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Information on older Fly Fishing Reels.
Fly Fishing Reels The Fisheries Exhibition of 1883 was prolific in new reels, many of which, it must be confessed, were not only highly ingenious as inventions, but really excellent in their adaptation to different sorts of fishing. Indeed, if reels have not in the matter of 'improvement' quite kept pace with the improvements in rods, they are yet prodigiously in advance of the unmechanical windlasses with which our forbears, in the not very distant past, were content to reel in the victims of their prowess. But I will not slay the slain twice over, or evoke, merely for the purpose of exorcising them, the ghosts of Pirns,' ' winch-winders,' ' multipliers ' (horresco referens ) and other similar abominations. Of modernised improved reels or winches that which presented, perhaps, the greatest actual novelty was the ' Combination Reel,' so called because uniting the qualifications of a Nottingham reel and an ordinary plain or check reel. This it did without, so far as I can judge, diminishing the efficiency of either. Further speaking with due diffidence of a speciality of fishing which I have had very little opportunity, or perhaps taste, for acquiring it would appear to be vastly superior to the old-fashioned open Nottingham reel, in that, being confined to the barrel by transverse bars, the line cannot be perpetually 'winding off' or I should say 'twisting off' the reel when not wanted, and hitching its loose coils round the reel itself and everything else in its vicinity. Nottingham fishing apart, however, the reel is of very general applicability, and being exceptionally light, as well as simple in construction, presents advantages in many directions. For all kinds of fishing, for example, in which the bait is commonly, or occasionally ' cast from the reel,' it is excellent. So also it is in some branches of fly-fishing, such as (to mention one in which I have uscd.it with much satisfaction) in lake fishing with a double-handed rod. Indeed, even for light salmon fishing, I have both used it myself and seen it used successfully by others. No doubt the speciality of the reel is for pike spinning, in which connection it is figured and described in Vol. II., but for the convenience of trout and salmon fishers the illustration is here repeated. In order fully to adapt the Combination Reel to the requirements of the ordinary flyand float-fisher, as well as to the troller, the winder and axle, instead of being entirely of wood, as formerly necessitating, of course, a large diameter are now also made, in the form shown in the woodcuts, of wood and metal combined, by which the diameter of the axle is reduced, and the reel so far in all respects assimilated to the ordinary patterns of brass and bronze, its speciality in regard to the Nottingham style of casting being of course retained. The insides of the barrel plates on both sides are. In this later pattern, composed almost wholly of metal, rotating freely on a fixed steel pivot or centre-pin. Attached to the nonrevolving (left-hand) plate is a brass frame or cage supporting the horizontal bars, between which, of course, as in ordinary reels, the line passes, whilst this immovable framework is 'recessed' into a groove in the revolving barrel. The object of the revolution of the whole right-hand side-platemade exteriorly of wood is to enable a ' drag ' to be placed upon the running-out of the line, without which, as a means of regulating the length and direction of the cast, casting from the reel in the Nottingham style would be practically impossible. The two portions of the reel readily come apart when it is desired to oil or clean them ; vide top figs, in cut. 'SUN' NOTTINGHAM REEL. (Patented.) A capital variation of Slater's combination reel is the * Sun ' Nottingham reel, either with or without a check, changeable at pleasure. It has on the back plate an inside metal rim, as well as an inner metal revolving plate, which, it is claimed, and I should think fairly, renders any sticking or warping practically out of the question. The sizes in which it is made are : 3 in., 3^ in., 4 in., 41/2 in., and 5 in. A ' Combination ' reel, 4 inches in diameter, of either of the two foregoing patterns is particularly well suited for Lake trolling or Trout fly-fishing with a double-handed rod. For a light salmon or grilse rod a 4 5 -inch reel will generally be found about the most convenient size, but they are made up to 5 inches. After continuous wetting, these reels should be taken apart and carefully dried and oiled all over, otherwise they are apt to swell and 'stick.' For salmon reels proper we have an embarras dc choix. First there is the good old substantial fit-for-any-work ' Londonmade reel,' differing in no particular way from any other of the ordinary reels of commerce (of the form and semblance With which we are familiar), except in the matter of weight. In this respect, as generally made for salmonfishing, it has an easy ' walk-over.' It is so solid as to be quite capable, at a pinch, of knocking holes in an obtrusive boulder