I have a feeling you're either going to find this fascinating or write this thing off pretty quick but before you draw a conclusion, just look at this thing!
Yes, you are looking at a reel replacement for a fly rod! You simply wind your line around the base of the Stinger (I'm sure there's a little more to it, but that's what I have deduced so far) and pull line out when you need more or wrap it up when you don't. It was designed to reduce the weight of the overall rod which reduces energy needed to carry and cast the rod. According to the kickstarter page, it also makes casting more efficient as well as accurate and makes for quicker hook sets. It seems like a hybrid between a traditional reel and a tenkara set-up. If that is what you are in to, as well as simplicity, you probably dig this.
If you are already drawing a negative conclusion, I bet you are worried about not having a drag system and what happens when you get a fish on the line that wants to run. That's my concern too. At Bennett and Taneycomo, there are some fish that will snap your line in seconds if you don't let them run and I think this idea starts to fall flat here. However, let's look at other applications.
This appears to be a good set-up for small stream fishing and I can see this being ideal when you are fishing for brook trout. Those pretty little things aren't going to make any prolific runs or peel drag. It would also be great for newbies that need to focus on casting and less on how to operate the reel. I can't tell you how many beginners I have seen struggle to operate a drag system or even reel in line in the correct direction with some tension on the line. This would be great for a pond full of small bluegill...until you hook into an unexpected largemouth or channel cat.
In the end, it's up to you if you like it and want to support it. I like it's creativity and simplicity but I'm not sure how often I would use it. I've always said that if you're wanting to drop some money on good fly fishing equipment, spend it on a rod and not the reel. The rod is what impacts your casting and all the reel does is hold line. While that's what the Stinger does, I'm not sure if I'm ready to go this simple on a reel but it's a thought-provoking idea and I hope they reach their goal!
All credit goes to Moldy Chum where I first saw this post. I want to make sure those fellas get the praise they deserve. Here' the original link I read:
https://www.moldychum.com/meet-fly-fishings-game-changer/
Here is the link to the kickstarter page. There are a couple of videos, lots to read, and different donating options.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mavrk-flyfishing/mavrk-stinger
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