Johnson Magnetic Fly Reels

[happyhooker]

Is There A Serious Reel That Is Simpler?



Pick up a grocery-type sack at a bag sale, fill it with stuff, and pay $X for the whole bag!  Makes it easy on the seller, who doesn't have to put a price on every small object.  I attended one some years ago; you can put a lot of fishing gear in a bag like that that, but at the sale I was at, I could only find two reels and a bunch of sinkers.  One of the reels was a Johnson 'Magnetic No. 3". I thought it was a toy or a gimmick when I first saw it.  A little research reveals it is neither.  Along with a big brother Magnetic No. 5, the No. 3 was offered circa 1960 as a legitimate fly fishing reel.  At that time, there were several pictures in noted fishing magazines and books showing a well-known angler fly fishing with a Magnetic.  Given that reels in fly fishing often have little to do (depending on the technique of the angler using it), it doesn't take too much to make a fly reel.  The Magnetic No. 3 takes minimalism to new heights (or lows).

I though we had discussed these reels a little in the past on this AT site, but I can't find whatever it might have been that was said about them earlier.  So, excuse me if I am duplicating something already discussed.

The Magnetic No. 3 is mostly metal; the handle is nylon and it looks like a little cover on one end of the spool might be plastic of some sort.  No gears of any type, so lubrication might be limited to a spot of something on the handle shaft and maybe on the spool hub. Disassembly is as easy as reaching inside the frame with a finger or two and pushing the spool out of the frame.  The spool is held inside the frame by a magnet in the spool shaft; the magnet does double duty by somewhat restricting the rotational motion of the spool.  A more conventional single action fly reel would probably have a clicker built in to provide a minimal drag and, more importantly, to retard the spool rotation a bit to prevent overruns as line is taken off the spool.  A finger on the textured surface of the spool on the No. 3 allows for a little extra drag pressure during operation.  The magnet in the subject reel eliminates the clicker, adds a bit of drag and makes the reel silent in action at the same time.



There are five screws that hold the frame together, two more that affix the reel foot and another that attaches the spool hub to the frame, but there is no need to remove them in the normal course of reel use or maintenance.  The reel was advertised as allowing a spool swap within 30 seconds, and quite frankly, it probably would take less time than that, with no tools of any kind needed.

Maintenance consists of a periodic rinse with water, and maybe a wipe down of the various parts with a rag once in awhile.



Made in the USA, probably in Mankato, Minnesota, along with the many other Johnson reel models from the '50s into the '70s.   Still quite usable, and collectible, these reels typically go for $30-100, depending, as always, on condition, inclusion of a box and so forth.  The No. 3 was suggested for lines maybe in the 5 range, whereas the No. 5 could handle a little heavier (and larger) line.

I don't believe Johnson has made any reels for some time, and their last models were not US made.  The name "Johnson" generates a lot of confusion as far as fishing gear goes.  There have been several "Johnson" companies over the years, and, to confuse things further, I believe one Johnson bought out another Johnson somewhere along the line.  As far as I know, the "Johnson" that still offers actual tackle (mostly lures), but no rods or reels, is, or was until recently, part of Pure Fishing.  Johnson Outdoors, dealing in Minn Kota trolling motors and some other outdoor gear, closed up the old reel manufacturing building in Mankato a few years back; the building has been remodeled and is used for non-fishing purposes, and Johnson Outdoors is now headquartered in Wisconsin.

[jurelometer]

Interesting!

It does make for a simple reel.

I can see some limitations in functionality vs the click and pawl reels of that period. I would guess that what happened was that the benefits of simplicity  were probably not as highly valued as some of the capabilities it was missing. A bit of a tough sell.

Thanks for sharing this reel!  I never heard of it before.

-J