My XLV reel escaped its 8 day captivity in Los Angeles with Gamefish's help. Yesterday I set it up (20# braid, 45' DT .56mm line, 4m microthin EN leader, and a 1.5 mm tippet ring). Today I used it and my Nymphmaniac rod on a tailwater outside Park City (elev 1,900m). As I hiked downriver the rod and reel balanced on a finger under the grip's top edge. I bought the 5/6 XLV because its full frame doesn't eat thin lines on its large diameter, narrow width arbor, and because it's green/black with a nymph etching. It's very smooth, nearly silent, and never calls attention to itself. Did I mention it doesn't eat anything? The light was difficult, but I grinned when I saw the 12# Amnesia leader turning over to deliver a size 18 emerger and 20 soft hackle. I saw many good days ahead.
