Trout reel.
Continued demand for this classic reel inspired Hardy to reintroduce the “Taupo” for 2011. While all the dimensions and aesthetics are true to the original, we have made a couple of improvements. The new “Taupo” is machined from solid bar stock aluminum and hard anodized for strength and durability.
This construction also does away with the need for a line guard, which was an option on the 1958 – 1962 reels. The check mechanism has been changed from the MK II to the more modern Lightweight style, which enables the angler to change from Left to Right hand retrieve at will. While maintaining the looks, feel, and spirit of it ancestor, the new “Taupo” is a stronger and more functional successor a Hardy classic.