or two, or ' taking it out ' of anything else, mineral or animal including the muscles of its owner. A reel of this class of the best quality, having plate of 4^ inches in diameter of side-plate, will weigh about i Ib. Ii ozs., or, with a proper complement of line added, about 2 Ibs. I oz. When all is said, however, on the score of weight, these * London made ' reels are good, serviceable companions to be relied upon at a pinch. Moreover it seems or I should perhaps say rather, seemed till recent years to be the generally accepted canon that weight is subsidiary to strength and durability in the matter of salmon reels. I have still by me one of this class, which did yeoman's service through many a hard day's rough-and-tumble. It was made by Farlow, who still makes the same pattern under the name of the ' Patent Lever Salmon Winch '. PATENT LEVER SALMON WINCH With adjustable check, worked by the fingers. PATENT ALUMINIUM LEVER SALMON WINCH In a lighter class of salmon reels, but still thoroughly to be trusted for hard work, the same firm now manufactures a salmon winch of alloyed aluminium. Its speciality is, of course, its lightness, whilst the addition of the alloy makes the metal as hard or, more accurately, nearly as hard as ordinary brass (* bronze ' as the catalogues express it). This reel is very highly commended by Mr. G M. Kelson. Another capital reel, which I have used with satisfaction for * boat trailing] is Malloch's ' Sun and Planet ' Reel. This is a check reel, and its peculiarity is that unless, and until, the handle is taken hold of, the line runs out without any movement of the side plates (one of which is ebonite), so that, when trailing, for instance, the rod can safely be left with the reel resting on the bottom of the boat. 'SUN AND PLANET' REEL To those who desire light reels made entirely of metal, where very rough work is not to be expected, Hardy Brothers' ' .Revolving Plate Reel ' will commend itself. The lightest reel in the world is probably that made entirely of aluminium. An aluminium reel 2" inches in diameter weighs under 3 oz., but the price is alarming. This, of course, is carrying things to an extreme ; but clearly the question of weight in reels is of the utmost importance if the rod is to be properly balanced which is only another word for saying, c if the maximum and perfection of work are to be got out of it.' There can be no question, however, that, whether with the idea of ' balancing ' or otherwise, the weight of reels ordinarily used, especially in salmon fishing, is much overdone. The reel has always to be supported 'at arm's length/ so to say, where every ounce tells its tale during a day's fishing. Another vitally important point in a salmon reel for genuine hard work is the winding-in leverage, as every salmon fisher knows who has had the experience of ' reeling up ' or trying to reel up half a dozen heavy fish in as many half hours. Again, the ideal salmon reel must be strong enough to run no risk from chance collisions with rocks or other 'jeopardy of war'; and, further, the check machinery should be as simple as possible, and readily accessible in case of accidents or for purposes of lubrication. A narrow barrel or winder and (of course) a corresponding narrow groove are desiderata which, happily, it is now hardly necessary to insist upon. In salmon reels, however (though hardly in trout reels), this last point may be overdone, having regard to the convenience of carrying line in the most compact form. As I could not find any salmon reel completely fulfilling these several conditions, I set about constructing one, and in doing so unhesitatingly pressed into my service the best points I could find in any existing reels, well-known or otherwise. The outcome is shown in the reel figured opposite, in which I believe it will be seen that the desiderated requirements are combined. The form of the side plates of my reel, with the ' rim ' in one solid piece of metal, not only enables the exterior end of the handle to be ' guarded,' or counter-sunk, so as both to protect it and prevent the line hitching round it, but at the same time makes it practicable to dispense altogether with the second. Or exterior side plate. Hence (point first) a considerable diminution in the weight of the reel, with increased rather than diminished strength. To gain in the handle the maximum of possible leverage (point two) I have adopted a form of handle l which, in a 4^inch reel, gives an increased leverage, or winding-in power, of half an inch in actual measurement, or, mechanically speaking, somewhere about doubles it. The doubled leverage will tell, from the first putting together of the rod until the gaffing of the last fish of the day gives the wearied muscles of the right arm and back a not unwelcome respite. 