Browse by use case · 5 techniques

Use cases

The reel-buying decision usually starts with "what am I going to do with it." Freshwater bass on a 6-foot baitcaster, surfcasting off a Carolina jetty, trout on a 4-weight fly rod, kids on a Zebco at the farm pond, or a stand-up rod fighting tuna — the five buckets cover every reference in the catalog. Click into any one to see only the references built for that technique.

Use case

Freshwater bass

17 references

General freshwater casting and spinning reels for bass, pike, walleye and trout: Ambassadeur 5000-size and 6000-size baitcasters, the Daiwa Millionaire, Pflueger and Shakespeare casting reels, and Mitchell 300-family spinning reels. This is the largest group in the catalogue and the easiest place to find a good vintage reel to fish, because supply is high and most faults are cheap to fix. Collectors concentrate on early, original and boxed examples; for fishing, a clean, tested later reel is usually the best value.

Use case

Saltwater surf

11 references

Reels for surf, pier, jetty and inshore boat fishing: the Penn Senator 4/0 and 6/0, Squidder, Jigmaster and Long Beach, the Penn Spinfisher 704 and 710Z, the Mitchell 486, the Ambassadeur 7000, the Daiwa 7000C and the Zebco 808. These reels were built to take salt and abuse, and the Penns in particular were designed to be serviced by their owners. On the used market, salt corrosion and worn drags are the things to check first; a reel that turns smoothly and has a working drag is usually a sound buy.

Use case

Fly fishing

2 references

Fly reels for trout, bass, steelhead and light saltwater: the Pflueger Medalist 1494 and 1495. The Medalist, introduced in 1929, is a simple single-action reel with a click and an adjustable drag, and it has been in production in one form or another ever since. The 1494 is the trout size and the 1495 takes heavier lines and more backing. Early reels made in Akron, Ohio, are the collector tier, while the later reels made in Asia from 1970 are plentiful and fish well.

Use case

Panfish / spincast

3 references

Light reels for crappie, bluegill, perch and small trout, and for anglers just starting out: the Zebco 33 and 202 push-button spincast reels and the ultralight Mitchell 308. These are among the cheapest classics in vintage tackle, with most listings selling for well under $50, and supply is plentiful. Buy tested reels to fish at everyday prices, and pay a premium only for early versions with original markings or for boxed examples.

Use case

Offshore trolling

3 references

Big-game and heavy boat reels: the Penn Senator 9/0 (115) and 12/0 (116) and the Ambassadeur 9000 with its automatic two-speed gearbox. These are specialist reels for giant tuna, marlin, big sharks and heavy bottom fishing, usually fished from a boat with a harness or rod holder. Complete large Senators are scarcer than the smaller sizes, and many listings are parts reels, so check completeness, the drag and delivered shipping cost before bidding.

Use cases