It is time to come to terms with my addiction.
I come here because I think you will understand.
I stand before all of you admitting my weakness and my inability to fight my addiction.
It started about 28 yrs. ago. I was walking through a flea market and found a reel that I could not put down. This was the start of my sickness that I still struggle with today.
I could not wait to get home a dis-assemble and clean these reels. I even started to clean a repair reels for friends, my illness was getting worse.
While spending time watching TV with the wife I would be cleaning and repairing reels.
I finally realized that I need HELP.
To my suprise there was a Fishing Reel Rehab Center in Chicago(close to where I live). I told the wife and son I would be back when I'm cured.
After a 2wk stay there and a monster of a struggle I was clean.
I could finally stay away from my work shop and spend valuable time with the family.
This went on for several months, everyone was happy.
Well I was getting the itch to go fishing. It was early Oct. and the fall Kings were in shallow. I thought, I can handle this. After about an hour of casting I got a backlash from hell.
I now knew that this was a test for my sobriety. Well,,,,, I failed, fell off the wagon hard.
I started to attend meetings at the center but it did not help.
Since those many years ago I am aware of my situation and I deal with it.
I now don't dis-assemble every reel I see or purchase. I can now clean my most used reels and leave it at that.
Thanks for listening to my struggle and thanks for this wonderful web site.
Guess I'm moving to Chicago....
Quote from: thorhammer on September 22, 2017, 02:14:40 AM
Guess I'm moving to Chicago....
I hear they hold spots for us...
Very nice story. I just got back from Chicago tonight.
Were you cured Bryan ;D
Considering that I just picked up about 2 dozen reels that needed a little bit of help from Alan last week, I would say NO. My wife would emphatically agree, it's NO!!!
;D
Maybe they'll open a Bay Area chapter someday....
so, its Chicago where the Fishing Reel Rehab Center is?
hmm can you pass me the phone number please?
nop, I dont want to sign up as member, I would like to talk with the current members to ask them to sell me their reels and rods even if those haven been fixed yet, the cheaper the better, is like help junkies to throw their drugs in the toilet and flush, all I want is to help them to recover faster.
That was a hilarious read, welcome to the insanity ;D
I can relate, I have the sickness bad. If I'm on a party boat and I see a Jigmaster it takes everything I have not to tear it apart to see if Brian's 5 stack is in it or if it even has HT-100 drags. It is hard, you get used to it.
Ron
I like staying on the wagon. ;D
I like your train of thought, steelfish. I'm in the Lions Club & our motto is "We Serve" & I always like to help those in need.
Frank
As you have found out there is no solution but to go with the flow. Buy-buy-buy seek out reels. The funkier the better. Go for it. Dominick
My sickness has gotten much worse since discovering this website. Probably terminal.
Quote from: wfjord on September 23, 2017, 12:34:09 AM
My sickness has gotten much worse since discovering this website. Probably terminal.
Consider yourself lucky, you could have been in a pub drinking away your money. Now you have a bunch of reels that probably will never use :) .
Best,
Sal
I have no solution for you, but then again looking for a solution here is like asking the fox to guard the hen house. ;) ;D
Joe
The only solution is more reels...
but it probably wouldn't hurt to limit my ebay watch list to just one page.
On a more positive note; I find that it's NOT an addiction. There are those among us in society that see a precision instrument and wonder to ourselves: "I wonder if I could make that even better?" By education; I'm an RF EE, (also a Forensic Pathologist); I like to work on radios. Ditto handguns. Now; fishing equipment. Think Motorola, Sig Sauer, Abu Garcia...
So far, I've succeeded beyond my expectations on the prior. Now; I'm learning the fishing rear. Buckle your seatbelts. I HAVE become addicted to fishing! If I don't make it 4-5 evenings / days a week; it's because of the weather, or I'm overseas.
Welcome to the board. There is much knowledge to be gained here.
Enjoy!
Quote from: wfjord on September 23, 2017, 12:34:09 AM
My sickness has gotten much worse since discovering this website. Probably terminal.
Yeah, we're all a bunch of enablers on the AT site.