'PENNELL' SALMON RKF.L, FIG. I. A variation of this handle, with an extension of it right across the reel from side to side, is known as 'BrightV handle, but it offers no, additional advantages and adds materially to the weight. The last point is the check mechanism, shown in drawing, fig. 2, which ought to. Be simple, and at the same time easily accessible accessible, that is, without any ' taking to pieces ' of the reel. In my ' combined reel ' the check machinery is merely covered by a hinged lid (A, B, A), sufficiently closefitting to be practically water-tight, while admitting of being PENNELL ' SALMON REEL, FIG. 2. The genesis and * genealogy ' of the reel are detailed in previous pages. Suffice it to say now that as here presented it combines both practically and theoretically every ' thinkable ' requirement for a perfect salmon reel, fit, as the saying is, to go anywhere and do anything ; and further that it is the only reel now ' on the market ' or ever brought before the public that does so combine them. This sounds rather a ' tall ' order ! But then either it is true, or it isn't. If not true, I am open to conviction (and to be convicted), and as I have no interest in the reel save a fatherly one, it is only fair to the reader to state the fact straight, as a fact or what I believe to be such. The weight of the reel, 4" inches, is 1 Ib. 6 oz. ; and that of a ' best London-made reel ' of the same diameter, or one or other of the similar patterns already noticed, somewhere about i Ib. 13 oz. Or 7 oz. More. The reel is registered and manufactured by Messrs. Farlow. FIG. 3. ' PENNELL ' SALMON REEL WITH REEL-GUARD Messrs. Hardy's reel is much lighter than the ' Londonmade ' reel, and not quite so light as my pattern. There is (on a 4^-inch reel) a difference apparently of 3 oz. In favour of the former, but it is not so in reality owing to the difference in the width of the groove in the two patterns. In Hardy's reel it is if R inch, and in mine i|{|inch, the result being that a 4-inch reel of my pattern will carry the same amount of line as Hardy's 4"-inch, i.e. 40 yards of dressed silk and 100 yards of back line. In all the foregoing reels the handles are so attached as, in one way or another, to prevent the line getting caught under them. There is still, however, something left to be desired in this matter of reel and line hitching. The snake is ' scotched,' not killed. In whatever manner the handle may be attached, the line still is left free to hitch round behind the back of the reel itselfa freedom of which, it is almost needless to say, it seems to have a provoking determination to avail itself to the utmost. It appeared, therefore, that a stop might be put, once for all, on this never-ending worry, by partly covering over the space at the back of the reel with a ' protector ' or guard of a sort. The mechanical realisation of the idea was easy ; the protector springs from the middle bar of the posterior curve, over which (bar) it ' clasps,' the exterior end, c, pressing close on to and against the rod, whilst the ' interior ' end is fixed to the metal support of the foot plate. Messrs. Bernard, of 43 Jermyn St., subsequently brought out a reel-guard on the same principle, but differently applied as it is attached always, of course, by the middle bar with a separate spring. It adds, however, not inappreciably to the weight, which my original pattern does not. The annexed cut shows Bernard's modification as applied to one of their capital silver -bronzed trout-reels. BERNARD'S ' SILVER-BRONZED TROUT-REEL,' WITH REEL-GUARD Many beautiful reels are now made in America, for a specimen of the most perfect of which I am indebted to the courtesy of the inventor, Mr. Chas. F. Orvis, of Manchester, Vermont, U.S.A. This reel, with its extraordinarily narrow barrel, and side plates perforated throughout for lightness, seems to me to comprise theoretically all the points of a perfect trout reel, and I find in practice its performance is equal to its promise, its great diameter enabling a fish that ' runs in ' to be wound up so fast that the evils of a ' slack line ' need seldom be felt. Besides the object of lightness, the perforation of the side plates, allowing the air to get to the line, is intended to prevent the latter rotting if left damp, and I must say that during several years' occasional use, though the line has been often day after day left wet, it does not seem to have suffered any deterioration whatever in consequence. The only imperfection in the reel as originally made was that, owing to the old-fashioned single crank form of handle, the line not unfrequently got hitched round it, and to remedy this I have had a double-action handle fitted to mine, as shown in the engraving, which effectually overcomes the ' hitching ' tendency, whilst at the same time increasing the leverage. The double action is also of considerable advantage in real work, as the handle is more rapidly 'caught,' and consequently less time is lost in winding in. ' ORVIS-PENNELL ' TROUT REEL, WITH REEL-GUARD It has saved me many a fish, especially in boat work, when the boat has been drifting before a wind, and the hooked fish, as before pointed out, ' runs in.' The reels described in the foregoing pages represent the older advances that have been made, and amongst them neither the salmon nor trout fisher need, I think, find any difficulty in selecting a reel suited to his taste, observing again that the