Preset Knob Retainer - E-clip

Feature:

Stainless Steel Spool-Shaft E-Clip 

Function:

A groove machined into the end of the spool shaft accepts a stainless E-clip.

The E-clip acts as a positive mechanical stop, allowing normal preset adjustment while preventing the knob from unthreading completely.

This keeps the preset knob captured on the shaft even if someone turns it too far while “curiosity adjusting.”

Benefit:

Prevents accidental loss: no more preset knob backing off and dropping onto a deck or boat floor.

Angler-proof adjustment: careless over-rotation can’t turn into a parts-off failure.

Reliable simplicity: a proven retention method that adds security without added complexity.

Always ready: keeps the reel functional and settings intact—even after unintended over-adjustment.

What did we revise:

Revised for real-world security: Based on field use and service feedback, we updated the preset knob with a captive E-clip stop to prevent accidental over-unthreading and eliminate the chance of parts being dropped or lost.

Service-driven revision: To reduce lost components and simplify ownership, we integrated a machined-groove E-clip stop that keeps the preset knob retained on the spool shaft.

One Liner: 

A spool-shaft E-clip snaps into a machined groove to act as a hard stop—capturing the preset knob so it can’t be unintentionally spun off.

Fail-safe by design 

Idiot-proofed without compromise

Wish Contributor : 

Guides started calling. Customers were unscrewing the preset knob—why, no one really knew—but it would come off in the boat and get lost. Small part. Big problem. A reel without a preset isn’t a reel you can trust. Scott Owens and others pushed me to rethink it. They see more user behavior in a season than most companies see in years. That feedback mattered. Wes redesigned the system to prevent accidental removal while keeping serviceability intact. The goal wasn’t to blame the user. It was to remove the failure point.

Part Number :

SSE-1 (spool shaft eclip)

Defined Drag Control

The 140° lever sweep converts cam movement into smooth, predictable drag pressure — from free spool to full control.

Feature:

A modeled cam ramp that converts lever rotation into progressive drag pressure.

Function:

The lever sweeps 140° through a defined range.

In the forward position, the cam sits on the low portion of the ramp for minimal pressure / free spool entry.

As the lever is pulled back toward the angler, the cam rides up the opposing ramp profile, translating rotation into axial compression of the drag stack.

The engineered cam profile delivers a true linear pressure curve—so drag changes are predictable and repeatable, not dependent on thread pitch or counting turns.

Benefit:

Fast, intuitive control: push forward to reduce pressure, pull back to add drag—natural motion under load.

Repeatable settings: the same lever position produces the same drag every time (no counting knob turns). 

Smoother progression, finer control: the modeled ramp enables small, predictable increments—especially in the low-to-mid range.

Confidence mid-fight: quick changes with one hand, even when the fish is moving—no fumbling for a knob.

Consistent feel across models: shared cam/ramp philosophy delivers a familiar drag curve throughout the lineup

What did we revise:

This is our proven design that was an out of the box way of thinking  that changed the game when stopping big fish.

One liner:

140° dual-ramp drag cam: forward for low/free, pull back for progressively higher drag the ramp delivers smooth, repeatable pressure without counting turns.

Handle Sizes

Feature:

Ergonomic Handle Sizes (Small or Large) that incorporate our newly designed  Minimal-Span Axle bearing design 

Small handle standard on the 4

Large handle standard on the 4.5 and 5

Function:

Two handle sizes are shaped to match finger contours for a natural grip and consistent crank position.

Both sizes use the new bearing-supported handle system with a short axle span for free spinning and zero binding.

Interchangeable across models for easy personalization 

Turned aluminum handles have a milled outer texture for tactile grip.

Handle flaring geometry is designed to keep fingers clear of the spool surface during hard cranks and fast retrieves.

Benefit:

Better control + comfort: ergonomic shaping reduces fatigue and improves leverage through the fight.

Smoother retrieve: bearing support and minimal span deliver effortless rotation with no rub or bind under load.

Safer hand placement: prevents fingers from creeping into the spool—especially when things get hectic.

Secure grip when wet: textured aluminum holds in rain, spray, or slime without over-squeezing.

Simple customization: swap handle sizes to match hand size, technique, or target species—no model lock-in.

What did we revise:

Incorporating a bearing to provide stability and bind free while not losing strength.

One Liner: 

The two ergonomic, aluminum handle sizes incorporate our new bearing-supported on a minimal-span axle for zero bind, smoother cranking, and finger-safe clearance, interchangeable across models.

Wish Contributor : 

Larger Handle- Bill Taylor shaped the larger ergonomic handle. A seasoned angler, he invited Wes on his first international fly trip—one that became an annual tradition. Wes noticed his hands early on—the subtle curl in his fingers from Dupuytren’s contracture that made thin handles difficult to grasp. Most designs would force a tighter pinch. Wes refused that. Instead, he increased the handle diameter and refined the ergonomics to work with Bill’s natural grip, not against it. The added mass and surface area restored leverage and control, reducing strain over long days on the water. It wasn’t about making it bigger. It was about making it right for the hand that had to trust it.

Smaller Handle - Sarah Gardner, a world-renowned guide and fly angler, was the first to challenge the handle size. She pointed out that smaller hands were being forced to adapt to a grip that wasn’t built for them. The issue wasn’t ergonomics—it was scale. Wes kept the same geometry, the same palm fit and torque position, and refined it proportionally. The result is two handle options, each delivering the same mechanical advantage and comfort, properly sized for the angler. Same performance. Correct fit.

Part Numbers:

HA & HC (handles aluminum or carbon) HS-1 (handle shaft)

HB-1 (handle bearing) HF-1 (handle fastener)