Frank
Wforjd, The answer is to go to the bottom of your watch list and click on the "100" where it says items per page... and voila you only have one page so your addiction appears better. ;)
Though I do sometimes have more than 100.
Happy hunting,
Dom
Rehab is for Quitters!
I did force myself not to bid on a reel tonight --a credit to my self control, especially since a cleaner one just like it is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow according to the USPS package tracking site.
Does anyone else experience the racing heartbeat, palpitations and adrenaline rush in the final seven seconds of a bidding battle? Some people go to Yosemite and free-climb Half Dome just to get that effect.
Quote from: David Hall on October 19, 2017, 02:10:31 AM
Rehab is for Quitters!
Yes, but we're not in rehab, we're in denial.
.
I suffer the same "problem" forcing myself to NOT bid on classic or rare reels. Not having the money at the time seems to have no effect. I'm a big fan of the 10000CL's and 10000i's, but have 3 CL's that I've restored, and a 10000i that I pretty much had to rebuild from the ground up. I loved the experience, and am fascinated at the difference that I've seen. And; I'm no expert! Pretty much everything I've learned; I've learned here. So; if working on, restoring, or simply maintaining your equipment is your goal; you've come to the right site. If I don't watch it; I'm going to be rebuilding my reels outside, and living on the street. My home isn't as large as my appetite for fishing equipment! Do I need them? Nope. I live in west, central Texas. We've got no water! We just got water back in our lakes a year and a half ago after a 63 year drought. But; Corpus is only 6 hours away...
I definitely see the members of this site as enablers of my habit. Before coming to AT.com, I just wanted an inexpensive reel to throw bait in the surf. The 140 Squidder was my first taste. Then I learned here about the Penn Mags. When Sal tried to interest me in shiny upgrades, I said "No, I'm not that kind of guy." My only interest was in practical tackle for bringing home fish flesh. When I saw some reasonably priced Newell bars and bases on eBay, I thought why not? Later, reading AT, I began to appreciate the engineering aspects of the upgrades. After some personal contact with the AT Jedis, Alan, Sal, Bryan, to name a few, I was hooked. Now I'm fishing the eBay much more than the surf, stalking and baiting in every free moment from my smart phone. The Internet fishing grounds are much more accessible than the Jersey coast.
My only reservaton at this point is to stay clear of "shelfies." Any reel I own is going to be fished!. Sure, I've come across some pretty reels, and have been tempted to exchange photos of them with members, but... I have to stop somewhere. ::)
Quote from: Jim Dempsey on October 19, 2017, 01:53:09 PM
If I don't watch it; I'm going to be rebuilding my reels outside, and living on the street.
Remember, Jim, you've got kids (they can only serve as collateral for so many reels).
Frank
Happy;
They're the ones egging me on! To an extent... I guess I could cancel my saved searches on The Bay; but I look forward to waking up and seeing the email notification flashing on my phone. Run to the computer... Drooool! Occasionally; insanity prevails.
theres no point in rationalizing this it is a never ending spiral into a pit filled with fishing reels. I ran out of storage space long ago, I now have boxes stacked on top of boxes, stacked on top of bins, stacked on bins.
Truly I hate myself. In order to make myself feel better.
Guess what I did.
Quote from: happyhooker on October 20, 2017, 12:26:43 AM
Quote from: Jim Dempsey on October 19, 2017, 01:53:09 PM
If I don't watch it; I'm going to be rebuilding my reels outside, and living on the street.
Remember, Jim, you've got kids (they can only serve as collateral for so many reels).
Frank
I have a Penn 10 reel for one son and one of my three daughters... that's all I can justify at this point. Once bought a reel for my wife and it went over like a lead balloon.
Busted! ;D C'mon Joe, don't copy me.
Quote from: Rancanfish on October 20, 2017, 03:15:50 PM
Busted! ;D C'mon Joe, don't copy me.
It wasn't an "anniversary present" was it? ::) ;D
Bought this reel this week.
It was only $600.
The 155 next to it cost me $12.99.
No problem here. ;)
Quote from: Shark Hunter on October 20, 2017, 09:55:18 PM
Bought this reel this week.
It was only $600.
The 155 next to it cost me $12.99.
