Looking for a reel with thin feet

Tom Butler

Tom Butler

Grandpa, Small Stream Fanatic
Forum Supporter
I'm still thinking about a reel for my Leonard. It has small rings and modern feet don't fit well. The feet on a pflueger 1774 fit but not a 1495. This CFO fits barely. The Bronson 370 fits well and to me looks good. The Bronson's spindle just wobbles too much to use. Both the CFO and Bronson may be a tad light? Pflueger weight was better. Maybe something like a valentine 83, from my research that might be about right. Any thoughts? Also I would be interested in buying a good bronson if someone has one, or something similar that should be getting used but isn't. Line would be a 5 or 6 wt. Left hand wind, I can't even run my wifes right hand spin rod..
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These would probably work.
What vintage is your Leonard? That’s a nice looking rod.
 
Greg Armstrong said:
What vintage is your Leonard? That’s a nice looking rod.
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It was built up by Steve Blake in 1999, a 66H model, 8', but I don't have a scale now for wt. When I got it a while back I'd swear it was never fished. Perfect for swinging a few wets on the river. It fishes well, love playing the size fish we have over here on it. I can't find the sheet right now but I believe the reel seat was a Winston model. Just need to find the right reel for it.
 
A nice reel with very thin feet (and I think somewhat short too) is the Scientific Angler System 4, 5, 6, 7 models which are Hardy made and basically rebadged Marquis reels. I'd look for the System 6 for an 8' rod. The Marquis's are also probably the size you need.
 
Rather than looking for a reel you might think about having Steve or someone else remove the butt cap, slide off the slip ring, carefully sand or file the insert a touch to make a little more space for "standard" reel foot to fit under the cap and ring. You might be able to sand down the insert without removing the hardware, but it would be a lot more difficult.

Mike
 
Thanks for your input folks. I've also seen an older Battenkill by J.W. Youngs and even a magnalite multplier from orvis (I like the cortland multiplier on my 6wt). Seems everything I have with a stamped metal type foot works, just not the right size. Looks like I'll have several choices of older reels of different quality that would have feet similar to what that seat was designed for. I have though of sanding and refinishing, and even a new seat, but pretty sure with some patience I'll discover what's just right.
 
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Tom Butler said:
Nice, but some those look like they reel with the right hand, not the correct one. haha.
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Haha. I’m right handed, and about the only thing I’ve become ambidextrous at is reeling with either hand.

Give it a try, it’ll open up a whole new world of older reels that you’ll get to spend more money on!
 
Tom, yet one more reel to consider...an older JW Young Beaudex. The Beaudex series has reversible twin pawls adjustable drag so they work perfectly well LHW and they look cool on bamboo rods. They have some heft, which I prefer on bamboo, but on your 8' rod I'd keep the reel under 3-1/2" to keep it from being a bit too large. The feet are small and short - my 3" Beaudex's feet are a tidy 2-5/16" long and relatively thin.
 
@Dryflyphotography said:
Tom, yet one more reel to consider...an older JW Young Beaudex. The Beaudex series has reversible twin pawls adjustable drag so they work perfectly well LHW and they look cool on bamboo rods. They have some heft, which I prefer on bamboo, but on your 8' rod I'd keep the reel under 3-1/2" to keep it from being a bit too large. The feet are small and short - my 3" Beaudex's feet are a tidy 2-5/16" long and relatively thin.
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Thank you for the suggestion and confirmation, I have looked at a few online already.
 
Just arrived, sitting on the porch in rain when we got back. Must have come yesterday afternoon while we were away for the night. Wasn't supposed to be here until Tuesday.
Found another Bronson Royalist 370, really nice and tight, $30 to me from the e... site. The old spool will work on the new one too, some rash from rubbing with the loose spindle on the old one, but it's on the inside.
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I think the one I had must have had the spring changed, or ?, I don't know. Same gentle spring check in or out. New to me on right.
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A slide of the button goes to free spool. One spool will probably get the 5wt wulff bamboo line, which is so awesome, once casts get out a bit. I've also liked a 6wt sylk, but 5wt clearwater line (actually a 1/2 heavy) I fished yesterday was good.
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@Dryflyphotography said:
A nice reel with very thin feet (and I think somewhat short too) is the Scientific Angler System 4, 5, 6, 7 models which are Hardy made and basically rebadged Marquis reels. I'd look for the System 6 for an 8' rod. The Marquis's are also probably the size you need.
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I use an old SA4 reel I bought in 95, the foot works ok on my two cap & ring rods, but I add some duct tape because I don't fully trust it not coming off midstream.
 
Jack Devlin said:
There is nothing that says you can't file down the feet on a reel to get it to fit. I've had to do it on a couple of Medalists to fit a certain rod. Just a thought.
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That was my first reaction. Some files, emery cloth and polish. Sit in an easy chair, sip some ales and watch TV until the right profile is achieved. Here at Ive's Cut and Try Tool and Die a lot of things are accomplished that way.
 
iveofione said:
That was my first reaction. Some files, emery cloth and polish. Sit in an easy chair, sip some ales and watch TV until the right profile is achieved. Here at Ive's Cut and Try Tool and Die a lot of things are accomplished that way.
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It often doesn't take much to get a fit. I'd hold off on the ales until the reel was on the rod. :-)
 
I have a reel from Allen fly fishing that didn't fit my 4wt GL2. The way it was curved on the foot was to flat. So I called and ordered another foot, the new foot fit fine. That's good customer service in my book.
 
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