Classic reels
- Thread starter Para_Adams
- Start date
BigSplashTom
Steelhead
Thank you, You packed a lot of information into that post.
Looks like I have some winter reading ahead of me.
Steve (Bambooflyguy) sent me down the dark path of bamboo and urged me to purchase a Hardy LRH. I purchased 2 Featherweights, Uniqua and recently purchased the St George. Like you said " Collecting them can become addictive, but it’s sure fun to fish these old antiques on equally old bamboo rods!". I really love fishing with these old reels and look forward to learning about them.
I will definitely purchase more over time as I restore additional bamboo rods.
Thank you again for the great info
I'm not sure "classic" is the correct term, how about vintage. This Cortland 2 2/3:1 multiplier gets fished several times a year.
The series was introduced in the 1970s. I don't think of that as old, but they've been around long enough to become classics.
Steve -
I think something introduced in the '70's isn't old or a classic, I mean you and I are vintage from the 40's: talk about classics. Eh!
OK, in the history of unusual and even experimental fly reels, that might take the cake! Can you just stick your car keys on the side of the reel if your pockets are too full? Hehehe...Cool reel!!!
I always wanted one of those.
I found a few no name reels on Craigslist. They aren’t the caliber of what I see on here, but gotta start somewhere. I cleaned decades of dirt and grime off them and lubed them up. They work amazingly well and seem to be well made. Any ideas on who made them and when?
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No idea who made those. But they look like cheap stamped aluminum reels that were very common at late as the 1960s. Although cheaply made, they are extremely serviceable line holders, and many of them last for a very long time. Probably the best value ever in fly reel technology. I had a couple made by Pflueger, and even caught a summer steelhead on one of them.
I always liked the look of those reels. They were called “skeleton” reels, for obvious reasons. As Salmo said, there were bazillions of them made. Union Hardware was responsible for a lot of them, and yours may have been from them.
They are actually steel but lightweight due to the skeleton design. Spools are amazing true and the clickers work great. Kudos to you landing a steehead on a reel like this. I put one on an old bamboo rod and displayed in my den but they most certainly could be used if I wanted to. I may just try one out for fun.
Like you,they caught my eye and I am intrigued by the simplicity and durability. Thanks for the info, I’ll check out union hardware and see what I can find. I realize these are cheap low end reels but still kinda fun bringing them back to life.
Thank you ! I’m going to look for that book, I’ve been fly fishing for like 50 years but this is a path that I haven’t been down.
They are definitely steel as a magnet adheres to them. The pillars and buttons are all brass. There are some rust spots where the paint has come off but not terrible. Maybe the steel has some sort of galvanization but can’t imagine that as these probably didn’t cost much. I thought the same thing about corrosion but they seem to have stood the test of time. The dirt and grime was mostly on the inside,one would barely turn. I cleaned and lubed them and they work perfectly.