No problem here. ;)
I always though those big everols were 3x more expensive
Instead of calling ourselves AT "members", we ought to ID each other as "registered offenders".
Frank
I don't have a workbench to do maintenance. Normally just doing it outside with a cooler as a table. But then yesterday I saw an image of a Daiwa Lexa 400 posted in BD, supposedly been washed diligently with freshwater yet it looked almost as bad as John Tuttle's tutorial Lexa 400 reel. So I just have to open my own reel that was fished only half a dozen times. Of course it looked brand new since it was given the Alan Tani's pre-fishing maintenance. So I also opened reels that's been fished the last 6 months with the same results no corrosion all greased intact. Do you guys think this is an early onset of this deceased? Also, planning and pre-staging hint to wife about a work bench area in the patio. I would like to stop before point of no return.
Does your better half do any gardening?....flowers, etc. ? If so, get her a "potting bench" ! ::)
You've already passed that "point", may as well embrace it😀😀😀
Brett
Yep I agree with Brett.
You're a goner, no hope left.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on October 20, 2017, 09:55:18 PM
Bought this reel this week.
It was only $600.
The 155 next to it cost me $12.99.
No problem here. ;)
Good God Gertie; what a gash! That's a huge honkin' reel!
Quote from: David Hall on October 24, 2017, 01:31:55 AM
You're a goner, no hope left.
If this goes much further, I'm going to have to get evangelical on you guys :o ::) ;D
He's toast. I now have two identical benches for rod and reel work. One at home shop and one at cabin. Sometimes I stick my head out the door and look at the lake and think about going fishing, but there's that Abu with poor freespool I can't take anymore....
Thanks guys! Seems to be drifting that way with no capabilities to maneuver, throwing red over red and dropping the hook to see if it will hold.
Quote from: steelfish on October 21, 2017, 12:10:45 AMI always though those big everols were 3x more expensive
They are . . . Never pass up a "hot" deal . . . LOL !
Tight Lines !
Been 2 weeks since I been able to wet a line. It was killin me! Work, errands, domesic maintenance, household paperwork, excessively long talks with the wife, etc., etc. A buncha responsible guy, spirit-killing, land-lubber B.S.! How do some guys do it 100% a the time?
1&1/2 weeks into it, I found the cure. Yeah, you guessed it: auction site shoppin for unnessasary upgrades, and maintenance on reels already built. Man was I happy to have found corrosion on my 501 gears!-better tear the whole thing apart. "Yeah baby"!
Gfish
You didn't miss anything but a bunch of wind Gregg. I'm going cold turkey and will absolutely never ever buy another reel..... and this time I mean it.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on October 27, 2017, 08:27:43 AM
You didn't miss anything but a bunch of wind Gregg. I'm going cold turkey and will absolutely never ever buy another reel..... and this time I mean it.
-steve
Never say never ;) :D
Quote from: oc1 on October 27, 2017, 08:27:43 AM
Y........... will absolutely never ever buy another reel..... and this time I mean it.
I say that to my wife everytime, luckily for me the last 5 new reels and last 3 new rods have been "traded" not bought, so, Im safe....
the red eyes on my wife said the contrary but.. ooh well, on my mind I kept my promess
I wasnt going to buy anything! a friend called and said, you gotta get over here! somebody just bought an estate sale from a family, theres thousands maybe millions of dollars worth of gear here for pennies on the dollar. I went! nearly had a coronary when I saw everything. I was alone with hundreds of rods, hundreds of reels, hundreds of boxes filled with gear, much of it still in its original packaging. at least a dozen long range boxes filled to capacity. my head started spinning, I was speechless, trying to regain control of my senses, the seller was putting tape on a large box, I said what you got there? oh just a box of Newells going to some guy up in Oregon. I didnt even get to see them? I picked out a dozen small salmon flashers, still in original packaging, a few dozen barbless hooks, a bunch of rock fishing gear, bags full of plastic grub bodies, lead heads, 2lb balls an okuma LC reel never used. a 3000 yd spool of 40# Ande, a 3000 yd spool of 80# JB, about 6 more spools of line and a bunch of more stuff I cant remember, my head was still swimming. There were boxes everywhere and I didnt know where to start. I wanted to move in with the guy, I need days to look through this stuff. I said heres my pile, how much? yadda yadda hm hm, how about 140 bucks? DONE! I gotta get outta here, I can always come back. Truth is Im afraid to go back, I never even got to the rods.
