Must You Know About Fishing

All you need to know about fly fishing reels

Author:

david

Fly fishing is the oldest and probably the most beautiful form of fishing on our planet? Fly fishing is usually done by using fly fishing tackle such as fly rods and fly reels, or by using a fly rods alone. And although the importance of fly reels has been debated over the years, it is worth saying that fly reels contribute a great deal to the cast and to playing the fish.

There are two kinds of fly reels which you can purchase. The first one is a freshwater fly reel and the second is a saltwater fly reel. Freshwater reels tend to be cheaper than saltwater reels mainly because they are designed for catching smaller fish and for this reason they are made out of much cheaper materials. Saltwater fly reels on the other hand are designed in mind with the fact that most salt water fish species are strong and heavy and put up a much bigger fight compared to freshwater fish. This means that saltwater fly fishing gear needs to be much stronger. For this reason saltwater gear is made out of only the strongest yet still light materials available.

If it is saltwater fishing which you are planning to do then you should not cut corners when it comes to fly fishing tackle as the cheaper one may not be the one which will do the job for you.

As regards to functionality, fly fishing reels can be either single action, multiplying or automated. As you may have already guessed, single action, also known as manual reels, are generally quite basic and simple to use, nevertheless they are widely used by professional fly anglers. The spool in such reel turns with each rotation of the handle, no more, no less. They are usually considerably lighter in weight when compared to other reels mainly because they are much simpler in design and have less of moving parts which also means that they are considerably less likely to break especially compared to automated reels. The line capacity is also much greater and the drag is usually quite good. It is a great gear to use for fly fishing.

Multiplying fly reels, also referred to as semi-automated fly fishing gear, slightly differ to single action fly fishing tackle. The spool in such reels turns up to three times with each rotation of the handle which delivers a faster retrieve of the line and consequently the fish.

Automated reel is really self-explanatory i.e. you press a button and it does the job for you. But I have to say that automated fly fishing gear really take the fun away from fly fishing. More often than not, such fishing tackle would lack good line capacity and be quite heavy due to all the extra bits and bobs. Also, most automatics would not be the best choice for saltwater fishing mainly because of luck of control over retrieve and any reasonably large fish may quickly win the fight to such reel.

No fly fishing tackle would do the job without a good quality fly rod. Fly rods vary in size, composition and material from which they are made out of. But this is the subject for another time.

So now you know all about fly fishing reels, let\'s talk about where you can get one. Well, if you have already decided on which fly reel you want you can always try Angling Direct fly fishing tackle store. They have a great selection of fly reels and other fly fishing gear to suit every budget. fly fishing tackle , fly fishing gear , fly reels

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/all-you-need-to-know-about-fly-fishing-reels-5404874.html

About the Author

Herb Proctor has passed away...

RIP my friend. You will be missed, but we all know you are in a better place. Here is a picture of Herb (on the left) with Chris Labuz, from 2009.



The world is a little bit sadder place today.

-- Dr. Todd

1000 Words

1000 Words

We continue our series on Hollywood Goes Fishing with a photo of Gary Cooper, the legendary star of movies such as High Noon and Pride of the Yankees, holding a stringer of fish in the late 1950s, not long before his passing. Cooper was a dedicated fisherman who spent as much time outdoors as he could. I must confess that Cooper is one of my favorite actors, and his portrayal of Alvin York--for which he won an Academy Award--is one of the great performances in Cinema history.



-- Dr. Todd

Deconstructing Old Ads: Introducing the Best Selling Al Foss Lure of All Time!

Introducing the Best Selling Al Foss Lure of All Time!
 


This full page advertisement from the June 1920 issue of Outdoor Life introduces what has to be the best selling Al Foss lure of all time. The Shimmy Wiggler certainly outnumbers any other of Al's lures that I have seen in tackle boxes and at lure collector shows over the last thirty years. This advertisement for "our latest invention' contains the typical humor displayed in many early Al Foss ads. Unlike the old pictures so often seen on magazine covers and calendars, the "huckleberry patch" boy with the pole and worms will no longer catch more fish than the "city chap with the up-to-date tackle" --at least not if he is equipped with Al's porkrind minnows! Another of Al's quips is reserved for the dealer that does not stock his minnows, whom he describes as "dead from the neck up."



