My reply was my personal feeling; why not just wear a stripping basket? I am 74, and fly fished all my life also, have many rods and reels, mostly Hardy, and in many many places world wide and I'm still not sure I would use a auto reel, anyway I'v never on my trips seen anyone using one. How would u use a auto reel on a spey rod? Also large fish should always be played off the reel, I'm not sure this is possible with a auto? I am sorry if I offended anyone, I did not want to seem curt in my reply.