When I was younger, I tried to collect every reel I could afford.
And I still respect those who enjoy "collecting" tackle —-
Every type of reel —- and there were so many.
However, over the last 15 years, or so —- I have transitioned into just specializing in 5 brands of spinning reels. Not high dollar reels —- just reels that I consider top quality for the average angler to actually use, and not make into shelf queens, or plinth princesses.
I service these reels for folks, repair them, build new ones from hundreds of thousands of new old stock parts that I have amassed over the years, sell parts, sell reels, give away parts, give away reels, trade reels —-
Nothing gives me more pleasure than introducing someone to a reel that they can both appreciate, will perform very well, and last past their lifetime.
While it is also true that a large majority of the anglers in the world —- will never appreciate what some of us do to provide reels, parts, organization, and perhaps some knowledge —- there are a few, that still do.
And that, to me, makes the difference.
This little placard has been in front of me, on my main bench, for over 10 years, and it reminds me every day why some of us do this.
Some may think I am crazy (and they are probably close to right!) —- but each of us has to find our little niche that makes us happy and provides some purpose.
Most other things in life are so much more important than fishing reels —- and I realize that. But a small segment of my life is dedicated to this basically lost craft that I enjoy sharing with others so much.
Best, Fred
Appreciate you Fred and what you share and provide. :d My guess is the majority of the fishing and tackle lovers in this Ohana are some degree of crazy. I know I am. 8)
You you have an exit strategy yet Fred? Maybe you're not old enough yet. We sincerely appreciate you.
Quote from: oc1 on January 10, 2026, 10:17:22 PMYou you have an exit strategy yet Fred? Maybe you're not old enough yet. We sincerely appreciate you.
Yeah, all of my tools and parts and tackle stuff goes to the members.
However, some folks are old at 40, and others young at 90.
Each day is another gift —- only if we understand and appreciate it.
Not up to me.
Best, Fred
Totally get the connection between what you are doing and William Morris. Living in one of the centers of the Arts and Crafts Movement in America here in the San Gabriel Valley I feel the through line between the Gamble House, a Stickley chair and beautifully made and functional spinning reel made and maintained by craftsmen.
"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
― William Morris
Collecting Vintage reels is kinda like cars but cheaper & take up less room.
Fishing with them is a plus,nostalgia of days gone by when things were made to last.
I am thankful that you still are doing it Fred,I never heard of Dam Quick reels until I found Alan's site.I was looking for Mitchell 300 info that was
75 vintage reels ago... :fish
Yes I must be crazy too!
Whenever I donate a reel, it has to be as good as I can get it to be. If there's line on it still, it shouldn't be old and stiff. Good line should be labeled for breaking strength plus length if possible, same with the lower layer(if there).
I sometimes forget to check for the extra parts stored away though, such as specific sized spool shims for spinners.
Wish the eBay sellers would do the same. With most of them it's an in-out business withno knowledge of reels.
Preach on Fred.
You are a great man and we are listening.
There are very few in this world that are like you.
:0)
Lee posts :O). I figured that it is an emoji that does not open on the site, so I went to AI to see what the sign meant. Here's what AI knew about my query:
"It looks like you're sharing the positive sentiment from the forum thread you're reading!
Fred (foakes) certainly has a wonderful perspective on the "lost craft" of reel maintenance and the value of passing that knowledge down to others. It's clear the community on the Alan Tani forum really appreciates his dedication to keeping those vintage reels in working order rather than letting them become "shelf queens."
Are you interested in learning more about one of the specific brands Fred mentioned, like D-A-M Quick or Mitchell?"
Spooky Huh! Big data is watching you. Dominick
Passing on the knowledge and enthusiasm is the tricky part. My condo in Ohio is on a golf course and I see a couple of kids who surreptitiously fish the golf course ponds in the evening. I'd like to connect with them and share my enthusiasm for fishing but don't want to come off as a creeper. It's a shame that the world is such that I have to be worried about perceptions like that.
Quote from: CincyDavid on January 23, 2026, 03:27:33 PMPassing on the knowledge and enthusiasm is the tricky part. My condo in Ohio is on a golf course and I see a couple of kids who surreptitiously fish the golf course ponds in the evening. I'd like to connect with them and share my enthusiasm for fishing but don't want to come off as a creeper. It's a shame that the world is such that I have to be worried about perceptions like that.
Just go out and fish near-ish to them, and break the ice by catching more fish than them.
Quote from: CincyDavid on January 23, 2026, 03:27:33 PMPassing on the knowledge and enthusiasm is the tricky part. My condo in Ohio is on a golf course and I see a couple of kids who surreptitiously fish the golf course ponds in the evening. I'd like to connect with them and share my enthusiasm for fishing but don't want to come off as a creeper. It's a shame that the world is such that I have to be worried about perceptions like that.
used to do the same as a kid. they ran us off during daylight hours, se we returned after dark. killer topwater bite!
Quote from: DominickSpooky Huh! Big data is watching you. Dominick
Wow Dominick, you're spot on. I googled "is Max Doubt a penn reel collector" and AI knows more about me than my wife knows about me
P.S. my actual username on this forum is Max Doubt, but my screen name is Maxed Out. Say them both out loud and they sound ezactly the same
I collect memories, not reels and stuff!
I never thought of myself as a collector, but rather one who wants to do the most with/for the least. Older reels are just the ticket for this.
I can (and do) catch as many fish on a Daiwa 1000C as my buddy can with his new Stradic 1000. 6 years from now when that Stradic is dead due to a $5 discontinued part, that 1000C will still be clicking along as good as ever. I'll find another 1000C for $5-$15 here and there and add to the collection, just in case :) I follow that same approach for all of my reels.