I have spent much of my life collecting and reading pre-1960 bass fishing books and magazine articles and the Al Foss Shimmy Wiggler almost always receives high recommendations from many authors. I have also spent a good portion of the last twenty years experimenting with older bass lures and many have proven quite effective. However, despite overwhelmingly positive reviews from many famous authors and older fishermen, I simply cannot get bass to bite on this famous lure. In fact I must admit that I have yet to catch the first fish on one.

-- Bill Sonnett
 

The Friday Funhouse

The Video of the Week

Why did the salmon cross the road?



12 Things I Would Buy If Only I Could Afford Them

This is a superb box of English snells.


For the tackle collector who has everything: a Schemlzer hunting vest being sold as a fly fishing vest.


You won't find a nicer Revolution than this one!


This is a super rare Truline saltwater glass rod.


The bizarre CCBC Wee-Dee is a strange lure indeed.


Merry Christmas from Doug English!


This Swedish Arjon Commander is a great reel.


This Louis C. Ewer painting of a brook trout is pretty neat.


A Heddon "O" is a great lure.


How about this cool Lucky Strike Better Luck wobbler in the box?


One of the most desirable of all tackle box collectables is the Waltons Thumb.


A really neat Midget South Bend Surf Oreno with Bing's hooks in Green Crackleback is just fifty different kinds of awesome.



As always, have a safe weekend, and be good to others -- and yourself.

-- Dr. Todd

Thursday Review: An Hour of Wacky Fishing Secrets, Bad Jokes, and Great Gadgets

Dick Streater on DVD!

Well, the mail brought a special surprise the other day. My fellow Gopher alumnus and the Henny Youngman of Fishing Dick Streater sent me a DVD copy of his classic one hour presentation Dick Streater Presents: An Hour of Wacky Fishing Secrets, Bad Jokes, and Great Gadgets.

Anyone who hasn't seen this is in for a real treat. Not only do you get Dick's inimitable presentation and style, you also get to see a few dozen of the most bizarre tackle ideas to ever invade an angler's brain.

The DVD runs 60 minutes and I can't recommend it highly enough. If you're interested in a copy, email Dick at lureguru@ aol.com or call him (his number is in the NFLCC Directory).

-- Dr. Todd

52 Trade Houses Part 35: Kelley-How-Thomson of Duluth, MN

Over the course of the next year, we'll be detailing the history of 52 companies that sold branded fishing tackle. 52 trade houses in 52 weeks -- some obscure, some famous, and all available exclusively here on the Fishing for History Blog! If you have any items from the week's entry you'd like to share with us, please send it my way and I'll make sure it makes it on the blog.

For a discussion of what exactly trade tackle is, Click Here. Enjoy the 52 for 52!

o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o

Trade House Tackle, Part 35:
Kelley-How-Thomson of Duluth, MN


Growing up in Duluth, it is nearly impossible to escape the influence of Marshall-Wells Hardware. The company, founded in 1893, was one of the largest and most influential wholesale hardware firms of the twentieth century, serving nearly half the country and all of Canada through its five massive terminals in Portland, Winnipeg, Spokane, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The waterfront headquarters of Marshall Wells on Park Point in Duluth is still one of the largest buildings in the city.

Almost always overlooked and in the shadow of its big brother was Duluth's other large wholesale hardware merchant: Kelley-How-Thomson. They competed alongside Marshall-Wells for over half a century. The Kelley-How-Thomson Hardware Company was founded in the l890s as a tool and hardware jobber for the northern lumber and logging industries, and by the 1900s was shipping a large line of products marked Hickory, its most famous trade name, out of its South 5th Avenue warehouse in the waterfront wholesaling district of downtown Duluth.

K-H-T also had branches in a number of nearby small towns, including Proctor and Cotton. One of K-H-T’s traveling salesmen in the 1920s was John Cotter, namesake of the Cotter & Co. that would later purchase Hibbard, Spencer, & Bartlett. He would later write favorably of his time spent working for K-H-T.

