Archived Group Messages / Reels

Valuable information from Walter Simberski who has completed the task of archiving our Study Group messages through 2009. A fantastic job !!! On for which I'm grateful. Gordy

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Gordy,

One more category of reel to add to the list in question 4 is the "semi-automatic" reel.

http://www.francovivarelli.com/ecommerce/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4

NOTE - this looks like an automatic reel from the outside but it is NOT spring loaded. The lever

drives a gear which turns the spool. The automatic, or spring loaded, reels are limited in

the amount of line you can fish with by the amount of travel in the spring. I've tried a couple of

those out and the limit of spring travel is about 15 - 20 feet. The semi-automatic has no such

limitation. As with the automatic reel the semi-automatic allows you to spool up any slack

line very quickly when a fish strikes.

I currently have one on loan to me through Project Healing Waters Canada and will be giving it a

test run this spring with a fellow who has limited use of one arm.

Cheers

Walter

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Walter... Thanks. Something else I hadn't known.

I accessed the link. English as well as Italian available.

Gordy

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From Pat Blackwell :

Hi Gordy,

My thoughts on questions 15, 16 and 25, overall this quiz has been very informative.

15.) Should the handle on a fly reel be on the right side if you are right handed ? Personal preference

16.) Why ? I fish with fishermen that reel from both sides, depending on how they were taught. Aside from some good natured fun about reeling from the wrong side, none of them has any problems reeling from their preferred side.

I am right handed and reel with my left hand most of the time. I started fishing with spinning reels that had the handle on the left (Garcia Mitchell 300), then went to a Johnson spin cast with the handle on the right side. Over the years I've fished bait casting and fly reels with the handle on both sides, freeline reels that were right side only and saltwater reels for salmon and halibut with the handle on the right.

Most of my fishing for salmon and steelhead is done with two handed rods. Even when changing top hands; while fighting a large fish (as I move the rod from side to side to keep the fish off balance), I still prefer to reel with my non-dominate hand. The few times that I've caught a large fish on a single handed rod (fights that tend to last no more than 10 to 15 minutes) I feel that I have more control when maintaining the pressure with my dominate hand.

If I ever have the chance to fish really large saltwater fish where the battle may last an hour or more, I may have to rethink that position.

Over my fishing career, I've had enough equipment failures; where I've had to borrow a rod and/or reel, that I feel being able to reel comfortably with either hand is a benefit much the same as being able to cast with either hand.

25.) Do you set the drag on your reels ? Yes How do you do that ? I set the drag just tight enough to prevent spool over run. I don't pay any attention to the break strength of the tippet, using rim control for additional drag. If I haven't been burned for awhile, I'll pull the line into the cork with my fingers; right up to the time that a large king salmon or steelhead, still carrying sea lice, lets me know that backing and skin aren't compatible.

Regards
Pat Blackwell

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