I’m honored that a friend is refinishing an old bamboo rod for me. He’s stripped all varnish, done some re-planing and replaced all ferrules, guides and wrapping it with new thread. He’s got a new cork handle and reel seat on it. He’s just having someone write out the weight, length, year and as per my request refinished by “……” on it.
My question is… I’ll need to get a new reel, and I’d like to get one that suits the rod appropriately. What vintage or vintage style reel would you recommend? I’d like a workhorse, nothing crazy fancy (the rod didn’t start life as fancy).
He tells me it was a garage sale find, he’s cut it down to 6’6 and it will be a 4/5 weight (perfect for the rivers close to home). I could be willing to spend maybe $200.. or less. He’s an old school guy and likes the older Pflueger Medalist, but he readily admits they aren’t fancy. Is it worth getting something nicer d/t sentimentally?
Posted by marklar435
2 Comments
a 6’6″ 5wt is really short…I have 2 5wts. One is 10′, one is 9′. And my 3wt is 7.5′
Orvis Battenkill click III or the CFO. Lamson purist, Abel tr, pretty much any nice click-pawl reel on the market