So I bought a Ryobi V-MAG 3....

[optimator]

A week or so ago I was thinking about my first baitcaster, a Ryobi V-MAG 3. I remember thinking I was some kind of bass pro when I got it. I looked on eBay and there were a few on there. Found one for $25 shipped and it just got here. It'll be fun to tear it down and clean it up. I don't know what I'll do with it actually, maybe put it on my original LCI rod and catch a fish ?

 

I know, I know, cool story bro..... ??

[mrpao]

I have some reels from my youth as well.

Took them out fishing one time and decided to stick with my modern reels.  Such a huge difference in quality.

[Eric 26]

I also have a couple reels from years past that should/could be shelved but due to sentimental value I just find myself buying new gear to fish alongside the old?.  P.S would love to see a picture of the Ryobi, there is a thread on here dedicated to showing off the old/older stuff. If your interested search “you guys like the old stuff”  “bulldog 1935” is a wealth of knowledge as well as many others here and there are some truly awesome pics on that thread. Also if I’m not mistaken debo did a you tube video on one of those reels.

[the reel ess]

I still have an old Shimano Bantam BC reel and some more of my dad's old stuff. Most of his stuff was cheap. He was not one to waste money on frivolous fishing gear. But some of his rods are quite serviceable and I use them sometimes. It makes me feel close to him.

[optimator]

1 hour ago, Eric 26 said:

I also have a couple reels from years past that should/could be shelved but due to sentimental value I just find myself buying new gear to fish alongside the old?.  P.S would love to see a picture of the Ryobi, there is a thread on here dedicated to showing off the old/older stuff. If your interested search “you guys like the old stuff”  “bulldog 1935” is a wealth of knowledge as well as many others here and there are some truly awesome pics on that thread. Also if I’m not mistaken debo did a you tube video on one of those reels.

This won't replace anything that's for sure. As soon as I took it out of the box I thought "Michael Jackson was at #1 the last time this thing saw lube" ? Like I said, it was $25 shipped. It was more curiosity than anything. I'll post a pic after it's cleaned up.

[Columbia Craw]

4 hours ago, optimator said:

A week or so ago I was thinking about my first baitcaster, a Ryobi V-MAG 3. I remember thinking I was some kind of bass pro when I got it. I looked on eBay and there were a few on there. Found one for $25 shipped and it just got here. It'll be fun to tear it down and clean it up. I don't know what I'll do with it actually, maybe put it on my original LCI rod and catch a fish ?

 

I know, I know, cool story bro..... ??

Bring on the memories!  Ryobi AD 5000V, 4000V and V Mag 3.  I toured the LCI factory in 1989.  

[Linewinder]

Does anyone know of other older tiny size reels?  Weight, line capacity, physical size.  Were these the only ones (beside the equivalent Lew Childres model)?

[FishTank]

Nice find.  I had an old Ryobi SX-4 (I think).  I used it for saltwater.  It became corroded over the years despite my best efforts.  It was not the best but it got the job done.

[WRB]

I sold a Ryobi AD4000V in box excellent condition on this sites Flea Market last year to a member. Very little interest for over a month. Good reels weigh 7 oz, not light weight in today’s world.

Also sold several Daiwa TDHiA 103’s and 105, the 105 is a shallow spool model. Daiwa TD Original Fuego, Sol and Pixie 68 are popular smaller reels but not inexpensive today.

70’s Vintage Shimano Bantam 100 & 1000 are smaller size low profile reels, not shallow spools.

Tom

[QED]

On 2/20/2021 at 3:47 PM, Linewinder said:

Does anyone know of other older tiny size reels?  Weight, line capacity, physical size.  Were these the only ones (beside the equivalent Lew Childres model)?

 

Ryobi V-Mag Lite VM3G        weight 5.4 oz        line capacity 8/175, 10/125

Mine is well used but pretty much still like new.  I have steez and aldebaran finesse reels, but I occasionally break out the vintage stuff, including some ryobi composite ultralight spinning reels.

