Victory!

[TxHuntermn]

Originally Posted by Todd Poer

You had an automatic reel! Had to save up for that. Started about same age using a 9' 6 wt brown glass tubular rod from Western Auto and it came with
Western Auto Revelation click and pawl reel. All made in the US of A. I have cast some cheap 90 year old bamboo rods that were stiffer. Have caught literally thousands of blue gill and bass with that rig.

Used to fish lakes and ponds that had brushy overhangs. With that soft rod and a tapered leader you could make such a tight loop it was like rolling a red carpet under those low limbs and presenting a fly right on top of that fish's kitchen table. Catching a 5 lb largemouth bass with bream fly on a soft 6 wt is a real hoot and you learn that bow to the king maneuver real fast if you have any hope of landing that bass.

Only reason I wanted an automatic reel is that we fished from Jon boat most times and this was before fancy trolling motors. We would sit on front of boat and take paddle and scull in a figure 8 motion with left arm while casting with right arm working those banks. Automatics were great for taking out slack while setting hook.

BTW that is amazing he learned to double haul. Probably had no problem picking up on strip set instead of using rod lift, which is something that needs to be unlearned for most of us that started out in fresh water but also working the salt water.

Great story Mark, thanks for sharing.

BTW inlaws live in Louisiana and we fish the Lake Borgne and La Marsh area. We don't wade fish in that water though. One of these days will make it to Texas to try that wade and fly fishing bit.

That automatic reel was my Gramps’ reel. He gave me the rod, and I bought a Martin reel, click and pawl, that I still have, and not knowing any better used about 100 yards of 15 # Royal Bonnyl mono backing behind yet another 7 wt. lavel floating line.

I have that auto reel now, gramps had two of them, and i ended up with one. That sucker really picked the slack up FAST!!!! And would let you know that you mau have stripped off too much slck, when the springs started loading up! The disadvantage was that they require you fight a fish 100% on the strip....imossible with “real” fish!

[Southpaw]

Essentially that is what my first rod and reel are is Martin products made for WA Revelation brand. Heck there was even Western Auto brush pants and hunting coats. Still have my rig and even the old line that you had to dress before every use. Wore out a Martin automatic and the spring would not hold tension. Got the idea of trying to fix it. That is like trying to fix a bent slinky, why?. Have another brand new one in the box that is 50 years old my grandfather had but never used and then never saw the need anymore. Maybe nostalgia will kick in one day.

Probably 90% of all fly reels are just for storing line, even some fancy ones with sophisticated drags. Its pretty rare when you ever really need to fight a freshwater fish off reel with a drag unless its landlocked striper that I fish for. I have several 5/6 sized fly reels with disc drag. I have hung into only a handful of fish that ran enough to even warrant fighting off those reel. Saltwater is different though and even the stripers I target are salt water fish. Maybe for giggles will take a 6 wt and go after a striper.

[davidboyles]

Ha!!bet you got those reds tanked on Margaritas first ( you were obviously eating Tex Mex food on board)then caught them in a crab net, I know this man personally and he has been known to throw longnecks at tailing redfish when they refused his fly to see if he could stun the fish and pop them into the grease before they regained consciousness!!!! All BS aside I do know Mark and he is a true sportsman which I praise for taking the time and effort to show that young man how to catch redfish regardless if he was using a 2wt cane pole or whatever. Come on guys. Let's give credit not counsel sometimes.

[Dean Romig]

How do click the "Thanks" button about ten or twelve times??





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