You’ve tied your own flies, you make your own leaders and wrapped your own fly rod, and with each minor triumph the crescendo of endorphins ebbs to leave you feeling hollow and incomplete …
It’s primeval biology that’s your nemesis, the inner Hunter-Gatherer is limited to stalking asparagus, armed with a coupon, and under the watchful gaze of the spouse. Completely unsatisfying, nothing screams, nothing bleeds, and outside of the occasional fishing trip – your emasculation is nearly complete.
Photo Courtesy of the Eclectic Angler
But, perhaps not.
The Eclectic Angler has released his tome on handcrafting fly reels using little other than common hand tools and equipment you’ve got rusting in the garage. Even better, he’ll set you up with all the materials in kit form so you can work up the nerve to crack the book.
The Pfleuger Progress and its progeny was the height of fly fishing technology for decades, now you can craft an updated technological marvel that ensures your bragging rights for years to come.
Extension cord sold separately.
Tags: Michael L.J. Hackney, the Eclectic Angler, brass fly reel, Pfleuger Progress, roll your own, hunter-gatherer, fly fishing reel
My thoughts immediately went to the Bridgeport and CADCAM that I sold when I stopped building bicycles. You have to stop giving me these suggestive ideas!
I have been considering what it would take to contract a machine shop to make my own fly reel… I know its not likely to ever happen, but that is damn cool.
Thanks for the post about my book! I wanted to let folks know that I also started The Reelsmithing Forum (click my name) where there is lots of information about building reels from folks all over the planet. There is also a free “tutorial” on reelsmithing and lots of photos of handmade reels using my techniques as well as using full machine shops! Check it out.
cheers,
Michael
The Eclectic Angler
Somehow, I would prefer to paint racing stripes on my refridgerator.
Raine’s got the Bridgeport and is threatening to make reels. Given his highly (uhhh) exacting nature, they won’t look like they were made with hand tools…
It’s the “uhhh” that gives me pause, is that good or bad?
I was at Raines shop last summer briefly, (family road trip) and from what I saw he was well past the threat stage. Judging from the pile of real seats, side plates and curly strings of aluminum at the lathe… No sir, they did not look to be made with handtools- not that that’s a bad thing…
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