I am holding a “vintage” Scientific Angler System II 89 anodized fly reel from my collection, made in England. A few years before I became a guide, I purchased this reel for saltwater striped bass fly fishing around 1989. That would make it 37 years old. When I started guiding in 1993, I purchased six of these reels when I launched my guide service, Baymen Guide Service, Inc. We caught a ton of striped bass on these reels! As time went on, I moved up to Tibor reels, made in Florida by Ted Juracsik Tool and Die. They were all stolen out of my boat in the early 2000’s. They all had my name plates engraved on them, as did the fly rods they were attached to. The Tibor is still one of the cadillacs of fly reels today and I highly recommend them if you can afford them. I replaced the stolen Tibors with a new reel coming out by Orvis called the Hydros. It was lightweight, butter smooth drag, affordably priced. Made in China. I have been fishing the Hydros for many years and they are great reels. The drags do wear out however, and I have replaced several of the reels with new ones over time. I also have a lovely set of Cheeky fly reels given to me as a gift by client and friend Dick Bowman. These reels are also made in China and are on par with the Orvis Hydros fly reels.  Going back to the Scientific Angler System II 89 anodized fly reel, one thing I have always admired is their bullet proof design. You could literally use these reels as a hockey puck and then go out and fish them and they would be fine. I never had the disc drags go bad on them (as long as they never got a drop reel oil on them). Time marches on. I still use them now and then, but the newer, higher end reels are lighter, smoother, better looking with larger arbors and have the latest technology. Buy the best you can afford and they will last a lifetime. – Capt. Dave, BAYMEN, baymenlife.com 33 Years Guiding The Bay. Soli Deo Gloria!