 

Kudos to Lew Childres for revolutionizing baitcast reel design, which Shimano and Ryobi promptly knocked off (both were contract manufacturers for Lew's).

 

 

[Columbia Craw]

Ambassadeur 1500c and 2500c

[QED]

On 2/20/2021 at 1:28 PM, optimator said:

This won't replace anything that's for sure. As soon as I took it out of the box I thought "Michael Jackson was at #1 the last time this thing saw lube" ? Like I said, it was $25 shipped. It was more curiosity than anything. I'll post a pic after it's cleaned up.

Michael Jackson had number one US hits from 1972 to 1995.  Perhaps you can narrow it down a bit more? ?

[bulldog1935]

I fished my last Lew's BB-25SW until just two years ago when I had added enough new low profile reels to retire it.  My buddy Josh is still fishing his.  

Though I will admit, last time fishing it, it was casting great, but the drive was feeling a bit clunky.  

 

I kind of did the same as our OP, and added a VG+ condition Lew's BB1-N to occasionally take bass fishing for the fun of it.  

 

This day was 3 years ago, still a year before I retired the Lew's SW, and I was catching the most fish because I could get farther away from the boat than my BIL and his very good Daiwa.  

 

[Guitarfish]

At the risk of being boring, I'll say again I absolutely love my Shimano Bantam Mag 15xsg's.  Small, almost tiny but it catches the dink bass assigned to me all day.  

[QED]

Ryobi V-Mag 3G (G refers to graphite/composite frame) with a Shimano carbon fiber ultralight rod.  Note the cool cold forged aluminum reel seat.  Rods in this condition go for about $500 - $600 on the major auction site.  Combo works as good as new.

 

Was my ultralight fishing rig from high school.  I may have invented finesse bait casting in my neck of the woods. (Kidding...)

[bulldog1935]

If you ever want to sell it, do it now.  

Ebay can be fickle - there was a time a Fenglas Lunkerstik would bring $500 to $700 on ebay - when Japan collectors were buying them up.  

[QED]

15 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

If you ever want to sell it, do it now.  

Ebay can be fickle - there was a time a Fenglas Lunkerstik would bring $500 to $700 on ebay - when Japan collectors were buying them up.  

Thanks for the tip.  I have two of the Colfor Shimano carbon casting rods but there is no way I would ever consider selling them. They remind me of some of the best days of my life - ditching school and going fishing.  (Not to worry, I managed to matriculate at an elite university anyway.)

[rtwvumtneer6]

Maybe I'm showing my age, but when I read the title I thought we were taking a trip to The Home Depot.  ?

[Linewinder]

1 hour ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

Maybe I'm showing my age, but when I read the title I thought we were taking a trip to The Home Depot.  ?

Same manufacturer. 

2 hours ago, QED said:

Ryobi V-Mag 3G (G refers to graphite/composite frame) with a Shimano carbon fiber ultralight rod.  Note the cool cold forged aluminum reel seat.  Rods in this condition go for about $500 - $600 on the major auction site.  Combo works as good as new.

 

Was my ultralight fishing rig from high school.  I may have invented finesse bait casting in my neck of the woods. (Kidding...)

Awesome condition. So what weight line does best with this combo?  (Not sure if I see line on there ?). Length of rod about 5 1/2 ~ 6 ft.?

 

 

 

 

[QED]

@Linewinder - thanks, the rod is a Shimano GR-1451 which is a 4.5' ultralight.  I use 10 lb stren mono for backing and 6 lb stren mono for the remainder. I used a Shimano GR-1503 (5' heavy) rod for stuff where ultralight wouldn't work.  Back in those days, typical casting rods were 5' - 6' and had pistol grips.  I get the preference for the longer split grips now in use, but for ultralight casting rods, I still prefer the pistol grip.

 

I have acquired some modern gear (which is amazing) but I still regularly use the vintage stuff and don't find it particularly limiting.

[scaleface]

I was at the Goodwill yesterday and they had a fiberglass Lews Speed Stick . 5'6" pistol grip . I went back today for it and it was gone . They also had an old green Johnson Century it was gone too .