Favourite Vintage reels for actual use.

[tincanary]

I'm looking forward to fishing this Langley 330.  I grabbed it at a swap meet not long ago for $5.  I'm going to back fill with 10lb Mason braided nylon and top it off with some #1.5 (0.205mm) Seaguar Grand max x8.  The maiden voyage will be Sunday morning on the local trout stream.  It'll be paired with a Graywolf 4'10" 2-6lb.

[jgp12000]

Rob,
Is that spool the OEM?

[tincanary]

Rob,
Is that spool the OEM?

yep, Langley was the first to use a ported aluminum spool in 1946 with the Target tournament reel.  The 330 is essentially a Target tat doesn't have the ability to disengage the handle from the soil.  After the reel exited the market in the late 60s, it wouldn't be until around 2000 when Shimano used a ported spool.  The one in this weighs near the same as a modern 100 size Shimano MGL spool.

[oc1]

Rob, the Target (my favorite) doesn't have a levelwind like all the other Langley baitcasters.  I'm going to stop collecting and running up the auction price for Targets so they will start becoming somewhat less expensive.  But, they are unlikely to ever get back to the $20 to $30 level like they were decade ago.

[tincanary]

Rob, the Target (my favorite) doesn't have a levelwind like all the other Langley baitcasters.  I'm going to stop collecting and running up the auction price for Targets so they will start becoming somewhat less expensive.  But, they are unlikely to ever get back to the $20 to $30 level like they were decade ago.

I think a Target would be a fine reel to have.  So far I have a trio of 330s and a pair of 310s.  I may need to stop this madness someday.

[Reels_penn4life]

Too many to list. Any Penn greenie or z. Favorite is the 710. Even with the hated bail most guys complain snaps during cast. I figured out how to work around that. Any Luxor. Airex beachcomber and vagabond. USA made maroon Shakespeare. Like the 2062. Langley/zebco 870,860,830. Mitchell 302,306,406,386,486. I can go on and on.

[bushleague]

Too many to list. Any Penn greenie or z. Favorite is the 710. Even with the hated bail most guys complain snaps during cast. I figured out how to work around that. Any Luxor. Airex beachcomber and vagabond. USA made maroon Shakespeare. Like the 2062. Langley/zebco 870,860,830. Mitchell 302,306,406,386,486. I can go on and on.

So whats your secret? Do you just use the timing thing or other? I periodically check out the 1st gen Spinfishers, some day I'll probably crack and get one but until then I've got a few old Dam Quicks. The Dam Quicks are very similar, and for actual fishing they really arent my favourites, so any time I get too tempted to buy a Z I just go fish the Dam Quicks for awhile and the urge passes.

My Dam Quick Super in particular is bad for snapping the bail shut, even timed in the various recommended positions.

[Midway Tommy]

I'm keeping mine a secret so the prices don't increase. 😬

[Cuttyhunker]

Keep a pair of M 301's, southpaw here, one in Fl the other on Cape Cod as my backups, they do get used and never disappoint.  Pair of 49 Deep Sea's usually in the rod holders inshore, 114H and 115 outside.

[Rancanfish]

I've had a bunch of fun with Shimano Baitrunners. Trolling an area in the Sacramento Delta with live minnows in a blinding fog was exhilarating. I was letting out about 40 feet of line and periodically goosing the electric motor. You'd hear a big splash and then wait for the line to go tight. Turn the handle and engage the main drag, woohoo!