The K-H-T branded tackle is usually found with the word Hickory spelled over a diamond. Marked Hickory reels, lures and hook folders have been found, and date to the pre-WWII era. It is most often found on fluted spinners, but all marked Hickory tackle is rare. K-H-T also utilized the Sportland trade name on both rods and terminal tackle.

Here are four different Kelley-How-Thomson line spools. They are presented from oldest to newest.




This is the uncommon Hickory marked K-H-T fluted spinner.


Kelley-How-Thomson was purchased by Marshall-Wells in November, 1955, after which it was to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary under its own name. It met the same fate as its parent company when Marshall-Wells’ wholesale hardware business was liquidated in 1958.

There is an interesting footnote to Kelley-How-Thomson history. In order to boost its exposure, the team sponsored a professional football team in the 1920s known as the Duluth Kelleys (after founder Martin Kelley). They became part of a fledgling organization known as the National Football League, playing such legendary teams as the Green Bay Packers and the Canton Bulldogs. With their hall-of-fame halfback Ernie Nevers, for a short time they lit up the football world, but were gone by the end of the decade. The Duluth Kelleys were immortalized recently in a movie starring George Clooney called Leatherheads, based on a history of the team called Leatherheads of the North. Its actually worth checking out sometime.

-- Dr. Todd

Ben Wright's Spinning Reel Report (December 2011)

NOVEMBER 2011

A BAD MONTH FOR GOBBLERS !!

A GREAT MONTH FOR THE SPINNING REEL COLLECTOR

WAIT TILL YOU SEE SOME OF THESE REELS AND THEIR PRICES !!!

ABU:
Record 1000 second version exc @ 235.64
333 4th version like new @ 175.99
Record 700 second version nib @ 150.00
444A paint wear on edges @ 163.47
444 second version exc+ @ 244.48
Suveran S3000M nmwb @ 185.39
Cardinals:
3 second version slight wear on foot @ 527.26
52 e+wb @ 179.14
44 repro nib @ 169.49
3 plexiglass stands for 500 series new @ 74.26

Australian:
Eildon small chip in foot @ 178.69
Cedar Seamartin exc- starting @ 2,400.00 NO BIDS

Dam Quick:
Microlite nib @ 462.80 HOLY COW !!!
Microlite exc+ @ 49.88
5001 like new @ 102.50

English:
Bowell Auto Reel exc- starting @ 800.00 NO BIDS
Hardy Hardex no1 mk111 exc @ 73.72

French:
Mepps Super Meca Red nib @ 169.56
Bretton 602 first version Black exc- @ 99.52
Crack 200 FB ewb @ 122.50
Centaure Caribe Green ewb @ 170.00 Wow
Centaure Caribe Black exc @ 182.00 another Wow
early Luxor second version ? exc- paint wear @ 140.34

Italian:
Rare Ambidexter exc @ 1,223.83
Alcedo 2C/S medallion marked Alcedo exc- @ 86.00
Alcedo Mercury common second version exc @ 249.99
Cargem 44/M exc- @ 152.50
Ted Williams 450 ewb @ 83.07
rare Zangi Audex e-wb @ only 284.46
rare Alcedo Omina Minor w/ flying bird on medallion
exc- starting at approx 692.00 NO BIDS
Reve paint wear @ 147.43

Japanese:
Daiwa GS9 exc- @ 66.00
Roddy 830 ewb B/N @ 139.98 NO BIDS
Compac Corona 75 nib @ 54.99

Mitchell/Garcia Mitchell:
306 Albatros Combi exc- @ 62.06
408G s/n 274 wear on gold parts @127.89
340 nib @ 85.99
408 ewb @ 180.20
300 X marked on box e+wb @ 199.75
498 Pro exc- @ 150.64
314 nib @ 229.52
308 Prince e+wb @ 229.99

Penn:
705 second version e-wb @ 128.00
BLACK 711 Paint wear B/N @ 599.00 NO BIDS

Shakespeare:
2499 exc @ 77.00
2499 e-wb @ 45.00
2411 weak bail spring @ 154.50
2065 cut-a-way SS exc @ 49.99
2091A nib @ 197.57 holy cow !!

