Sentimental rods/reels?

[MediumMouthBass]

Im sure most of us have had that rod or reel, maybe even several, what ones were yours? And whats the story behind them.

 

First up is the Shimano Sienna spinning reel, most of my life i only used what my grandfathers or dad had, my first combo i owned had this on it.

I used it for trout and panfish for quite awhile. As i wanted to get more gear i was looking at spinning reels at a few local shops, they were between $50-150 and i couldnt imagine paying that for reel to fish for trout in the creek. I saw the Sienna and its price and bought another, and then another, and now ive got about 8-10 of them. from 1000's for panfish/trout, 2500/3000's for bass/walleye, and 4000's for salmon and steelhead.

I have not cleaned a single one, but have dropped them into water, mud, dirt, thrown them down on rocks, etc.... They may not look new, but they keep working. Some when reeling in feel like metals grinding, but hey as long as the handles turning their fine right?

This reel expanded my love for fishing, and is probably the reason im so addicted to fishing now, im very glad they had these reels on shelves for the price they were at, i didnt have much of a budget back then....

Since then ive bought several Daiwa Revros reels, and while they are much, much nicer reels, the Sienna will always have a place on my spinning rods.

And still to this day i cant imagine paying that much for a spinning reel but to each their own?

 

 

In my heart i will always love the last gen Abu Black Max casting reel.... I bought the combo on sale at Walmart, the rod was okay but for me it was the reel. I wasnt sure about learning how to use baitcasters, so i held off for quite awhile. This was a very budget friendly way for me to find out if i could even use it.

I had tons of backlashes, hours of frustration picking birdsnests out, lost a few lures in the process, but after a few weeks i could cast further and further without them. I bought a second one used because i didnt want to have to retie every 5 minutes when i changed to another lure, also bought an a new MH rod for that and i was able to fish almost everything from the bank. They never failed me (aside from user error of course), i did everything with those reels, skipped baits, frogging in the pads, punching in the grass.... Both are still going to this day, not in use currently, but i have them on my desk spooled up and ready to fish. Are there better reels? Absolutely, most are miles ahead of them. But for anyone on a budget or who doesnt want to spend alot on gear these things were great, sadly Abu ruined the newer ones.....

 

After that i decided to spend more money than i have previously and bought a Daiwa Tatula CT, it was an extreme difference to say the least.

I could cast farther than i ever thought possible, i also had a tremendous amount of confidence now that i had a real reel, that didnt have a plastic frame. This really sold me on casting reels, and it just snowballed from there. I have Daiwa reels that cost alot more than it, but they will never live up to the Tatula CT for me.

 

But the one that has the most sentimental value to me is my dads old, (80's? maybe) Daiwa Black Widow spinning combo. I spent most of my life borrowing it when we fished for trout or at a friends pond for bluegill. The rod would be equivalent to todays medium rods, but with the tip of a ultra light action. When i got back into fishing this is what i used for awhile before getting my own.... Lots of fish caught on this combo.

I loved the very minimal outdated reel so much, it was simplicity and looked like nothing like something from a space ship compared to the designs of modern reels. I found a better condition one for sale and bought it for my dad, but sadly years ago when we went out fishing my dad slipped on mud and broke the rod near the handle 

 

If it werent for these rods and reels, im not sure if i would be bass fishing, or even into fishing at all as a hobby today.

[BrianMDTX]

I find your comments about the Black Max interesting. I have two (the latest version before they made the big change 2-3 years ago). Compared to my Daiwa Fuegos and Tatula, the drag is definitely not comparable, nor is the gearing as smooth. 
 

Yet, both of my Black Max’s will outcast those Daiwas with baits of similar weights and rods of similar power/action. Why? I do not know. In truth, I do not have a lot of brake set on any of my baitcasters. I learned to cast with my thumb on a reel with no brakes (only a spool tension knob), so maybe it’s just a matter of less brake on the Black Max’s. But I don’t backlash any of my reels unless I do something I shouldn’t (like not loading the rod, etc.). 
 

So I would have said maybe my two Black Max’s on Daiwa Aird-X’s (one MHF; one MF) would fit in this category, but lately I have been using them more. I took both out yesterday and caught a 17” bass on a Fat IKA on a perfectly-placed 90’ cast that got smashed immediately. IMO, they are still fun to fish with. 

[TOXIC]

The only sentimental rods/reels I have are my grandfathers ancient casting rods made of metal and the same age reels with the original cloth line.  I won’t touch them.  They are display models only. 😉

[Eric 26]

I have a few for sure. Mine are all spinning 2 belonged to my older brother a Daiwa B1000 that bounces in and out of use and a Ryobi MX10 that stays ready to go on a Empire 5’-6” light powered rod I bought when we were at one of the Tinley Park high school fishing/outdoors shows together although I had the Daiwa mounted on it in the photo. I also have an Abu Garcia Cardinal my stepson/wife bought me 20 plus years ago that was mounted to a BPS Bionic Blade ultralight that I purchased with a gift card from my parents for Christmas. My brother and mother are no longer with me but every time I catch a fish on these reels and or rod it brings me a sense of joy and for that I’ll never part with any of these reels or rods.

