DUDE!Are you in my garage right now??
have little desire to do so because I'm more of a pan fish kinda guy,
Quotehave little desire to do so because I'm more of a pan fish kinda guy, You just need a bigger pan.
Does anyone here fish with an old school direct drive casting reel like the Langley 310kc here ?If you aren't familiar it just means theres no release and the spool cannot free spool independently from the handle.I had it in my mind that the simplicity might make such a reel something I could actually manage without creating a bird's nest, but it seems that may not be the case.They just may take more practice and technique.
Quote from: bantam5s on December 28, 2021, 01:20:58 AMDoes anyone here fish with an old school direct drive casting reel like the Langley 310kc here ?If you aren't familiar it just means theres no release and the spool cannot free spool independently from the handle.I had it in my mind that the simplicity might make such a reel something I could actually manage without creating a bird's nest, but it seems that may not be the case.They just may take more practice and technique.A good weight, plenty of free lead when you cast, a precise technique which I have not yet mastered, and a rod at least 6 feet long. I have a couple old reels such as you describe and prefer my antique spinning and baitcasting reels, including several US-made Zebco 33s from way back. Hah, no chance of ratnesting! I have a collection of antique reels ranging from the 40s to the mid-80s, but enjoy modern equipment as much as the older stuff. There's something to be said for lightweight tackle when fishing for crappie or smallies in the James from a canoe. I'm also a catch-n-release fisherman since I don't eat fish.I do enjoy the older gear, but I'll put any of my newer tackle up to it in comparison, and once you compare cost back then to cost now adjusted for inflation, my newer reels cost less, need less maintenance, and simply cast very smooth. I have a couple higher-end fly reels that are purportedly the cat's meow, but don't fly-fish so they're in storage waiting for the right trade. I'm not knocking the older gear by any stretch, but I enjoy a higher drive ratio on the heavy tackle and the lighter weight and smoother drag on the lighter stuff.Those US-made Zebco 33s are exceptions- very smooth operation and not what I deem "stupid light".
Funny thing is, the only time I use a Fly Fishing reel is at the end of the day to put it away. I strip out the amount of line I need at the start work with that. When you get a fish on, you don't "reel it in"... you just pull the line with your hand and let it lay next to you. Then start casting it out again.