Quote from: David Hall on October 27, 2017, 04:36:07 PM
I wasnt going to buy anything! a friend called and said, you gotta get over here! somebody just bought an estate sale from a family, theres thousands maybe millions of dollars worth of gear here for pennies on the dollar. I went! nearly had a coronary when I saw everything. I was alone with hundreds of rods, hundreds of reels, hundreds of boxes filled with gear, much of it still in its original packaging. at least a dozen long range boxes filled to capacity. my head started spinning, I was speechless, trying to regain control of my senses, the seller was putting tape on a large box, I said what you got there? oh just a box of Newells going to some guy up in Oregon. I didnt even get to see them? I picked out a dozen small salmon flashers, still in original packaging, a few dozen barbless hooks, a bunch of rock fishing gear, bags full of plastic grub bodies, lead heads, 2lb balls an okuma LC reel never used. a 3000 yd spool of 40# Ande, a 3000 yd spool of 80# JB, about 6 more spools of line and a bunch of more stuff I cant remember, my head was still swimming. There were boxes everywhere and I didnt know where to start. I wanted to move in with the guy, I need days to look through this stuff. I said heres my pile, how much? yadda yadda hm hm, how about 140 bucks? DONE! I gotta get outta here, I can always come back. Truth is Im afraid to go back, I never even got to the rods.
And you didn't share that information with the "Ohana" ?
It's not an addiction, it's hobby. See, doesn't that make it sound better?
And you didn't share that information with the "Ohana" ?
[/quote]
I didn't want to be targeted by everyone's wife and girlfriend!
Quote from: David Hall on October 27, 2017, 08:18:03 PM
And you didn't share that information with the "Ohana" ?
I didn't want to be targeted by everyone's wife and girlfriend!
[/quote]
Sure, sure, I
believe you,
really I do . . . LOL !
Tight Lines !
Quote from: oc1 on October 27, 2017, 08:27:43 AM
You didn't miss anything but a bunch of wind Gregg. I'm going cold turkey and will absolutely never ever buy another reel..... and this time I mean it.
-steve
Alrighty then Steve, but when(not if)it happens, and you just gotta know that it will, you gotta come clean to us. Ok?
Gfish
This is what I had to go through.
That looks challenging. I'd start with that box of hooks right up front.
maybe chilelleno could back a trailer in there for you,,,,, i know there some nice stuff in there :D
I would be in those boxes like white on rice.
Then I'd come back with a wad of cash.
Deals like that don't come my way.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on October 28, 2017, 02:51:56 AM
I would be in those boxes like white on rice.
Then I'd come back with a wad of cash.
Deals like that don't come my way.
Got that right . . .
My approach would be to already have the "wad of cash" on me, bring my two teenage Grandsons, plus a couple of their friends, with me ( pre-instructed what to look for and what to ignore ), and go through those boxes like a Tornado ! That would give me a "team" of 5 or 6 people, working as a coordinated unit.
The priorities / strategy ( for me ) would be, in this order. . . SPEED is critical if there is "competition" present !
( 1) BOXES - Immediately determine the contents and set them aside, based on the rest of the "plan" below.
( 2 ) Reels - Especially, new / unused. ( Call me over and keep on looking )
( 3 ) Rods - Especially new, unused.
( 4 ) Terminal Tackle - Hooks, Swivels, new only ( Grab that box full of Owner hooks up front, immediately )
( 5 ) Line - Bulk spools or case lots.
That's a "guerrilla" approach, as my goal is to snap up the high-dollar items, keep what I want and put the rest up for sale, later.
ROCK & ROLL . . . Tight Lines !
Oh.... one arrived in the mail today, but that was from before. You know. I'll probably lose that auction too. So far, so good.
-steve
Step 2: Rationalize and deny.
