What Is Your, Leave It On The Rack, It Is Too Pretty To Fish With?

[ATA]

I was wondering what is your leave it on the rack combo? It happened to me with my Conquest MBR line up with my DC Reels, I feel they are too pretty to take them fishing, Unless I have boat or fish them at my privet pond :). Do you have one or perhaps more combo that you feel the same?

[new2BC4bass]

No combo, but I have a Limited Edition Tatula Type R that I've only taken out of the box to look at.  Pretty!  However, if I had the same number of rods and reels, it probably would have gotten used.  As it stands atm, I have about 24 more reels than rods.

 

Haven't taken my Alphas ito 103Ai out in years.  Keeping it looking like new.

[Dye99]

I really dont have one that doesnt go but I have one that goes selectively if you will.

 

I kayak fish and I can be rough on my gear. If Im going to be fishing in bad weather I tend to leave my Flyssa at home and take a IMX casting rod for small finesse swimbaits.

The flyssa is a real sleigh ride but they are brittle.

Everything else was purchased to fish, so they will get some time in.

[new2BC4bass]

7 minutes ago, Dye99 said:

I really dont have one that doesnt go but I have one that goes selectively if you will.

 

I kayak fish and I can be rough on my gear. If Im going to be fishing in bad weather I tend to leave my Flyssa at home and take a IMX casting rod for small finesse swimbaits.

The flyssa is a real sleigh ride but they are brittle.

Everything else was purchased to fish, so they will get some time in.

I'll have to take out a couple Zillions, Steez and Exsence and be sure to give my B-I-L a ballpark figure on their cost new so he can rag on me about how well his yard sale spinning rod catches fish. 

 

[T-Billy]

None. All my gear gets rode hard and put away wet.

[Mike L]

The first reel my Dad got me, a Johnson Century 100b 

 

It’s pretty to me
 

 

 

Mike

[Susky River Rat]

All my stuff get used. That’s why I don’t spend $500 on a rod or reel. 
 

I do have one musky lure I do not throw and only made 3 casts with it to see if it really was that amazing and well it is. It’s a true piece of art that could never be replaced. 

[Lead Head]

With a couple of exceptions, all my reels are purchased used. Only a few are still pretty and I'm OK with that, they are tools. I build my own rods and while they look good to me, appearance is a pretty distant second to function when I build. A few are built to be pretty to my eye, but I'm still making tools, not art. 

 

To answer your question, no, none of my tools are too pretty to use. My waters are so dirty my stuff probably accumulates more filth in one trip than most people's will in months. If I had an office or study I might like to have some display equipment, but even then I would prefer there was a story to go with the item so it likely would only be pretty to me.

[bulldog1935]

Have to say I don't really understand the question or most of the answers. 

1917 Hardy St. George fly reel that I fished for 5 years, then sold for twice what I paid.  

  

(kinda cool, fishing the reel for 5 years paid for my T160 kayak)

1918 FE Thomas Special fly rod fishing even harder

All my tackle gets fished hard and cared for - and the tackle above, I'm the 4th generation with the task.  I'll add, I've fallen in the river and hurt my knee, but not the tackle.  

 

Some tackle I won't risk on kayak, mostly for multiple ways it could get damaged or destroyed.  

Other tackle, that's exactly what I put it together for.  

Probably not for everybody, but to me, this is too pretty not to fish.  Editing to add it has a perfectly defined function - skip-casting 1/8-oz bunny shrimp to visible redfish backs under mangrove overhang.  

[redmeansdistortion]

All of my reels see action, that's what I built them for.  Any of mine that do have marks came by way of the previous owner(s).  Reels aren't hard to keep pretty, just be mindful of where you're putting them.  I've backpacked down countless trails and waded some of the gnarliest waters one can imagine and my reels still look like they've spent their lives on shelves.  

[Jig Man]

If I weren’t going to use it I wouldn’t have bought it.  My setups are tools which are to be used when I’m on the water.  I’m more into functional than pretty.

[bulldog1935]

The Japanese make it a point to have both.  

They don't own the amount of tackle we own, can't afford the space to store it.  And they don't have the free time to fish that we have - their fishing most always includes travel by train. 

They look at the whole, gestalt or karma, and believe the spirit of their tackle is a valuable part of the day's experience.  

 

The Japanese also bring this same dedication to tackle on their bench.  Probably won't find this in Malaysia or China (even Sweden) - but the Japanese believe they're sending more than an object, which attains perfection in workmanship and function.  

Quoting myself, on the FFR thread I linked just above, agreed with my friend Takeru, 

if fishing isn't a spiritual experience, one is doing it wrong.

[FishTank]

I fish all of my setups from time to time.  Probably the reel that is too pretty to fish is my Daiwa Steez SV Limited Shallow Spool edition and for the rod a Megabass Evoluzion Super Diablo II 30th Anniversary Edition.  I fish both but they are like Ferraris to me. Fun to use but not something I use everyday. 

[casts_by_fly]

8 hours ago, T-Billy said:

None. All my gear gets rode hard and put away wet.

 

This is me.  Mine hang over the side of the kayak when I'm on the water and get sprayed every time I run spot to spot.  They dry off in the truck on the way home.

 

I do have one 'lure' that's too pretty to fish though.  Its a traditional atlantic salmon fly that was tied for me by a competition tyer 20-odd years ago.  Its in a plastic case and doesn't leave it. 