Swiss:
Fix mpu green/red handle nib @ 70.88
Fix mpu Blue/gold handle nib @ 70.88
Record 50B FB e-wb @ 61.00
Record Recordette FB black nib (poor box)@38.01
Record Recordette w/non original MPU? @ 94.00
Record 700 SCF under rod nib @ 91.19

Zebco:
101 CF rod/reel combo rare exc B/N @101.00 NO BIDS
45XBL Gold Plated 3 known exc missing wood base
B/N @ 1,200.00 no bids yet
cardinal 3 second version RESTORED ?? @ 194.58
cardinal 555 nib @ 150.00

Other Reels:
Taffy Reel nib @ 305.00
Pflueger Pelican 1020 nib @ 102.00
La Salle by Tamco exc- @ 85.00
American Classic 1V w/anti-reverse switch exc+ @100.00
Langley 820G nib @ 19.00
Jim Tatman's Rapid Titan 500 nib @ 124.36
Martin 27A w/Clear plastic sideplate exc @ 88.00
and Last----------
Waltco NY-O-Lite maroon/.white exc+ @ 122.50
same as above @ 30.99
same as above but w/box @ 35.17
now there's a price range for ya !!

TO ALL-HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
Ben

News of the Week: 28 November 2011

Don't have time to read 50+ fishing and tackle collecting blogs and web sites? Well, let us do it for you! Follow all of the latest news, articles, and stories on our Whitefishpress Twitter account! Hint: You don't need to be a member...just bookmark the Twitter Feed Page or click on latest links to the right!

Fish Hooks can now be dated to 42,000 years ago…Hardy & Grey's layoffs…tackle shops scrambling to keep up with striper run…more on Mann's purchase of the 'Bama Rig…New Zealand lures are defined by diversity…the Surfcaster is up and running again…Chuck Norris helps out a fly angler…young angling writer Melinda Moustakis is a big hit…it must be THE NEWS OF THE WEEK!

The Big Lead: The biggest story of the year--deep sea fishing (and fish hooks) began 42,000 years ago.


More on layoffs at Hardy & Greys.

Most awesome tackle appraisal ever: Sante "Banjo" Giuliani and Fred Kretchman's "Antique Tackle Appraisal & Road Show" hits York, Maine.


Too bad your huge tuna was confiscated.


Hooking big fish on circle hooks.



Tackle shops scramble to keep up with striper run.

More on Mann's purchase of the Alabama Rig.

Kiwi lures are defined by their variety.


The Surfcaster is up and running again.

Bass tourney in Canada is back in the black.

Chuck Norris helps out this fly angler.

Finishing with a Flourish: Young writer Melinda Moustakis new book is out, and its about salmon fishing.



-- Dr. Todd

1000 Words

1000 Words

Continuing our theme "Hollywood Goes Fishing" we get this nifty press wire photo of the legendary actor Mickey Rooney and the actress Martha Vickers. This Thanksgiving holiday I was able to go and see the new Muppet Movie (it was outstanding, by the way) and I was shocked to see a cameo from the ninety-one year old Mickey Rooney. Born in 1920, Rooney was already a film star by age eight and by his teenage years was one of the most famous people in the world. Martha Vickars was an actress who had some major roles in the post-war era. Mostly, however, she was famous for being married to Mickey Rooney from 1949-1951. Presumably this was the period this photo was taken, with its Pflueger reel (complete with Comfo grip).

Deconstructing Old Ads: The Creek Chub Bait Company's “New Creek Darter” (1923)

The Creek Chub Bait Company's “New Creek Darter” (1923)

by Bill Sonnett


This is another advertisement with much to ponder. It appeared in the July 1923 issue of Forest & Stream, a year before it made its first appearance in a Creek Chub Bait Company catalog in 1924. I was unaware (though it was there all the time in Dr. Smith's book) that this bait was originally called the “Creek Darter” before having its name shortened to the more familiar “Darter.” It is also commonly called by its catalog number the “2000.” No one that I have spoken with has seen the frog color listed, as it is in this advertisement, as “Frog Camouflage.” It is true that this early, light olive green version of the "Frog" coloration strongly resembles a military camouflage paint job rather than the more familiar dark green C.C.B.C. version of its “Frog” pattern.


