Pinching Myself - Again

[Cliff]

A couple of weeks ago I bumbled into a rod for sale that I've been searching for forever; A Goodwin Granger Favorite, from Para Adams. At the same time I bought his lovely 4wt Leonard, another rod I've wanted for a long time. As if that wasn't enough, I was able to purchase my very first vintage British reel from our friend Rudy, an Allcocks Pattern 16a Perfect. It's a beautiful reel. And fits my new Granger Favorite perfectly. And then wouldn't you know it, I stumbled on to a very good deal on a 1920's Hardy Perfect 3-7/8s reel. It's for steelhead, salmon, huge trout, whatever. It is gorgeous. I took photos of these reels on my Favorite, and my Gene Edwards 7wt bamboo rod, which I also got from Para Adams last year. I'll try this Hardy reel on my Orvis Shooting Star 8wt, also. Life is good, and I'm grateful.

Cliff

 

[Dave Westburg]

Good for you Cliff. The deals are still out there is you look for them. I recently picked up a 3.5" narrow Farlows of London reel which looks like it might have been made by JW Young. The Farlows holdfast logo is faded but still there. Planning to pair it with a 5 or 6 weight 406 double taper line.







I think Farlows reels are some of the best values out there. Not as popular as hardy reels so about half the cost.

 

[Cliff]

Good for you Cliff. The deals are still out there is you look for them. I recently picked up a 3.5" narrow Farlows of London reel which looks like it might have been made by JW Young. The Farlows holdfast logo is faded but still there. Planning to pair it with a 5 or 6 weight 406 double taper line.

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I think Farlows reels are some of the best values out there. Not as popular as hardy reels so about half the cost.

That's sweet, Dave. I had no idea there were so many reels being made in England during those decades. I've resisted the reel collection bug for a long, long time, but it appears my goose is cooked.

 

[Dave Westburg]

I like the classic british reels because they are a heavier than the modern high tech reels and balance a bamboo rod well if you are one of those people who like the reel to weigh 1.5 times what the rod weighs. I've orvis battenkill reels for backpacking (extra spools save weight), big JW Young reels for my spey rods and mostly Farlows and Sharpes reels for my trout rods with a sprinkling of hardy reels mixed in.

 

[Para_Adams]

Cliff, I am still so very glad you were the one to pick up those two sweet casting rods. Things all worked out on my end too, the sales helped me justify canceling the consignment I had for my rare, amazing acoustic guitar. It is now back in my hands and making as good music as I'm capable of making. Thank you.

 

[Cliff]

Cliff, I am still so very glad you were the one to pick up those two sweet casting rods. Things all worked out on my end too, the sales helped me justify canceling the consignment I had for my rare, amazing acoustic guitar. It is now back in my hands and making as good music as I'm capable of making. Thank you.

Very cool! Glad you were able to snag it. Any jams going on at G-lake, or is it getting too chilly?

 

[Bambooflyguy]

Cliff, I “broke in” my red agate Ogden from Rudy today! C&R’d 27 nice rainbows, one 18” trout hit going the other way….made the reel sing!

 

[Cliff]

Cliff, I “broke in” my red agate Ogden from Rudy today! C&R’d 27 nice rainbows, one 18” trout hit going the other way….made the reel sing!

Wow, what an awesome beginning. Like Humphrey Bogart said to Claude Rains at the end of Casablanca, "this could be the start of a beautiful friendship". I need to get out there myself. Cool for you!

 

[Para_Adams]

Very cool! Glad you were able to snag it. Any jams going on at G-lake, or is it getting too chilly?

I've heard the Greenlakers moved their jam back indoors for the season. If you want a jam that's more bluegrassy, Maltby has their 1st Saturday of the month jam this coming Saturday. Gets rolling around 1:30pm, and I usually jam until 3:30 or 4pm. I think the jam rolls until 5pm, then they convert the gathering to a potluck and show format which I have never yet attended. Give me a shout if you want to team up for a visit. I did a lot of fishing after we met, so a little flat picking is good for the soul.

 

[Cliff]

I've heard the Greenlakers moved their jam back indoors for the season. If you want a jam that's more bluegrassy, Maltby has their 1st Saturday of the month jam this coming Saturday. Gets rolling around 1:30pm, and I usually jam until 3:30 or 4pm. I think the jam rolls until 5pm, then they convert the gathering to a potluck and show format which I have never yet attended. Give me a shout if you want to team up for a visit. I did a lot of fishing after we met, so a little flat picking is good for the soul.

Thanks, I'll let you know if I can go. Mind if I bring my wife? It's dependent on how she's feeling, but it sounds like fun.

 

[Para_Adams]

Thanks, I'll let you know if I can go. Mind if I bring my wife? It's dependent on how she's feeling, but it sounds like fun.

Absolutely! It's at the Maltby Grange, located about 1/2 mile north of Maltby Cafe. Very down to earth vibe. Great practice for playing by ear and by watching the chord changes used by others in the circle. Its pretty uneven quality, but some songs can really soar and some jammers are amazing (especially the mandolins and fiddles).

 

[Cliff]

Absolutely! It's at the Maltby Grange, located about 1/2 mile north of Maltby Cafe. Very down to earth vibe. Great practice for playing by ear and by watching the chord changes used by others in the circle. Its pretty uneven quality, but some songs can really soar and some jammers are amazing (especially the mandolins and fiddles).

I really love that kind of music. We'll see if I can do this. As I mentioned I'm a caregiver to my wife and it can be difficult getting away.