[Reel]

I've got a shimano Canis baitcasting rod and a Chronarch MG reel that I still sometimes use, but this outfit has a special sentimental value.  With it, I caugh my biggest largemouth ( 11 lb ) and my biggest tournament largemouth ( a 6 1/2 pounder ). 

[DogBone_384]

I have a Shakespeare Sigma spinning reel on an Ugly stick I've had 40+ years. 

 

I've kept it 'just because'.  

[FishTank]

Reels - Shimano Cores. I still have a soft spot for them.  They cast well, they're buttery smooth, and still work like they did when new. Also, the Chronach 51e. Just a great reel. 

 

Rods - G.Loomis 803C GLX, the original version with Recoil guides. I broke mine and still miss it. Also, the G. Loomis 783C GLX. This was my first taste of higher end gear. I have had it for 20+ years.

 

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings All,

All the equipment that i've caught fish with have been and continue to be significant to me. I continue to use legacy equipment along with my newer gear. Many of the historic pieces remain very functional as I've maintained them over the many decades of fish catching fun.

 

Many have intrinsic value to me as they are associated with dear family members. Many were gifts from special individuals throughout my life and each is important to me. Yes, these days we do have better options and I also use those too. Those historic pieces continue to bring joy to me and are a tribute to honor those special people associated to the history of each piece. Many of those special people helped foster my passion for angling and by using the old gear I am reminded of their gift and kindness.

 

As I approach retirement I'm encouraged by the prospect of using each piece even more frequently! Enjoy all those special moments with good gear and wonderful people. Be well and Cheers!

[Catt]

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5000 (red)

 

Heddon Mark Special Purpose #6271 5 1/2' MH Fiberglass with a cast aluminum reel seat & handle. Total weight about 2# plus!

 

I started tournament fishing with only one setup.

 

[Big Swimbait]

Browning Boron rod with an Abu 4600CB

[dave]

I have a Castaway HG40 Bud Pruitt Flippin' Stick that I don't really use and would not part with.

[PaulVE64]

Mitchell Garcia 300 reel on a Sp1001 ugly stick

[MN Fisher]

37 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

Mitchell Garcia 300 reel on a Sp1001 ugly stick

I forget the rod, cause I think it lasted 3-4 rods....but the reel was a Mitchell Garcia 320.

[new2BC4bass]

Penn 430SS was the first 'good' reel I purchased.  In the neighborhood of 40-50 years old.  Still have it.  Berkley Lightning 6' ML spinning rod was the first 'good' rod I bought.  Same time period as the Penn.  Still have it.

 

I have quite a few rods and reels that I 'like', but none are 'sentimental' at this moment.

[GRiver]

I have a Mitchell combo from Walmart, $39.98, it got me through a rough patch. 
My wife was having radiation and chemotherapy treatments. We were in a rental, a couch, small two person dining table, and a bed, various pots and pans for the kitchenette. No radio, or TV, but it did have a sliding glass door to a 8x8 concrete patio with a fenced back yard.

I bought the combo, on an impulse, while at Walmart stocking the house with stuff. I could leave the sliders open and could hear if my wife needed anything while I practiced casting and pitching from the patio. 
I spent countless hours and days on that make believe boat, casting at various targets in the yard, sidearm, underhanded and backhanded and pitching.

I don’t always use it, but I take it with me on the boat. Like I mentioned it got me through a rough patch, but it was nothing  compared to what my wife had to endure. 

[Randy Price]

I bought a SC Mojo Bass 71 MHF rod earlier this year that Cabela's was clearing out for the new model thinking I would let friends borrow it.  I used it this fall with a Metanium on a multi species fishing trip and caught a decent musky and 15 20-24" northern.  Now I know it didn't have anything to do with the rod and reel but I'm keeping both because I think they're lucky.

[MontclairDave]

My 31-year-old son still fishes with the Berkley Lightening spinning rod I got him when he was 12 years old and going off to summer camp. He also still

totes around my first small accordion tackle box, adorned by my first B.A.S.S. stickers I got when I first joined. He said the day that rod breaks he will bawl like a baby—and so will I. 
 

For me, I’m too much of a tackle junky to have much old stuff left. But I do have a 20-year-old 6’ 6” St. Croix Premier medium spinning rod that has been my go-to Senko rod since the first day I got it. Cork and guides still going strong after all these years. 
 

