Back on the scene after a brief absence is William Olson. The current reel is a completely different design than his prior reels as good as those were. Currently available are the click-only salmon models and the same essential reel with a disc drag. Available in a total of ten different sizes which is far and away the most options out there size-wise. William's craftsmanship is on par with virtually anyone I'm aware of making reels today. The frames are a one-piece design, the clicker is ruggedly built, and you have your option of all black, black and silver, or black and gold. The namebadges you see on the photos here are optional, and when placing your order I'll ask you if you'd prefer your reel with them or not. William's new design features a revolving backplate that can be used to control fish similar to the Hardy Perfects and Bouglés. Access to the interior of the reel is through the backplate and requires removing only one center-mounted screw and the tool for that is included. For those of you (like me) who are waiting for William to re-introduce a multiplying disc drag model, rest assured that he's working on it. The problem is how to make one sound good on both the incoming and outgoing click. Since William is now pursuing this full-time I expect he'll find a solution fairly soon. Finally, William is also now taking orders for his Raised Pillar Salmon reel in tribute to the vom Hofe raised pillar models. Currently, it's available in six different sizes (three different diameters each in two different widths) and with either his disc drag or in the gear and pawl version. The price will be $200.00 more than the same model with a round frame if in all silver. Black sideplates will mean an additional $100.00. Call or e-mail me for more information or to order an Olson salmon reel. I'll get photos up of the disc drag and the raised pillar models as soon as they become available. I'll also get the exact specs up on the Raised Pillar reels when William gets them to me near the end of this summer. The latest word from William is that his waiting periods from the date of the order until completion of you reel is now twelve months. Order soon as this waiting period is unlikely to go down for the foreseeable future

 

FEATURES:
LH/RH convertible (gear and pawl models)
Tool steel gear and pawl
Spool runs on sealed ball bearings
Internal tension adjustment for gear and pawl
Nickel/silver counterbalance
Backplate rotates and serves as a palm plate (on G&P models)
One piece frame and spool
Anodized black aluminum sideplates

Please note: The weights and capacities shown here are best guess estimates. Until William has actually built one of each of the sizes it is difficult to know the exact weight. What's shown here will be very close to the final figures. My reel is a 4.0" G&P so the weight shown is the weight of my reel. The narrower of the two widths will save about 0.1 or 0.2oz depending about the diameter of the model. I've guessimated, with William's assistance the capacities as best I could using the Rio Windcutter speyline as the base. Since many of these models will be used for speyfishing, you probably already know how difficult it is to determine the capacity of the reel for that use. Scandinavian heads, Skagit heads, and full length speylines in short head, medium head, long head, and extended head designs all have significantly different capacities. Call or e-mail me and let me know what line(s) you'll be using, and I'll help you choose the right size for your needs. Also, if you intend to use an Olson reel on a single-handed rod I'll be glad to help you figure capacities for that use, too.