Old But Great Fishing Gear

Lindey

Lindey

Joined
Apr 13, 2005
Messages
842
Hey there all. I come from a family of avid hobby fishing enthusiasts. Some of my fondest childhood memories took place in a boat or at the end of a dock fishing with my father or grandfather. Well just recently my dad gave me a a short silver tube with a plastic end cap that once belonged to my granfather. Inside this tube was a 6 piece 6'9" Wright and McGill Eagle Claw Fishing pole (Model #MGTM5). Its official warranty card says this rod was purchased on June 15, 1972 but you would never know. The action on this thing is smooth and dispite its years of use there appears to be absolutely no wear. Anyway, what I was wondering is if any other fishermen out there have any gear that has withstood the test of time and still sees use amidst all the modern equiptment out there?

PS- It's currently being used with an Abu Garcia Cardinal 753 reel
 
I think one of my favorite fishing reels has to the Garcia Mitchell 300. I have one from the 70's that I use today. I think I would like to collect them as I seem to run across these reels pretty cheap.
 
I have about 8-10 old Mitchels all made in France. The 400 is my personal favourite. I had a Match (440a) from the UK with the finger dab auto bail arm but sold it a while back :grumpy:
 
The pleasure is great to catch some fishes with old fishing tackles, i admit that i use now modern rods with carbon fibers, more strong, light and tactile but i stayed faithful to my old reels, a family heirloom.
No shame here, only to share feeling and pleasure in another time, may be fishes are missing today.
PS: owners of old Mitchell 300, you should try a Luxor or a Crack.
 
I have an old Montegue bamboo flyrod, 9 1/2', I think it is post WWII, maybe fifties, and a later Ted Williams reel from the sixties. I don't have a trout stream nearby, but wadeing and casting flies for panfish is a plesant way to spend the day. I think I hear them calling me.

Codger
 
I have two 40+ year old ABU/Garcia light action fiberglass fishing rods that I still use with ultralight reels and 4 lb test line. After breaking the tips on a couple of graphite rods, I went back to these. The action is great, protects a 4 lb line very well, and they just keep going, and going, and going.......... .
 
I have an old Mitchel 300 from the early 60's, I think. Any one know where I could get it refurbed?
 
BassProShops used to be affiliated with a repair parts concern.
I think it was called Metropolitan.
Maybe take a peek around their website.

Sea Isle Sports in Freeport LI, NY did repair work too.

They are pretty simple reels to maintain your self.
Open it up, degrease and wash everything and then reapply grease on all the gears.
I use silicon based grease, a little dab will do ya.

My oldest reel is a Penn Surfmaster from '69...I was 13 when my dad bought it for me. Used alot, still going strong. The only thing that had to be replaced was the spool and one side plate that bent while trolling for bluefish. I had an umbrella rig on there and the 3, 7lb bluefish were too much when they hit. The rod was in the holder so there wasn't much cushion. In the past, I've seen wooden rod handles broken in the same situation.

Just thought of another source for repair info...
www.stripersonline.com
Poke around there, you might find something :D
 
Great thread, Lindey...it brought back memories of when I was younger and had all the time in the world to fish.

I don't get out as much as I used to, but I have some gear that my dad gave me many years back that I used for quite a while, and still use when I get the chance.

I have a JC Higgins fly rod/reel combo. The reel is an automatic reel, not as smooth as it used to be, but still works. I have never changed the fly line on it...yikes!

I also have a Ted Williams fly reel. It is my finess reel, smooth as anything; I use it for top water popper fishing with an eagle claw rod.

I also have two D.A.M. Quick spinning reels, but I don't use those. I just keep those wrapped in old rags and stored away. The rods that he gave me with those came in the previously mentioned aluminum rod tube with plastic screw cover, and cloth bag inside.

I guess gear back then was made to last, and crafted as such, with cloth bags, custom rod tubes, etc. The gear now is nice as well, I guess, but obviously mass-produced. Your dad or grandpa would give you an old rod or reel, and you could just tell it was old, well made, and well cared-for. It's a shame I didn't take as good care of all the things my dad and grandparents gave me. I learned that lesson too late. At least I have a couple knives to pass on to my son...;)


I have some other gear, but it's not that old...

Glenn
 
My oldest reel is an "Alvey" brand sidecaster. I bought it second hand in 1971 and it still gets regular use for surf fishing from the beach.
The reel itself is made of bakelite, the backing plate is stainless steel, and the gears and fittings are nickel plated brass.
It looks a bit worse for wear these days, and is maintenance intensive, but still works a treat.
I had a Mitchell spinning reel of similar vintage up until a couple of years ago when I lost it overboard by leaving a baited hook unattended for a couple of minutes and a fish decided that was the time to bite and run.
(Murphy's Law)
That Mitchell had the smoothest action of any reel I have seen, except maybe a couple of high end Penn reels.
 
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