I see these beautiful reel pictures here and need to ask if you guys actually fish them - or collect them? I have owned Hardy Lightweights for 30 years but
recently have developed a hugh interest in (and have purchased lately) some of the better reels like the Bougle' and St. George. I am also looking for a
another nice 5/6 wt reel in the 7-750 range. THe Godfrey's are out of my price range now, as well as the new Perfect - so am looking at Saracione,
Bellinger and Peerless. I buy reels to fish and knowing that reels seemed to get banged and scratched more than rods, I set my limit for using a nice reel and
messing it up at that 750 range. When I see these gorgeous reels like the Hardy Brass, I wonder if they ever get fished - or collected? I almost see it as a
crime to use a reel so beautiful - but understand paying so much you may want to use it too - after all you only live once. Don't get me wrong - nothing
wrong with collecting beautiful equipment that will always hold its value better than lesser equipment. Just curious if this beautiful and costly equipment
actually gets used.
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Expensive Reels to Collect or Fish???
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 OnlyTrout |
Expensive Reels to Collect or Fish??? |
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Posts: 57 03/04/2009 22:54 |
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 ttrotter |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 918 03/05/2009 00:12 Moderator |
Look at the thread titled "Classic Reels at Work" on page 2 here.
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cdmoore |
I fish everything I own at least once a season. | #2 | ||
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Posts: 2720 03/05/2009 00:19 Moderator |
Assuming I actually get out that often in a season...now you know why I'm such a gearhead.
"If you finish in 7 days, I'll pay you for 10. If you finish in 10 days, I'll pay you for 7." ~Ballykissangel
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bulldog1935 |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 7052 03/05/2009 00:22 Bulldog1935 |
 
I'm bad enough to fish the mint, boxed reels that have come my way (L&C Varden, just above) The reels I don't fish are reels that I don't have an application for (usually big), but are in the collection and are fun to look at and tinker
with.
the rods are never obsolete - the marketing is.
Last Edited By: bulldog1935 03/05/2009 08:43.
Edited 1 time.
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FWdB |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 285 03/05/2009 04:25 |
Most reels in my collection are being used, except the Salmon Perfects (simply because I only fish with lines rated #2 to #6) and the jury is still out on my
3" all brass Perfect. It could be a combination too nice to nót use with my 1930 Hardy "The Davy" after restoration.
Wilfred de Bruijn
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turtledoc |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 2473 03/05/2009 06:40 Moderator |
I don't own any reels I would not fish, but I don't get out much either.......even so, buying a used reel from the maker of your choice might be a
good fit for you. You mentioned Godfrey's, and although the new price is way over the $750 limit, there are used reels to be had for that price. Most
of his reels also use NS bands which allows you to polish out scratches and small nicks that do occur.
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bob4st |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 125 03/05/2009 08:13 |
...fish them... enjoy them... share them with your friends... ya only live once... and i sincerely doubt you'll be taking them with you when you expire...
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dryflyRSW |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 179 03/05/2009 08:32 |
I believe that all things should be used for the purpose they were made. I sure do enjoy seeing all my reels displayed in my den but I enjoy using them even
more. I own the reels they don't own me. Use them all, rods and reels both.
dryflyrsw |
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OnlyTrout |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 58 03/05/2009 09:09 |
So far I am somewhat surprised that some of you fish these beautiful reels and risk scuffing them up - but then not surprised because that is what you bought
them for. It sure is nice to look at them in that display cabinet (I am building a wall hanging display cabinet for my den), but I imagine that after awhile
one would ask themselves 'whats the point of owning them if I don't fish them" - seems logical.
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bulldog1935 |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 7057 03/05/2009 09:55 Bulldog1935 |
The 1917 St. George in my first photo?
I fell last weekend with that reel. The reel did not touch the ground, but my knee was not happier for the end.
the rods are never obsolete - the marketing is.
