Reel makers began producing reels with features specifically designed to facilitate and improve casting a bait with a rod during the early 1800s. Reels specifically designed for trolling (fishing by pulling a bait or lure behind a boat) also developed during the 1800s. As far as we know, these reels all had rotating spools.
Many rotating-spool casting and trolling reels are multipliers; one rotation of the crank results in the spool rotating more than a single rotation. This results in more line being taken up by the spool per rotation on retrieval. Many rotating-spool multipliers were designed either primarily for fresh, or primarily for saltwater. Although the division between fresh and saltwater rotating-spool multiplying reels is a bit arbitrary, reels that have over 150 yards line capacity of 20 lb. test cotton braided line, are built with saltwater-corrosion-resistant materials, and include heavy duty components are typically considered saltwater reels.
Single-action rotating-spool casting and trolling reels typically have relatively large diameter spools to offset their lack of multiplying gears. Like multiplying reels, they have a long history.
Rotating-Spool Reel Parts
Freshwater Multipliers
Most multiplying reels produced in Kentucky from the early to mid-1800s were designed for freshwater fishing. Most of the earliest multipliers produced in New York were ideally suited for fishing for striped bass and other similarly-sized fish, and reels that were primarily sized for freshwater fish are a bit scarcer.
Here are a group of early freshwater multiplying reels, made in Kentucky. The two reels in front are from the 1840s and were made by Jacob Hardman (left) and Jonathan and Benjamin Meek (right). The reels in the back two rows were made by Meek & Milam between the early 1850s and early 1880s and are in sizes 1 (smallest) to 5 (largest). Although designed as casting reels, the smallest sized Kentucky reels (No. 1 and No. 2) were also sometimes used for fly fishing. All of these reels are equipped with sliding clicks, and the ones with two buttons on the head cap are also equipped with sliding drags.
Three freshwater-sized, New York-produced, ball-handled reels from the 1860s to 70s with diameters ranging from one and a half to two inches. These reels are not equipped with either clicks or drags.
By the mid-1870s, some northeastern reel makers were offering models for freshwater bass fishing that incorporated adjustable clicks and drags. The reels below in the front row are a Henshall Van Antwerp Black Bass model sold by Thomas Chubb (left) and an Imbrie Black Bass reel sold by Abbey and Imbrie (right), both from the mid-1880s. The reels in the back row include a late 1880s Edward Vom Hofe Celebrated Black Bass Reel (left) and a mid-1870s to early 1880s bass reel made by Frederick Vom Hofe & Son (Edward’s father).
Below are a group of early 1900s freshwater multipliers, including (from left to right) a Meisselbach Takapart, a Shakespeare Service reel, and a Carlton Nine Multiple Reel, which offered a super-fast nine-to-one gear ratio.
Below are a group of early to mid-1920s level-winding freshwater multipliers including (from left to right) a South Bend No. 1200, a Pflueger Supreme, a Winchester No. 4345, and a Heddon 3-35.
During the early 1900s to the 1960’s, tournament casting, during which competitors cast for accuracy and distance, was very popular in the U.S.. Very thin lines are typically used for this sport, and reels designed and customized for the sport are typically very light and have spool modifications or replacements for the specialized lines. Tournament casting continues today both in the USA and internationally using all types of reels and events for each type.
Four 1930s to 1940s freshwater multipliers include, from left to right a Lou Eppinger Notangle Free Spool reel, a Hardy Jock Scott, a nickel silver Brooklure level-wind reel sold by Spiegel Department Store, and a Coxe 25N. The Jock Scott and 25N both have narrow, lightweight spools and were suitable for both fishing and tournament casting.
Mid- to late 1960s freshwater multipliers, all with adjustable drags, free spool, and level-winding features, include (from left to right) a Bronson Invader 26, a Heddon Heritage Model 35, and an Abu Ambassaeur 5000C.
