fishinphil

Wanted to know if anyone has used an auto flyreel, and if so, what brand is considered a good one ?

dscot Loc: Knoxville, TN

I have an ancient Shakespeare. Still works beautifully.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

I have one on my retired bamboo rod on the wall of the party room and they are a couple of them in my old reel box, where ever that is. Why do you want one?

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

I have (¿had?) 1 ... I haven't seen it, in at least 12 or 15 years. Can't remember the name that is on it, but will look for it on the internet, today. I DID like mine; as far as my REASON for wanting it went: I figured: "¿Why reel by hand, when I can accomplish the same thing, by squeezing this lever? ... Kinda like: ¿Should I walk up the 14 floors to my Dr's office, or just get on the elevator? ...
I guess, you could either call it expedient OR lazy. ... Yah, probably lazy.
All the same, I'm intending to replace mine, if I can't find it.

Fishrcool Loc: Grand Island Nebraska

Hawthorne. Not even sure if they are still around, I have a horizontal one and vertical one, both work great!

Salesrep Loc: Maryland

South Bend made one years ago.
They were very heavy and would not be a good choice today, with the light rods.
Would make a very unbalanced outfit.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Have a couple of South Bends, on Martin.....wall art. If I were to get a rod that would balance the weight of those puppies, I would call it a day after an hour....and call my favorite masseuse to work on my casting arm and shoulder !
I am sure the newer versions are much lighter than in the past, see'em online, never in a shop to actually hold one. I think that besides the weight factor, the retrieval rate is not controllable... just ....wham ! done. Finesse out the window...and your "stripping pile" damn well be "very neat and uniform" (and, who knows how to achieve "uniformity" while concentrating on your fly ???) or a loop will catch and you have "a bird's nest" on a fly line.... not only a hassle, potentially damaging to an expensive component of your rig. Not to mention time-loss, or the guffaws if someone observes the incident. As a kid, l was allowed to practice with one at my uncle's place, loop caught my little finger, sucked it in tight. Uncle Gene just laughed and laughed and finally came over to get my finger out of the reel ! Wouldn't have been so funny if I had been alone. Good idea, got a few kinks to work out, I believe.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

That's "and a Martin"