:]
Quote from: David Hall on October 27, 2017, 04:36:07 PM
I wasnt going to buy anything! a friend called and said, you gotta get over here! somebody just bought an estate sale from a family, theres thousands maybe millions of dollars worth of gear here for pennies on the dollar. I went! nearly had a coronary when I saw everything. I was alone with hundreds of rods, hundreds of reels, hundreds of boxes filled with gear, much of it still in its original packaging. at least a dozen long range boxes filled to capacity. my head started spinning, I was speechless, trying to regain control of my senses, the seller was putting tape on a large box, I said what you got there? oh just a box of Newells going to some guy up in Oregon. I didnt even get to see them? I picked out a dozen small salmon flashers, still in original packaging, a few dozen barbless hooks, a bunch of rock fishing gear, bags full of plastic grub bodies, lead heads, 2lb balls an okuma LC reel never used. a 3000 yd spool of 40# Ande, a 3000 yd spool of 80# JB, about 6 more spools of line and a bunch of more stuff I cant remember, my head was still swimming. There were boxes everywhere and I didnt know where to start. I wanted to move in with the guy, I need days to look through this stuff. I said heres my pile, how much? yadda yadda hm hm, how about 140 bucks? DONE! I gotta get outta here, I can always come back. Truth is Im afraid to go back, I never even got to the rods.
And I was waiting for the punchline..... And then my alarm clock woke me up!!!
But no, you found a unicorn!! And you exercised a modicum of moderation, but you didn't even look at all of the rods and reels!?!?!?!
I was afraid I would spend my mortgage payment if I looked through the rods.
surfers
Obviously your addiction is under control, you only buy stuff if you have a nice place to store it!
Or do you make nice storage space, and then go find something to put there?
Quote from: thorhammer on October 31, 2017, 11:10:43 PM
...there's another hundo at the cabin....about 130 rod blanks scattered...
now this scared me a lot !! happy halloween
Nice brother John. ;)
People like me and you have a passion, Its not an addiction.
I wish I had that space to spread out my rods and reels.
Very Nice my man.
Quote from: thorhammer on October 31, 2017, 10:33:30 PM
hm. I haven't come to terms, it seems....maybe half the surf rods and a third or so of the casting / trolling stuff.
Wow! Sometimes, there are no words.
I relapsed... I bought another Morrum M7700C on fleabay for an exorbitant amount. Bidding on another. Looks like no car payment this month. A straight jacket awaits me.
Ever since I saw Sals Cabinet I been Jonesin for a nice display / storage cabinet for myself. I think this winter it's time I build something!
My house isn't that big! Not sure if I could even show a Spiderman / Cinderella combo, now. Mine are all piled in their perspective corners. My aquarium fish are nervous.
Quote from: thorhammer on October 31, 2017, 10:33:30 PM
hm. I haven't come to terms, it seems....maybe half the surf rods and a third or so of the casting / trolling stuff.
So many wall flowers, so few get to dance. It's a cryin shame :'(
When I lived in South FL ( 15 minutes from the Ocean ), I acquired over 200 outfits in about a 35 year span. Just before moving to NC in 2006, I sold off about 80% of them, at my wife's "urging" ( a very painful experience ).
Since living in NC ( 180 miles from the coast ) I don't get to go fishing very often and I absolutely HATE Freshwater fishing, for some reason. Maybe I have "saltwater in my blood" . . . LOL !
Anyway, these are a couple of pics from 8 or 10 years ago, plus a couple of "fun pics". My collection has grown some, but it's nowhere near its former "glory" ( I am hunting for a pic of everything in FL ).
Tight Lines !
Seeing all those 8-n-bait conventional sticks gets me going, and makes me long for the surfcasting motherland of Hatteras!!
That's where they go. ;D Too rarely, it seems...
That's where the 980 and 525 Mag shine brightest. The SS's are for nights with a lot of wind. If you look at mine closely, I think second from left, you will see a vintage Harnell rootbeer blank wrapped in orange to match the burgundy Squidder with amber handle...my favorite ole-skool.
Quote from: thorhammer on November 01, 2017, 01:52:11 PM
That's where the 980 and 525 Mag shine brightest. The SS's are for nights with a lot of wind. If you look at mine closely, I think second from left, you will see a vintage Harnell rootbeer blank wrapped in orange to match the burgundy Squidder with amber handle...my favorite ole-skool.
