Fly reel, a study in integrated system design

Abstract

While enjoying a passion for outdoor related sports, I had taken an interest in the equipment I used while hunting and fishing. I was fascinated by the precision of the instruments I used to optimize my time spent in the field. This curiosity led to some preliminary designs to further enhance my outings. The joy I received from these projects led me to pursue industrial design as a profession.

As a student, I chose to design a product that related to the fishing industry. I selected to design a fly reel for its links to other fishing reels and man's interaction with water. This required a critical analysis of current fly reels and how to enhance its current design. To accomplish this I modified select mechanical elements of the reel. This involved, in some instances, new materials and incorporating different processes to achieve my goal. The innovations I incorporated allowed the reel to be used while fishing for a wider spectrum of fish than the typical fly reel. This flexibility reduces the need to purchase additional reels to pursue different size fish. This has the potential to provide a savings to the consumer and encourage them to fish for a species of fish they would otherwise neglect. In addition to my primary objective, I want to contribute a product that will be an asset to the fishing industry with attention to aesthetics, affordability and ease of use.