Growing up, I never saw a C.C.B.C. Darter in any one's tackle box. I do remember reading that it was a favored lure in the deep South and it was prominent in photos of open tackle boxes in articles written about bass fishing by southern writers such as Robert E. Price. Ray Bergman called it an “exceptional killer in the frog finish."
 
My own experience with the Darter began fifteen years ago fishing with Warren Platt. Warren is not strictly a “one-lure fisherman” but is pretty darn close to it. His weapon of choice is the “2000 Darter” or its shorter cousin the “8000 Midget Darter.” It would never have occurred to me to fish these baits as he does, retrieving them on the surface with a steady twitching motion, making them “walk the dog” in the same fashion as a Zara Spook. The hang-up is that only a small minority of them “walk” in this fashion rather than swim to one side. No one seems to be able to figure out why this is or what adjustments to the bait would correct this condition. I believe Warren has tried about everything. I know there is always a lot of weeping and wailing when a big one makes off with one of his that “works” as it should.

I do not have the patience to fish this bait in this fashion but I will admit (if pressed) it has accounted for several, memorable “Bottom of the Ninth” victories in the other end of the boat. We'll finish today with Warren and one of many Bass that have surrendered to the "Old Frog Darter."



-- Bill Sonnett

The (Black) Friday Funhouse

The Video of the Week

Vintage tackle and Miranda Lambert--nice combination!



12 Things I Would Buy If Only I Could Afford Them

This is a pretty neat old Weber point-of-purchase display sign.


I don't know if I've ever seen an Eager Beaver in a box before.


Carter's Bestever is one of the best named lures of all time.


A round split shot tin for Abbey & Imbrie is a nice find indeed.


Holy rare Wilcox wigglers, Batman!


This Vom Hofe Perfection has seen its share of wars, but man -- it is a sweet reel!


Walter Brunner was a German bamboo rodmaker who crafted some absolutely beautiful rods.


This Farlow & Co. British reel is as nice as it gets.


Heddon Checkerboards have weathered the economic downturn pretty nicely.


A Shakespeare Rhodes Minnow in the wooden box is a great bait.


A Bagley's Nellie's Goldfish is a super tough color on any bait.


A Bingo advertising bait for Pearl Lager has attracted a lot of attention.



Have a good and safe Black Friday, and be good to each other, and yourself.

-- Dr. Todd

7 Things to be Thankful For This Year

For the Fifth consecutive year--2007's Missive is Here, 2008's Follow Up is Here, 2009's is here, and 2010 is here.

7 Things tot be Thankful For Today (Part V)

1) Endurance. Last year my number one thankful thing was patience; this year it is endurance, as in the human ability to endure difficult times and difficult circumstances. The past sixteen months brought a termendous amount of stress into the Larson household, including one very, very frightening cancer scare. It has reminded me that the phrase, "This, too, shall pass" is meaningful on multiple levels.

2) Loyalty. In times of stress, you find out who your friends really are. In 2011, it was never made more apparent to me that loyalty is perhaps the single most prized character trait of all. There are many who will stand by you in good times, but those who offer friendship, advice, and amity in hard times are those worth spending time with.

3) Daughters. You could easily substitute sons for daughters here, or children if you have multiple kids. My daughter is turning 12 and she is a downright blast to be around. Funny, inquisitive, smart, sensitive, and caring, she is a wonder and a joy in my life. When I look at her I think only of how proud she makes me every day.

4) Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines. I recently had the great honor of completing a book about a gentleman named Lt. Commander Joel Stewart, who went to Iraq in 2005 and founded the Baghdad School of Fly Fishing and Angler's Club. Delving into the book, it continually reminded me of the many freedoms we have here -- freedoms that are protected by American men and women (all volunteers) against implacable enemies who seek to undo everything the nation stands for. Some, like local Cincinnati area Soldier Matt Maupin, gave their lives. We shouldn't wait until Memorial Day to remember their sacrifices.