I'm blessed that my kids are picking up on this too. My son bought a Mitchell 308 for $8 at a flea market when he was 10. Since then he's picked up several silver Daiwas for cheap, and he helps get them slicked up in the shop. He even saved up enough to get a GS-10X from ebay, and I 'sold him' (I didn't actually take his money) a Daiwa SS 1300 we found a good deal on. He is set for life on spinning reels.
I have a very small number of reels that I don't fish. One is a vintage Daiwa Mini-Spin combo in great shape, the silver-color rod and the 700C reel. I have fished it, but I'm scared to death I'll break the rod so it stays on a shelf. Not everyone's idea of a collectible, but I love having it to look at.
I have a Mini-Millionaire 1000 with a cracked sideplate that sits after it caught a few bass and bluegill. It didn't cast as well as I'd hoped, probably because it has bushings and no casting brake. I'm going to 3D print sideplates for it soon and try to get it back into action -- maybe the 3D-printed sideplate can include a housing for a tiny neodymium magnet for cast control?
A Centaure Pacific that I got with no bail arm sits on the shelf, but at least it's a great looking reel. The part is simple enough that I could make one, just need to find the time/motivation.
Finally I have so many Mitchell 300s that I have a few on display. I rotate them out with my users from time to time.
I've tried -- with mixed results -- to get friends and family to take this same approach to reels. One well-to-do buddy is serious about catfishing, and he's rough on gear. He killed a set of Shakespeare CLs, then he was having trouble with Ambassadeur C3s (he keeps his gear on the boat year-round and none of it gets babied). On my advice he switched to Jigmasters, and 20 years later most are still in service! He's slowly replacing those with Daiwa slosh reels, which also seem able to take the abuse. I service 1 or 2 of his reels each year. I'm trying to get him to spring for some old metal spinning reels, since -- believe it or not -- the newer plastic stuff never lasts a full year for him.
Quote from: slosh on March 18, 2026, 02:45:15 PMI never thought of myself as a collector, but rather one who wants to do the most with/for the least. Older reels are just the ticket for this.
+1 on the idea that older reels are the ticket for doing the most for the least amount of $$. My approach to reels is not totally rational, though. I am attracted to reels that are simple and durable, that I can service myself, and that have parts available either from places like Mystic or from cheap donor reels available on the used market. In short, lifetime reels.
So, from time to time I find myself thinking "If my reels are lifetime reels and 5-6 of them can cover all my possible fishing use cases, why do I need 50 of them?". Some of it is wanting spares for future parts. Part of it is just the fun of finding a good deal on eBay, and part of it is enjoying the challenge and learning of servicing a secondhand reel and getting it in fishing condition.
Quote from: slosh on March 18, 2026, 02:45:15 PMI can (and do) catch as many fish on a Daiwa 1000C as my buddy can with his new Stradic 1000. 6 years from now when that Stradic is dead due to a $5 discontinued part, that 1000C will still be clicking along as good as ever.
I love the Daiwa 1000C. When I was a young teenager I got a 1000C combo for my birthday. It was my only fishing reel and I used it for everything... bluegill, bass, catfish, carp, pier fishing and even surf fishing on our trips to Florida. I opened the case from time to time and squirted grease in there, but I never really serviced it. It worked well until a few years ago, when my son dropped it and the reel broke off of the foot. Luckily, Fred had a very nice one that he sold me. I still use that 1000C combo to catch bait for my catfishing.
Quote from: work2fish on March 18, 2026, 03:07:40 PM+1 on the idea that older reels are the ticket for doing the most for the least amount of $$. My approach to reels is not totally rational, though. I am attracted to reels that are simple and durable, that I can service myself, and that have parts available either from places like Mystic or from cheap donor reels available on the used market. In short, lifetime reels.
So, from time to time I find myself thinking "If my reels are lifetime reels and 5-6 of them can cover all my possible fishing use cases, why do I need 50 of them?". Some of it is wanting spares for future parts. Part of it is just the fun of finding a good deal on eBay, and part of it is enjoying the challenge and learning of servicing a secondhand reel and getting it in fishing condition.
I've had that same thought too. Haha there's something to be said for the dopamine hit of finding a steal of a deal on something that few others will appreciate. I could never buy another reel again and be more than set for life, but what's the fun in that?
It started with old lures given to me by Gramps and some uncles. I noticed the quality and detail were so much better than the plastic stuff of my generation. There were a few, like the "Bass Oreno" still made out of cedar wood, that could still be bought new, but without those detailed hard plastic doll eyes and some of the other quality aspects like screw-in hook holders with metal cups.
Siting with my Dad in the office of a Vascular Surgeon(Dad had to get a shunt put in for dialysis) I saw a book on old fishing reels. On the next visit, I brought in a pre-1920 BF Meek & Sons baitcaster for him to see. He took some time to explain several aspects of old reel collecting and let me take the book home to check-out. Any adult guy, including Dad, that paid that kind of attention to me(even in my mid-40's!)about something that really interested them, had me hooked.
I was just gifted a 1300C & 2-403A.The 1300C made in Korea ready to fish I haven't even opened or cleaned it up yet.
It spins forever the external bail trip is a plus too.
The 403A is built like a tank even without a ball bearing these
Reels are very smooth.
Quote from: jgp12000 on March 18, 2026, 08:59:51 PMI was just gifted a 1300C & 2-403A.The 1300C made in Korea ready to fish I haven't even opened or cleaned it up yet.
It spins forever the external bail trip is a plus too.
The 403A is built like a tank even without a ball bearing these
Reels are very smooth.
The 1300C is an excellent no-nonsense reel that will work forever given a little maintenance, and respecting its limits.
I've never had a 403A but it sounds like it'd do well serving the same role as my beat up looking Spinfisher Zs -- surf fishing duty with kids who tend to drop stuff in the sand!