Comments on: MacGyver Fishing (AKA Red Green to the Rescue)

By: Ron Bell

Ron Bell — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:40:18 +0000

That is a forgotten concept (on my part) in having a quiet drag and I appreciate your two reasons. It reminded me of being in a fly shop one day and hearing a guy tell a story. As he was on the river he kept hearing someones reel buzzing from running fish. It cued him to the fact that the other guy “gave away” a good fly fishing spot. I think he termed it… “sold the farm”. After reading your reply I just got up to check to see if there was an option clicker to make the drag quiet. There is not on mine, not that I notice anyway. So, as you put it…….my “reel is quiet” but the “drag does click”. But, for any other characteristics of a real….especially for the retail price, I have been very impressed with my 2 reels.

By: Cutthroat Stalker (Scott)

Cutthroat Stalker (Scott) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:34:03 +0000

Ron,

I'm not a reel snob, so less expensive reels are certainly an option (I have three other reels) as long as it meets one main requirement--it's quiet, both the reel and the drag. I don't know why, but loud drag bugs me. I guess it's my life-long aversion to loud noises and not doing things that bring noticew to me. I'll have to check those reels out.

By: Ron Bell

Ron Bell — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:50:03 +0000

Hey Scott,
If it is your reel that is the problem, here is the best suggestion I can give you. Go purchase yourself a new reel. The company make is Okuma. The model is a Sierra. I used to work in a fly shop and messed with various reels there. However, this reel I am telling you about looks like an expensive reel. Mine even have a wood handle. The cost for the reels? I paid $25 for “each” of them a few years ago at retail at Sportsman’s Warehouse. Yes, I have 2 of them. I really like them. I think the spare spool cost’s $12. Heck at that price, I just purchased 2 reels. I have one that is a 4/5 and one that is a 5/6. I have 2 rods set up with 4wt on one of them and 6wt on the other. I have landed many big fish and I have never regretted the purchase of either of them.

By: Cutthroat Stalker (Scott)

Cutthroat Stalker (Scott) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:17:42 +0000

Thanks for the encouragement Ron!

I'm afraid I'm going to be in your boat here--it costs $50 to replace the spool, $100 to replace the reel, or $0 to keep it the way it is. Everything is working fine except that if I strip and reel in, strip and reel in, the drag starts to loosen and I have to tighten it. The slightly bigger problem is that if/when my line does something crazy in the reel (anybody else ever get their line tightening on itself, almost like a knot in there?), then I can't take the spool off to easily fix it.

By: Ron Bell

Ron Bell — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:49:34 +0000

Hey Scott,
Nice job with the chewing gum!!
Though somewhat embarrassed to mention this….several years back fly fishing on the South Fork my reel fell into the river. Of course I was able to retrieve it by grabbing the fly line going through the guides. As I looked at the situation the cap on the end of the rod handle had come off and was lost in the river somewhere. (This part had come off a few years earlier too) Thus, now my reel wouldn’t stay on and I didn’t have a back up rod with me that day. Fortunately, my pickup has many things in the tool box including duct tape. Red Green would have been proud. Not wanting to go home and being about 80 miles from home, I secured the reel to my Winston fly rod with duct tape. Crazy thing is…I knew it was on to where I would never have to worry about it falling off again. I ended up leaving it on for several years. Finally…the “Political Correctness” of it all got to me and I ordered a new cap and glued it on. The cork handle still looked and felt great. (it wasn’t ruined by the years of adhesive) Years later the cap has still stayed on. (Knock on Wood)

By: Cutthroat Stalker (Scott)

Cutthroat Stalker (Scott) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:52:15 +0000

Okay Talking Bull (is that abbreviated BS?), Hikes Like Turtle (HLT) has the following gear: 4 fly rods, 3 fly reels (4 if you count the automatic reel I haven't seen for a couple of years and must be stashed somewhere over the garage), 2 pair of wading boots, 1 pair of waders (2 if you count the pair you gave to Ben), two pair of polarized glasses.

Why do I borrow? Because we ride in your truck (by the way, you forgot that in your little list of things I borrow). When we are in your truck I don't take my extra gear. In fact, I have a problem remembering my initial gear, hence you loan to me. What a nice guy you are.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:03:02 +0000

Um…since when does Emerson have backup gear? HLT has borrowed waders, reels, rods, sunglasses,wrist rockets, beetles…everything but boots and my bucket o’ chain, since we have fished together. This is a story for the ages.

By: Cutthroat Stalker (Scott)

Cutthroat Stalker (Scott) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 02:57:58 +0000

Thanks for dropping by Colby.

Are you still into the muskie and carp and other big ugly things that make me say “ICKY” at the thought of touching them?

By: Colby D

Colby D — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:01:49 +0000

This was such a great post. Put a huge smile on my face. I love those moments of pure self satisfaction when you know you one upped karma/fate/life/silliness or what ever you want to cal it. Thanks Scott