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ttrotter |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 921 03/05/2009 10:01 Moderator |
I suspect sacrificing our bodies to save our tackle is a pretty common thing around here
 Whichever hand is holding the rod and reel just somehow instinctively goes UP
while I'm going DOWN
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Short Tip |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 996 03/05/2009 10:12 Moderator |
I feel that! A few years back I slipped, and twisted my ankle real badly in trying to protect my rod and reel from the fall. A few days later I was back, ace
bandage wrapped, and slipped again. This time, I gyrated and stuck out my left hand, to protect the rod, reel, and the twisted ankle. I broke a finger. Rod and
reel came through unscathed.
I might have a hard time fishing one of the expensive repro reels, for some reason they seem more a "collectible" and less a fishing tool. But since I don't buy them, it's not a hard decision for me. Any reel I own is going fishing. 
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bow river |
fish'em | #12 | ||
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Posts: 1198 03/05/2009 10:16 |
i sure do , even with my best dingleys , and i just got a few dandy hardys and i can't wait to take them to the river , it might as well be me who
enjoys them ,
Richard
Check out my web site for vintage reels & rods , guided float trips on canada's # 1 best trout river http://bowriveradventures.googlepages.com/home
Last Edited By: bow river 03/05/2009 11:39.
Edited 1 time.
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BobS |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 1042 03/05/2009 10:21 |
Fish 'em all: Godfrey, Walker, Edel, etc.
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enigma309 |
They are for using . . | #14 | ||
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Posts: 524 03/05/2009 10:24 Reclusive! Like J D Salinger |
. . . . I have never been in the position to buy 100 year old MINT reels . .
 . . . If I was I'd probably still choose to use them
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bulldog1935 |
#15 | |||
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Posts: 7058 03/05/2009 10:30 Bulldog1935 |
I swapped e-mails with an infamous reel trader about a couple of reels he had listed for sale, "Which one of these two is in better condition for fishing
- tighter spindle, etc?"
His reply, "THESE REELS WERE NOT MADE FOR FISHING, THEY WERE MADE FOR COLLECTING" My reply, "Think about it."
the rods are never obsolete - the marketing is.
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quashnet |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 2487 03/05/2009 11:23 Moderatus Muscae |
All my Hardy St. George reels go fishing. If my budget jumped by an order of magnitude and I was into Edward Vom Hofe Perfection and Peerless reels, they would
go fishing too. I've spent a lifetime to get to this point of thoroughly enjoying, appreciating, and knowing how to care for this tackle. Why deny myself
now?
Quashnet's Paul H. Young Rod Database has photos and descriptions of over
430 PHY Co. rods, plus catalogs, accessories, etc. Thank you to all
who continue to send me PHY rod photos and info.
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8xtippet |
#17 | |||
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Posts: 30 03/05/2009 12:21 |
They're only fishing reels. It's only money. It gives me greater pleasure to look at my St. Georges and Bougles on the water than on the shelf.
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dblspey |
fish 'em | #18 | ||
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Posts: 90 03/05/2009 12:56 |
I have been fishing my old reels for many years, and I am willing to accept the the wear and tear than may occur as part of the deal. I am careful to protect
the reels by always carrying them to the river in a neoprene cover, usually with the rod and line rigged up and ready to go. There have been a couple of
unfortunate incidents over the years, but any dings will come with a memory, usually good, about the day. I am very lucky and grateful to live on a river and
to be able to fish year round for many different types of fish, and I always enjoy myself regardless of what may happen.
I dropped my Taupo Perfect in the river again last week. No apparent damage, thank goodness! 
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OnlyTrout |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 59 03/05/2009 14:13 |
Great pictures of your reels guys. How cool it is to see70, 80 or more year old reels still being fished and catching nice trout.
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kimk |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 624 03/05/2009 20:50 |
I have a small handful of Hardy s and some of them would be considered to be collectible. I bought them to fish and I fish them.
I also have a big handful of other reels which I bought because they interested me. I have fished some of them, but that is not why I bought them. Some are nice examples of their type or model. Some are just weird. Few of them would fetch more than $20 on a good day and I have less than that in most of them. For that kind of money it doesn't have to fish well, it just has to interest me. AgMD |
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- Members Corner
- Forum Announcements
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Check out the Paul Young Rod Co. database which is owned and maintained by member Robert Golder (quashnet).
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