Saltwater Multipliers
When fishing for saltwater fish, like striped bass, anglers require heavily constructed reels with large line capacities that were resistant to the corrosive effects of saltwater. Many of the earliest multiplying reels made in New York City were well suited, and possibly designed, for saltwater fishing. As fishermen pursued increasingly larger saltwater species, additional reel features – such as heavy drags, anti-reverse mechanisms, and free spool capability – were offered on saltwater reels.
These mid-1800s, S-handled reels, made by Jabez Crook in New York, have line capacities of 250 yards or more. The upper reel is stamped with the name of a retailer from Savanah, Georgia and would have been suitable for casting.
The reel below, engraved with an 1853 presentation date on the tail cap, has a nickel-plated brass frame and a fixed click. It was suitable for bait fishing or trolling, but not casting. Nickel is only moderately resistant to saltwater corrosion, and the pitting and loss of the plating may be due to saltwater exposure.
Late 1800s, nickel silver, Kentucky reels made by Benjamin Meek in sizes 6 and above were marketed as saltwater reels. All three have sliding switches to activate clicks and drags. The No. 8 has an additional heavy-duty click that can be activated with a thumbwheel.
Circa-1900 B.F. Meek & Sons Tarpon Reel No. 10 has a heavy-duty nickel-silver frame, hard rubber head- and tail caps, and an automatic drag which is activated with the sliding button on the tail plate.
Patented in 1911, this Julius Vom Hofe reel has an automatic drag and levers to activate free spool and anti-reverse. To adjust the tension of the drag, the angler needed to remove the tail plate and reposition an internal screw – not a feasible task while a fish was on the line.
Introduced during the early 1920s, the Pflueger Templar included an anti-reverse switch, an adjustable Williams drag with control knob at the center of the crank, and an additional thumb drag. The easily accessible drag adjustment enhances the angler’s ability to quicky tailor fish-fighting techniques. This late 1920s version of the Templar also has a free spool lever to the left of the black and gold medallion.
Big game fishing reels (size 10/0 and larger) were introduced in the 1920s, and by the 1930s, some truly monstrous saltwater trolling reels were being produced, including this 20/0 Zane Grey Model with planetary (orbital) gearing, manufactured by Arthur Kovalovsky in California (above), and the 16/0 Atlanta model with pinwheel star drag and unusual (for big game reels) level-wind mechanism, manufactured by Errol Bullen in Australia and owned by Zane Grey. Grey used a reel very similar to the pictured Kovalovsky to catch a world-record 1,036 lb. tiger shark.
(Bottom reel) 1930s 14/0 cradle reel has hefty chucks for a rod and handle built into the reel support framework, providing for a more stable rod and reel integration by Arthur Stead of California.
The below Circa-1936, Fin-Nor single-action, 15/0 big game reel had crank knobs on both sides of the reel so that an angler could reel a fish in using both hands at the same time to achieve more leverage.
Single-Action Casting and Trolling Reels
Single-action reels have been popular in Europe for casting and trolling since the early 1800s. In the U.S. – where multiplying reels have been more typically used for casting and trolling, single-action reels developed strong regional followings a number of times between the late 1800s and mid 1900s.
British single-action reels used for casting include wood-spooled Nottingham centrepin reel, like this 3 ½” diameter example, and all metal construction centrepins, like this 2 ¾” diameter Hardy Silex. In the 1920s, Hardy introduced single-action reels designed primarily for saltwater casting and trolling, including this big game 9” diameter Fortuna which has free spool, star drag, anti-reverse, and an auxiliary hand brake feature.
Indiana reels—popular during the early 1900s—are simplified, American side-mount versions of the British centrepin reel design.
With limited features, but affordable and easy to maintain, side-mount, wood reels were popular bait fishing reels, particularly in the northeastern U.S., during the late 1800s and early 1900s. These 3” and 6” diameter reels are attributed to Charles Lehmann of New York City. Upright, wood reels are still manufactured in British Columbia by Peetz Outdoors and have loyal proponents in the Pacific Northwest.
Heavy-duty, large diameter, single action reels – like this Pflueger Pakron – are well suited for deep trolling with wire fishing line and were manufactured in the U.S. primarily between the late 1800s and mid-1900s.
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