5) Terminal Tackle. The older I get, the more that "bottom of the tackle box" items intrigue me. Sure, certain items of terminal tackle like bobbers, line spools and fish hooks are widely popular, but a whole host of other items--sinkers, swivels, scalers, stringers, tackle boxes, priests, nets, etc.--are fascinating and a virtually virgin world for collectors and researchers. So much fun!

6) Historically Important Fishing Ephemera. I've really gotten into historically important fishing ephemera lately. It's one of the finest sources of information on the many companies that made and sold tackle. It's been great watching fishing ephemera become more and more popular of late. For a long time, it was only catalogs that got interest, but with some letterheads going for $200 or more, it's really attracted a lot of attention to the whole ephemera field.

7) The Readers of this Blog. I can't thank you -- YES YOU, who's reading this right now -- enough for stopping by every now and then and reading what we have to say on the subject of fishing and fishing history. We take that obligation seriously. Now, I can't say that it's easy to provide content every day -- some days its downright brutal -- but with the help of Bill Sonnett and the occasional guest writer, we've managed to provide ORIGINAL content for over 1000 consecutive days without a break. That's pretty impressive. We've also turned down several hundred (unsolicited) opportunities for advertising. Not that we're against making money, but the fact is I never saw this as a way to make money, but rather wanted it to be a place where we could share information without being bombarded by pop-up ads and links to spam sites.

So, for our fifth Thanksgiving, we are thankful for many things, but above all else, for the readers of our humble blog.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, and as always, be good to each other -- and most of all, be good to yourself.

-- Dr. Todd

52 Trade Houses Part 34: L.P. Wood of Burlington, VT

Over the course of the next year, we'll be detailing the history of 52 companies that sold branded fishing tackle. 52 trade houses in 52 weeks -- some obscure, some famous, and all available exclusively here on the Fishing for History Blog! If you have any items from the week's entry you'd like to share with us, please send it my way and I'll make sure it makes it on the blog.

For a discussion of what exactly trade tackle is, Click Here. Enjoy the 52 for 52!

o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o - o

Trade House Tackle, Part 34:
L.P. Wood of Burlington, VT


Today, we will feature a sporting goods store that had a long presence in the local Vermont community of Burlington. I chose this company because it represents just how difficult it can be to research even companies with a long and important local history.

The firm in question is L.P. Wood's Sporting Goods Store of 78 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont. I have spent a good bit of time researching this firm, and have not found very much at all about this firm, despite the fact it appears to have been in business for six decades or more.

L.P. Wood (and his wife Edna) was an important local businessman in the Burlington community. Forest & Stream tells us he was a a member of the Lake Champlain Yacht Club in the 1910s, along with a number of other local leading lights.

We know the company was in business as early as 1910, when it was listed in the Vermont Year Book as one of the state's four sporting goods retailers, and likely was founded even earlier than this. Gun historians have uncovered the fact that L.P. Wood's Sporting Goods Store of Burlington, Vermont received an order of 25 "Super .38" Colt pistols which were then sold to the Vermont Motor Vehicle Department. It's the earliest mention I can find of the firm.

The post-war era brings a lot more references. The firm was being listed in the Vermont Year Book in 1960 and was further listed in a 1967 issue of Esquire Magazine. L.P. Wood billed itself in the post-war era as "Vermont's leading sporting goods store." It also advertised in all of the local high school and university year books.

Thanks to recent obituaries, we also know the names of three principals at L.P. Wood's in the post-war era. The manager of the store in the 1950s and 1960s was Sabe Abell, who helped turn the store into a premier place for skiing equipment. Two other long-time employees included Royden Edgar "Ductchey" Brown (1895-1985) and Kenneth "Ted" Haynes (1912-2001).

A nice piece of fishing tackle marked "L.P. Wood" is this really nifty complimentary snelled hook holder with the firm's name on it. Inside was an actual snelled hook packet stamped with the firm's name. Both of these date from the 1930s.




L.P. Wood's is a great store with a lot of positive memories associated with it. It appears to have still be in business as late as the 1970s, meaning it had a very long run as a major sporting goods retailer in Vermont.

Anyone with any additional information about Wood's Sporting Goods drop me a note!

-- Dr. Todd