And I bought a 20-year old G.Loomis 783 casting rod a few years ago that is by far my favorite junk-fishing rod. Anything between 1/4-5/8 it handles like a dream, both single and treble hooks.

Edited November 6, 2024 by MontclairDave
Old eyes

[Spankey]

I have my share of nice setups I use these days in spinning and casting for large and smallmouth bass. 
But I’m not sure if it a sentimental thing or not but I could not part with an old Rapala branded rod and two BPS Billy Westmoreland spinning rods that I’ve retired many moons ago. I caught countless Smallies on them in the 80’s and early into the 90’s. Wore the guides and cork out on them. They are wall hangers how. I shelved a couple of old Shakespeare 2401 spinning reels that I used on them. 
When BPS closed them out and clearanced them off I bought a couple of versions of them. Still in the slips and shipping tubes. Should just sell them to another Billy Westmoreland fan. They were very good rods but not high end rods even back in the day. 
I guess sentimental, countless smallies. 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Ive got too many reels abd a few rods from my childhood that are stll around.  Most are Penn SS reels that went through too much with me to discard or sell.  

[TOXIC]

I almost forgot….Back in the days I was sponsored by SPRO, for a very short time they manufactured some rods.  One of my best friends whom I have fished with on St Clair for 22 years is Bill McElroy the creator of the Scales and Tales cartoon series.  He now does some frame toons and miniature paddles with his copyrighted characters.  He was a pro staffer with Bass Pro when I was, and he traveled the country drawing his characters and personalizing cork rod handles if you bought a rod.  I had him personalize a rod for my daughter (she fishes it) and I took one of the rare SPRO rods with me to Michigan one year and had him put some characters on it.  Let’s just say those rods were ahead of their time and were prone to breaking due to their lightweight construction, so they were discontinued rather quickly.  I have mine displayed in my man cave.  It will never have a reel mounted to it.  

[Skunkmaster-k]

My kid bought me a fishing pole for Christmas a long time ago. It’s one of those little Mickey Mouse kiddie combos from Wally Martinez. He was beyond excited when we caught some bluegill with it. My better half bought me a Dobyns Fury for my birthday 3 years ago, it’s special to me too. 

[WRB]

I kept my sons 1st rod made for him at age 5 and his 2nd rod he used from 8 until he passed from cancel.

I don’t have anyone to pass down these rods to, no grand children.

Collecting dust so might as well gift them to BR member who has young kids interested in fishing.

The 1st rod is Tennessee handle spinning ultra light 47” long. I had a Zebco Omega Trigger spin reel on this rod.

The 2nd is a 80’s vintage Phenix Split Shot rod 6’ spinning with Tennessee handle and had a Stradic 1000 spinning on.

Interested in both PM email for photos, cost the price of shipping.

Tom

[DaubsNU1]

I'm still fishing the Cabela's branded rods and Shimano Curado and Citca's purchased in the early 1990's. 

 

My Dad still has two "d**n Quick" reels from the 1960's, although they do not work well.  

[Jaybert]

I have a few pieces of gear that mean something to me.  But hands down sentimental is a compre 5’6” ultralight rod, classic with the burgundy color blank.  Has an old Shimano tx500f spinning reel on it.   One of my first “good” combos I bought with part time job money as a teen in the 1990’s.  My favourite and I loved that thing from day one.  Always Hammered smallies with it on our annual cottage trip with live leaches as bait.  The first year I took my then girlfriend and now wife of 20 years on my annual family cottage trip I took her out fishing.   She was new to fishing and while I helped her untangle her rod I foolishly set the compre down and left my leach in the water.   A fish took the bait and pulled my combo out of the boat and into the depths.  Gone for good it seemed.   I had to play it cool in front of her, the gorgeous out of my league girl I was dating really couldn’t see me be crushed over a fishing rod after all. But inside I was destroyed.  My parents went out fishing early morning later that week. Dad hit up one of my hotspots.  True story while fishing Dad randomly caught the stray line from my Compre combo on the bottom of the lake, a short piece away from where she had gone overboard a few days earlier.  Thinking he had a snag,  he was trying to to free it and caught a glimpse of a rod underwater and could feel the drag of the reel pulling back as he pulled. Gingerly he somehow worked it to the boat where they could grab it.  Sure enough it was my rod.  This is not a small lake, and the luck of this was so unbelievable they immediately raced  back to the cottage and tossed the rod in bed with me where I was still sleeping.   
 

my Dad still maintains I was distracted by something more in the boat that day. He knows almost nothing in the world would ever have made me set down my fishing rod like that.  I still swear I was just helping her fish and nothing more. I do agree however that only a special girl could have distracted me that much from fishing and she still does at times to this day. Either way that combo is absolutely my most sentimental.  It doesn’t get used as much these days but makes me smile when I look at it in the man cave. 

[Catt]

Moved from Abu Gracia to Shimano.