Bait Casting Reels Lloyd Tooley
Bait Casting Reels Lloyd Tooley; Lloyd J. Tooley was an outstanding tournament caster, angler, and tackle maker. The originator of the short “Kalamazoo” style bait casting rod, he also marketed a fishing lure that is quite collectible today. Here he surveys the state of bait casting reels in a very exciting period in reel development for The Sporting Goods Dealer. — Ed
……..Among the mighty army of anglers there are very few who can afford to waste their time experimenting. When the fisherman gets a reel it is to be, perhaps, his only companion for many an hour, and his enjoyment is made more or less by the way his reel does what is required of it. And what is required of it? First, strength; second, symmetry; third, free running qualities; fourth, balance. Any instrument is made strong by the material put into it and the method of construction. A reel to stand the hard wear and usage of bait casting must be constructed of a material strong yet noncorrosive. German silver is of all known practical metals the best, with brass heavily nickel plated and aluminum second and third. Hard rubber cannot be used alone, owing to its tendency to warp when heated; yet when reinforced with metal it becomes a substantial and handsome material. It is essential that the reel should be put together in a substantial and solid manner, without complicated or delicate parts. While we all admire strength, we also believe that “a thing of beauty is a joy forever;” therefore, a reel must be symmetrical. Indeed, I know of nothing more pleasing to the eye than the modern bait casting reel. In addition to this quality of beauty the reel must also be evenly balanced, allowing the parts to run true without noise or unnecessary friction.
A free running spool is all important, so that the bait may be cast accurately, not only allowing the fisherman to place the bait in holes near shore in the pads and rushes, but also to miss obstructions and snags. To facilitate covering a reasonable amount of water the bait must be cast some distance. This cannot be done unless the spool starts and continues its momentum easily throughout the cast. The reel must not be too heavy, else it will tire the wrist of the user. Extreme lightness will of necessity weaken the parts. Seven ounces, varying according to size and material used, is the standard weight. As to size, an 80 yard is the “happy medium,” holding as it does nearly, and sometimes over, 100 yards of the fine silk line now used……
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