Here is a HAZE V2 Reel TEST REPORT by Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Review Blog
Lately there seems to be a glut of cheap reels on the market. Just the other day I watched a promotional video for a new reel where they hooked a car up to the line to test the drag (how the pull of a car is in any way relevant to fighting fish is beyond me). In addition to emails requesting a review I receive at least one email a month from the factory in China where these reels are being made. Basically, this is how it works: The are a couple of standard reels that the Chinese factory produces and for a price you can customize the porting on the reel, change out the handle and get your name printed on the side. After spending some time with these reels the lower line weight ones seem okay for the money. I've heard from a number of owners that the bearings on the heavier reels have a tendency to jam up and the sealed drag systems are not fully sealed and can ice up in cold conditions. Anyway, my point is this: If you are looking for a machined reel with a sealed drag that is capable of turning a 20+lbs fish and will last more than a couple of seasons, then the best bet is going with a company that designs their equipment from the ground up and does not rely solely on Chinese engineers who have never held a fly or spey rod.
For the last few months I have been looking at a number of 9wt. reels for spey, Pike, and Atlantic Salmon. I was looking for something that had a bombproof sealed drag, was machined, convertible, had a large backing capacity, a solid frame, was light weight and cost in the range of $200-$250. After looking at a number reels by a dozen manufactures I finally settled on the new Guideline V2 Haze. Coming in at $240 for the larger models and less for the smaller ones the V2 Haze is bar none the highest quality reel for the price I found. The closest competitor that has a similar list of features would be the Hatch 9 plus, that comes in around $750 and is much heavier.
Guideline: V2 Haze 79
The first thing I noticed about the V2 Haze was how light the reel felt in hand. Although not the lightest reel on the market the full frame of the V2 makes it incredibly strong while keeping the weight down. The frame is solid and the spool fit perfectly with absolutely no grinding. The porting on the back side of the frame looks great and is substantial enough to ensure you don't loose a finger while adjusting the drag on the fly. The full frame also keeps running line from jamming up between the spool and frame by channeling the lines movement.
The drag system on the V2 Haze is what really sold me on this reel. It is double sealed. One seal for the outer face to protect the release screw and a second seal that protects the bearing should any water or debris get past the outer housing (Honestly, after taking the drag apart to change the retrieve direction there is absolutely no way anything could gum up the innards of this drag system).
Outer seal and release screw
Inner seal
The drag is adjustable all the way to high tension utilizing a stacked disc design utilizing Teflon, cork, and stainless steel. The reel offers plenty of tension for large fish and I counted 45 settings. I really like the subtle drag adjustments the V2 Haze offers and there was little to no start up inertia. Even with the full frame you can still palm the spool for those times when you might want to dial back the drag for added control. The drag adjustment knob can also be adjusted with gloves on. The knurled, positive grip knob makes subtle changes to the drag easy when a fish is on the line.
The outer casing of the drag system utilizes a simple positive-fit spool connection that makes cleaning it as simple as submerging it under water and washing the dirt, mud, or salt off it. There is no need to brush out any parts! The outer drag cylinder is burgundy and gives the reel a nice modern look while not being too flashy.
Guideline's website recommends 130 m of 30 lbs. backing for a 9wt. line (on the 7-9wt. Haze). I was able to fit 150 yards of 30 lbs with room left over while using a 9wt. Pike Series Sink 3 line. When switching to the spey rod I could fit a S.A. running line and 560 grain Scandi head with 150 yards of 30 lbs. backing but things were a bit tight. The spool is heavily ported to keep the weight down and is surprisingly wide. I just kept adding backing until I filled it to just above the lower set of ports and it just kept taking more and more. Personally I have never needed more than 150 yards of backing, but if backing capacity is a concern you could always pack on 250 yards of gel spun or bump up to the 8/10 reel.
The spool features a captive release knob and easily seats in the frame without having to line anything up. Changing out spools is quick and efficient. No worrying about the spool cap flying off!
In Sum: I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the V2 Haze given its modest price. If I had to price the reel based on my experience with other reels I would put it in the range of $400+. It has all the features one comes to expect from a high end reel: sealed drag, machined frame and spool, full frame, porting, and plenty of stopping power. The reel is light enough to use on single hand rods yet is not so light that it won't balance a spey rod. I have cast the Haze 79 on a 9wt. Pike rod turned around and threw on a Scandi head and the reel did a nice job balancing out my 8wt. spey rod. The V2 Haze generates a soft click when giving line and is silent on the retrieve. If you are looking for a reel that will last and functions with reels twice its price, then the Guideline V2 Haze is a great buy. Guideline has built their reputation on equipment made for hooking and landing large hard-fighting fish. The V2 Haze is the first Guideline reel I have used and it has absolutely won me over.
Jocelin et Sonie
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