For the fishing enthusiasts

My son is a fly fishing enthusiast. While in a local tackle shop he came across an old fishing reel on display. The store owner said the reel was made sometime in the late 1800’s. My son was able to borrow it, and he asked me if I could copy it. I didn’t know much about woodworking at the time and much less about metal working. Nonetheless I agreed to give it a try. Please feel free to laugh, especially at the drag gear in the last photo. All of the brass pieces are made from a solid chunk of brass including the nut which holds the two parts together. Everything works and it’s very close to the original. I was truly fascinated with this thing, it’s simplicity is elegant and effective. It was produced during a period when many wealthy aristocratic Englishmen visited Norway to fish for salmon. I’m not sure if it was made in Norway or somewhere else as there wasn’t any trademark. The original had rings scored into the sides like mine, but without the brass inlay. I felt it looked a little plain and so took the liberty of adding the brass inlays. The handle was also pretty crude and I’m not sure it was part of the original reel. The wooden part on my handle sits loose on a brass rod which it spins around. The original reel was turned from some mystery wood which has not warped and functioned perfectly whereas mine which is turned from birch has warped a bit and doesn’t work quite as well. The old craftsmen knew what they were doing! Unfortunately I failed to take a picture of the original so can only show you mine.

How it works

The button on the one side slides up and down to engage/disengage the drag, which makes a clicking sound when the reel is turned. The drag works when the arrow shaped piece (cog?) engages the gear. The two curves pieces act as a tensioning spring to regulate the “cog”.

This piece was made in 1998 and delivered on my son’s birthday. I might want to make another one of these in the future just to “get it right” providing I can get hold of another suitable chunk of brass. I hope you enjoy it for the historical value if not for the somewhat shoddy craftsmanship. Remember, it’s the journey and not the destination which is important. Hope you like it!

-- Mike, American in Norway