Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Hi, Steve. I remember your super-posts on the Meisselbach's. Such an excellent review of them, from someone who knows them and has used them.

Appreciating steel for what came before it is the proper perspective. Yes, the awkwardness is in part the short straight handle, coupled with the tip weight that makes it unwieldy. Many of those Horton casting rods came with a trigger attachment to help with handling. But mine doesn't have one, nor the attachment place on the sliding ring. Possibly mine predates the trigger? Casting lures was new then from what I've been reading. Can't imagine such a rod much longer without a wholly re-worked handle. There was quite a bit of work to be done in the ergonomics department!

Most bamboo, and presumably wood, required a blank-thru configuration at the handle for durability. Guess you would know something about this with all the cool organic rod work you've done. I'm sure a trigger of some type would be helpful with bamboo meant for lure casting. I think I can see why some of the long (8ft plus) early "bait casting" rods had longer handles, and the reel beneath the handle like a fly rod, to help balance the rig?

The first long handle baitcasting rig I ever saw (in the mid 80's) I made myself. My wrist just wasn't strong enough to handle a MH pistol grip rod. So I stripped off the EVA pistol grip, lopped the butt off a light downrigger rod and epoxied it onto that casting rod. I've been using it that way ever since. If I had serious plans to fish this Horton steel rod, I'd figure out a way to put a long handle, and trigger, on it. But, it's going to remain as is -a pretty shelf queen.