The Best Of The Old Ones

[Mobasser]

Many of us have been fishing for a long time, and, have fished with some of the older spinning reels, from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and maybe older.                                    For me, three of the best all time are, ABU Cardinal 3 and 4.                                                                 Mitchell model 300, and 308.                                                           D.A.M Quick reels from years ago.                                               These were all great reels in they're day. They all had some drawbacks. Mainly, bail springs, no solid AR, and no line roller.               They are quite a bit heavier than newer reels, because of metal body construction. What they lack in modern features, they make up for in durability, and toughness.                                           There were other reels which were very good also.                    I might add that I had great luck with the Japanese made Shimano reels from the 80s.                                                             For those that have used or may still use any spin reels from this time frame, what were some of the reels that you liked the most? Which ones seemed to be the best for you?

[FishTank]

I had a few Daiwa's in the 80's and a Ryobi (believe it or not).  The Ryobi was not the best reel by today's standards but it could bring in the big fish.  I used it for saltwater.  I don't think it was ever oiled or worked on, only rinsed off after fishing.   I used it up to about 2003.  It finally just gave out.   The Daiwa's were used for bass fishing when I was a kid.  They rusted away from not being properly taken care of.

 

On a side note, wait till Bulldog1935 responds.  He has quite the collection of reels.  

[MN Fisher]

Hands down I'd have to say my old Mitchell 320. I caught just about everything I could with that reel for decades. From 8oz brook trout in a stream by my house to 25# striped bass fishing from the beaches on Cape Cod or in the Cape Cod Canal.

 

Eventually couldn't find replacement parts - this was before the internet - so sadly tossed it.

[Jig Man]

Mo I had all of the ones you mentioned and as the new generations came along I found improvements and sold off the old ones.  I did the same with bait casters.  I have done the same with rods.  I guess I am not nostalgic.

[Eric 26]

Here’s my contribution. Both reels were used by my dad (Daiwa) and brother (Ryobi) in Minnesota during our annual fishing vacation when I was much younger, I used a Zebco spin cast back then. Those 2 reels caught everything from perch to pike back then?. Nowadays they go with me to the pond catching bluegill, crappies and small bass. I love going down memory lane with these threads. P.S love Bulldog1935’s reel pics.

[bulldog1935]

This one probably doesn't get to play, but the 1932-patent Hardy Altex was the space shuttle of fishing reels.  This is a MkIV from the 50s/60s, and the smoothest reel I've ever fished until new-millennium computer balance. With wartime patent right extension, this reel held the flip-bail patent until 1954, though most ignored it after 1951. 

 

2nd prize goes to Luxor A - this reel was made into the 70s as Crack, and many still seek these out - to fish.

 

all-time workhorse has to be any size green Penn Spinfisher - ride hard and put away wet

 

the only '70s Mitchell that would manual bail is the 440 Ottomatic, and you can both open it and close it with your thumb that's holding the rod. 

[WRB]

Zebco Abu Swiss made Cardinals size 3 & 4 rear drag for bass fishing and salt water size 5 & 6 for larger diameter mono.

Garcia bought the Zebco reels and the turned a good reel into a so so reel. 

For the serious bass anglers in the 60’s-70’s the Swiss made Cardinals were very popular.

Daiwa came out the TD SS 1300 & 1600 long cast reels with smooth rear drags, manual bail, back reel switch and became the go to spinning reels for bass anglers. The Daiwa TD SS are still production do to the fact they are reliable reels.

The French Mitchell 300 was a popular spinning reel but not with serious bass anglers due to the unreliable bails, reverse rotating and small drags.

Tom

[NYWayfarer]

I love my old Abu Garcia Cardinal spinning reels. I still have a 752 with the price sticker from Herman’s sporting goods store still on the box. The store doesn’t exist anymore but the reel does.

[QED]

Early generation carbon composite ultralight reels from Ryobi.  Caught a lot of fish with these in middle school.  Still work fine to this day.  Ryobi sold its fishing tackle business in 2000 so it no longer makes or markets reels.

[The Bassman]

Back in the day my Mitchell 300 and 308 had me convinced that it couldn't get any better. Fast forward to now and other than nostalgic value they were inferior to stuff we have today. Not only that but in 1970 dollars they were at least as expensive I'm sure.

[Bankbeater]

I have a Shakespeare 2200 II reel that I used for over 30 years before I found out that I couldn’t get parts for it any longer. I’ve got my dad’s old 300. He used that reel to fish for bass and cat for years. Today’s reels are much lighter and it’s nice to close the bail by hand instead of having to wind the reel to close it.