question of weight is one demanding most serious consideration, especially on the part of fly-fishers who are not burdened with superfluous muscular development. If the lower (untapered) portion of the reel-line otherwise the ' back line ' which is not used in casting, and which undergoes comparatively little wear and tear, is made to consist of either Fine undressed silk or (better) hemp, the total weight may be sensibly reduced without loss either of efficiency or ' compass.' Allowing, say, forty yards either of the ordinary taper, or double taper, as already described, for casting purposes, sixty or seventy yards of hemp line strong enough to hold anything that swims can be got comfortably upon a three and three-quarter or four-inch reel (according to the width of the barrel), and this length will usually be found sufficient for all ordinary purposes. In ' big rivers,' however, as the editor truly observed in the footnote, this length may be advantageously increased to 120 or even 150 yards, in which case the size of the reel will, of course, have to be increased also. On to a four-inch reel of my pattern I can get 100 yards of back line, consisting of fine, solid-plaited, superficially dressed, like 130 to 150 yards on the reel for salmon fishing 75 yards of each sort of line. In big rivers I have had a good deal of the second half run out by a heavy fish. The having two kinds of line indicates, when the second begins running, at what distance the fish is from you, which in very broken water is sometimes difficult to ascertain. Hemp, and forty yards of medium-sized dressed silk double taper, as thick as is suitable for casting with any rod up to fifteen or sixteen feet. The hemp backing is about as fine as a fine trout reel-line, and I found one yard of it drew out the steelyard to twenty-three pounds before it broke. This hemp line will also last right well. The ' back line ' and the tapered, or casting, part of the line should be very carefully and neatly lapped together with fine waxed silk at the place of junction, so as to obviate any danger of the line getting stuck in the rings at that point when running out with a fish. If small stiff steel rings (see illustrations further on) such as I use myself and advocate for every description of rod? Are adopted, the chance of a 'hitch' at the critical moment will be reduced to a minimum. In the foregoing observations on reels generally I have assumed that all practical fishermen will use a reel which is either normally a ' check,' or that can be made into a check at pleasure. The old-fashioned * plain reel,' as it is called, possessed certainly the merit of being plain very plain, indeed, we should think nowadays ! And simple, in the sense of not being likely to get out of order. But there its merits end. When there is no ' check ' to interfere with the rapid rotatory motion of the wheel set going by a heavy fish, there is nothing in the mechanism to prevent the line ' over-running,' the result of which is usually a complete stoppage at the critical moment. Multiplying reels are at least equally objectionable upon another ground, namely, that, when 'winding in' a fish, the old mechanical axiom of * what is gained in speed is lost in power ' is apt to come into operation with disastrous results. No one can fairly wind-in a heavy fish with a multiplying reel of the old type, and now that reels with deep narrow barrels, giving increased speed and power, are almost universally manufactured instead of the antiquated shallow, broad-grooved pattern, there is no practical advantage gained by further rapidity of action. Next as to reel fastenings i.e. the attachment of the reel to the rod. The antiquated, double-band attachment, has the ineradicable vice of being suited only to one particular sized reel, and is now obsolete except for rods of the commonest class. My prediction in the first edition of this volume is therefore fulfilled. All the old reel-fastenings have, in fact, been superseded by systems of attachment capable of taking with equal ease almost any-sized reel or reel-plate. One I think the first of these modern reelfastenings is that known as 'Weeger's Wedgefast,' adopted by Messrs. Hardy for most of their rods. It is simple and safe, and capable, as I say, of being adapted to almost every size of reel, short of applying a heavy salmon reel to a light trouting rod, which would be useless if feasible. The lower end of the reel-plate is pushed under a fixed clasp with a gradually widening opening upwards (and of course a narrowing one downwards) in other words, it is wedged fast. ' HOLD-ALL' FITTING The principle here is the same as that of the * Weeger ' or other Wedge-fasts, but the actual fittings are lightened as much as possible for use with very light rods. There are several other variations of the more modern reel-fittings having similar objects to the three examples illustrated, but I think these embrace the most generally important features common to all the others, and leave nothing to be desired either on the score of neatness or efficiency.
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