[MN Fisher]

I've got three I've retired but keep on a shelf - one's I've had since the 70s and 80s so sentimental reasons.

 

Pflueger 640 - left handed and I've gone all right handed, otherwise I might use it still.

Cardinal 562 - one of the 'trigger cast' spinning reels that still hang on - but it's heavy.

Ambassadeur 500R - one of the first low-profile baitcasters - too slow for me now-a-days.

 

Otherwise I use almost everything I have...though I am looking to sell some things fairly soon...stay tuned.

[Alex from GA]

Like others have said they're tools to catch fish, just like my boat and kayaks. I use everything I have and it's a lot.

[MediumMouthBass]

Im the opposite, ive got my 21 Zillion right now being brought bank fishing, its being throw on the ground, carried with about 4-6 other rod and reel combos, and any time i step over something the reels slam into each other. The finish on it should be worn very quickly.

 

I bought it to enjoy and use, anything of value i dont use or think ill use anymore is getting sold.

 

But for my original Abu Black Maxes they are too nice to use, i have 1 still in its box and the other 2 on my fishing room work desk as a display. Sometimes good memories are worth more than a price tag.

 

A reel with that was made to be great, whether spool technology, braking system, whatever it may be doesnt do anything to help you on the water if its at home.

[DaubsNU1]

I have two Cabela's branded casting rods from the early 1990's...they have spiral guide system and are my favorite rods. They get fished all the time! I don't take them on my brothers boat for fear of accidental breakage.

 

Of my 16 fishing rods, 10 are the Cabela's branded from the 1990's. They all get used a lot.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I'll take anything out, but I am careful with certain rods and reels that aren't readily available.  There are a couple reels and a rod or 2 I have retired because of sentimental reasons, same goes for guns.  I've got a few that are very valuable.  The memories of passed family that flash through my mind every time I open my safe or pick an old reel can't be bought or replaced. 

I can see buying a certain SE reels in rare colors to display or even hold onto for resale possibly, like the gold VSs.  Other than that, everything sees the water to some extent.  

[Boomstick]

I don't buy rods or reels to sit on display.

[FrnkNsteen]

I use all of my rods and reels. Don't get me wrong.... I take care of all of my gear, but I DO use it.

 

Now,... That being said, there is someone selling two brand new in box Daiwa TDZ lefty models that I would LOVE to have. My issue though is that they are only new once and I would have have a hard time using a 20 year old reel that has never been used. I mean how many are there out there like that?!?!

 

But,... I also have a hard time spending that kind of money for something that will sit on a shelf to look at!!

[new2BC4bass]

On 5/13/2024 at 11:19 AM, MediumMouthBass said:

Im the opposite, ive got my 21 Zillion right now being brought bank fishing, its being throw on the ground, carried with about 4-6 other rod and reel combos, and any time i step over something the reels slam into each other. The finish on it should be worn very quickly.

That's why reel covers were invented.  I use them on all my reels.  Takes a few seconds, but covers stay on until I want to use that particular rod.  Put the cover back on before picking up another rod.  Prefer to keep my gear looking like new.  I'll set a rod on the ground, but never throw it there.

[bulldog1935]

@FrnkNsteen

These 3 fly reels belonged to heroes of WWII - they were possibly given as gifts, never used, squirreled away for a generation, then put on the market.  (They say about vintage fly tackle, the best of both worlds is a Brit reel on an American rod.)

From left, Young pattern 1c marked for Army-Navy CSL; Young pattern 15a imported to US by Lyon & Coulson sporting goods of Buffalo; Young pattern 1c marked as Allcocks Ousel. 

When I posted this story on ClassicFlyRodForum, a friend wouldn't relent until I sold him the A&N CSL, which he wanted to put on a shelf.  BTW, all 3 reels contained edge-finish wear from sitting in their boxes since 1940.  The Lyon & Coulson Varden came from the collection of Hogy B. Carmichael, and my 3-3/8" went under the radar while a 3-1/8" reel just like it took all the auction heat.  I bought the Varden for $255, and it's worth about $850 today. 

The two reels I kept, I took them fishing.  

 

I can't think of a better way to honor their former owners.  

[Bird]

My " leave it on the rack " combo is an old Zebco 303......man that thing sucks.

The drag is jerky and the rod is terrible flimsy. 😁

[FrnkNsteen]

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

@FrnkNsteen

These 3 fly reels belonged to heroes of WWII - they were possibly given as gifts, never used, squirreled away for a generation, then put on the market.  (They say about vintage fly tackle, the best of both worlds is a Brit reel on an American rod.)

From left, Young pattern 1c marked for Army-Navy CSL, Ltd; Young pattern 15a imported to US by Lyon & Coulson sporting goods of Buffalo; Young pattern 1c marked as Allcocks Ousel.  When I posted this story on ClassicFlyRodForum, a friend wouldn't relent until I sold him the A&N CSL, which he wanted to put on a shelf.  BTW, all 3 reels contained edge-finish wear from sitting in their boxes since 1940.  The Lyon & Coulson Varden came from the collection of Hogy B. Charmichael, and my 3-3/8" went under the radar while a 3-1/8" reel just like it took all the auction heat.  I bought the Varden for $255, and it's worth about $850 today.  The two reels I kept, I took them fishing.  

 

I can't think of a better way to honor their former owners.  

@bulldog1935,... That's awesome, Always blown away by the cool stuff you have!