Is the 980 better than the 970 for surf chunking? I have both but need to fix up the 980. I've heard that the wider spools are better for casting, but everyone seems to go narrow these days. Have you tried the SQL15? Does it compare well to a slosh? (I should probably start another thread.)
John,
Post your home address and AT.com members of good standing will stop by and HELP relieve you of your pain of addiction!!!!
I've got my eyes on the 650SS!!!!!
Wayne
Quote from: thorhammer on October 31, 2017, 11:10:43 PM
I wish it were that simple...there's another hundo at the cabin....about 130 rod blanks scattered... another hundo in the shop in miscellaneous totes.... probabaly a couple dozen I could build from parts given time.....BUT I just scored a $12 Surfmaster to put way too much money into!!!
have you been dishing that's when you catch a deer on rod and reel :D
Quote from: El Pescador on November 01, 2017, 04:30:30 PM
John,
Post your home address and AT.com members of good standing will stop by and HELP relieve you of your pain of addiction!!!!
I've got my eyes on the 650SS!!!!!
Wayne
Just one? maybe I should take a pic of the tote full of greenies, Z's and SS's...and my matched pair of 430 SS's :)
Quote from: thorhammer on November 01, 2017, 08:37:17 PM
Just one? maybe I should take a pic of the tote full of greenies, Z's and SS's...and my matched pair of 430 SS's :)
That stuff needs to get out and breathe some good salt air...
Quote from: Decker on November 01, 2017, 02:03:38 PM
Quote from: thorhammer on November 01, 2017, 01:52:11 PM
That's where the 980 and 525 Mag shine brightest. The SS's are for nights with a lot of wind. If you look at mine closely, I think second from left, you will see a vintage Harnell rootbeer blank wrapped in orange to match the burgundy Squidder with amber handle...my favorite ole-skool.
Is the 980 better than the 970 for surf chunking? I have both but need to fix up the 980. I've heard that the wider spools are better for casting, but everyone seems to go narrow these days. Have you tried the SQL15? Does it compare well to a slosh? (I should probably start another thread.)
I like the 980 when drum fishing because I catch more car-hood rays than drum, and with 125 yards already out the 970 doesn't leave a lot after that. a hundred yard run leaves you with a small, slow spool at that point. That said the 970 casts like a dream; Sal has doubled-dogged me a plate and I am looking forward to using it anyway. I like like the 525 Mag better than my Slosh or SHSV's because it has magnet and rubber handle. Casting and performance about same otherwise. Havent tried SQuall because I don't buy new reels...the 525 may have been the last one lol....
Quote from: thorhammer on November 01, 2017, 08:37:17 PM
Quote from: El Pescador on November 01, 2017, 04:30:30 PM
John,
Post your home address and AT.com members of good standing will stop by and HELP relieve you of your pain of addiction!!!!
I've got my eyes on the 650SS!!!!!
Wayne
Just one? maybe I should take a pic of the tote full of greenies, Z's and SS's...and my matched pair of 430 SS's :)
John,
I'll tell you what I mentally "Tell" Chili when I look at the All Meat Marvels he is BBQ'n on a given Saturday nite...
Man, You're Killing ME!!!!!
Wayne
Be careful about what you give away online too... We're shooting the breeze with our buddies here, but anyone on the Internet can get the same info ::)
Decker has that right ! With just a bit of "looking" on the web, a low-life can show up at your house ....with a shopping list ! Electronically speaking, you never just "talk" to one person.......it's a dang shame that it has to be that way, ...but it is !
Hey, hold my beer while I go clean another reel ;D
Quote from: El Pescador on November 01, 2017, 04:30:30 PM
John,
Post your home address and AT.com members of good standing will stop by and HELP relieve you of your pain of addiction!!!!
I've got my eyes on the 650SS!!!!!
Wayne
Yes . . . Have GPS, will travel !
Tight Lines !
I'm hooked. Been thinking about how impractical it is for me to get so involved in these reels, yet... I'm sure I want to do it.
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=23593.msg261565#msg261565 (http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=23593.msg261565#msg261565)