Reel News

Teaser – November 2014 Reel News

Editor Richard Lodge has done another great job and the November Reel News should have arrived in the mail (or should soon). There are some interesting and rare reels featured.

What’s in it? Well, Steve Vernon and Mike Murphy have identified a new Kentucky reelmaker and Warren Platt tells the story of meeting a very interesting man with an amazing Jack Welch reel and quite a link to the past. There’s a look at rare AYR reels, a Reels of the Trade article about the Bostwick-Braun company of Toledo, Ohio, a report from Ben Wright about another new ultra-lite spinning reel from Abu Garcia, and a couple of the rarer reels you’ll see (including one that is surely one-of-a-kind).

New Feature Release for Reel Talk Message Board

ORCA’s Reel Talk message board now has a feature allowing you to almost upload your images directly into your post, thanks to many hours of hard work by our web administrator.

Check it out here or just get started.

New Image Uploading and Insertion Feature

For many reasons, old images get broken or lost and when that happens we often lose a valuable record.  Some people find using an image host to post images a daunting task and we never get to see what they may share.  ORCA’s aim was to ensure that images are stored securely and permanently, combined with making it as easy as possible to include a photo in a post.  This can now all be achieved without leaving the page.  There’s more though…

Photo Sets and Slideshows

When images are posted using this new tool, they are linked together as a set. This set can be viewed by clicking on any image within the post.  Single, full size, even slideshow are options available.  We would like to encourage people to post smaller images, for ease of reading the actual topic, as well as speed of downloading the pages.  Multiple images can be posted as thumbnails and later viewed as a set, when a reader chooses.  This clarifies and speeds up everything for everyone!

Teaser – July 2014 Reel News

A lot of great stuff, including another fine Penn reel article by Mike, an excellent “Reels of the Trade” by Todd Larson, my take on the interesting James Haywood, Birmingham, reels from England, made in the early 1800s, and a lot more. I dropped them off at the post office and they should be at your door(s) pretty soon, the USPS willing.
Enjoy!

There’s also a pullout centerspread registration form for the 2014 ORCA National in San Diego. No excuses for not registering and showing up this year!
— Richard

Teaser – March 2014 Reel News

Here’s a preview of the March 2014 issue of The Reel News.

Richard Lodge has put together another outstanding issue of feature articles that includes Thumb Reels by Bill Stuart; Tournament Reels by Todd E.A. Larson; Tenacity, Networking and Some Luck – A Rare Zebco, by Dick Braun; Copies and Faces by Butch Carey. There are also the regular columns: Penn Reels – the Long Beach by Michael Cacioppo; Spinning Lines and the Spinning Reel Auction Report by Ben Wright, River Reflections by Bob Miller along with ads from our generous supporters, ORCA News – ORCA Honored by IGFA; ORCA Financial and Donor Program Reports; President and Editor’s Messages. The March issue is even larger because it also includes the ever useful annual member roster.

Last but not least is a ballot for the ORCA Board of Directors election. Members need to have their ballots postmarked no later than May 15, 2014 so please get it out and vote!

As hard as Richard works to bring ORCA members a quality news magazine such as The Reel News, members need to support ORCA by sending in articles. If you are passionate about a favorite reel, type of reel or manufacturer and want to see more of it in the Reel News, you may be the very person knowledgeable enough to write about it! Your article may motivate others to add to your information and spur more articles on your favorite reel so get the ball rolling.

Remember that you can only receive these wonderfully informative news magazines about collectible old reels if you are a member of ORCA. Back issues are also available to members through the ORCA Store. For a quick listing of previous issues and to purchase, see Back Issues of the Reel News for an index of specific articles.

New Items added to the Store

• 2014 Patch: Julius Vom Hofe Silver King Tarpon Reel
• Camo Hunting-style Cap
• Navy Summer-style Ventilated Cap

ORCA Receives Coveted IGFA Award

ORCA has received an award from the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) for its exceptional work and contribution to preserving and sharing the history of the fishing reel and its makers. On December 17, 2013, the IGFA recognized ORCA as a member of the Historical Angling Organizations of the World.

Michael Farrior, Historian for the IGFA, personally presented the award to ORCA President, John Elder. What a wonderful way to start a new year for the organization! ORCA members across the globe are all to be commended for your contributions!

Teaser – January 2014 Reel News

What’s in the January 2014 Reel News?

A fascinating piece on “a reel Edsel (the ABU EON) by Phil White; an article by Dennis Buranek on the Thompson fly reels, which were well-made reels prized by quite a few steelhead fishermen and savvy reel collectors; a great piece on manual line pickups on spinning reels by Ben Wright (with a ton of photos of some very amazing and rare spinning reels); a library acquisitions and update by Don Champion; a comprehensive Auction Report by Jim Schottenham; a new “Reels of the Trade” dispatch by Todd Larson on the hot rod reels of “Mad Man” Kirk; and the latest from Michael Cacioppo on Penn Anniversary reels.

Is that all??? Heck no!

There’s Ben’s spinning reel auction report, an informative piece by Ron Gast on the mysterious but wonderful Benjamin “Thumezy” reel (with more great photos), ads from our generous supporters, the President’s Message from our own John Elder and a short piece by yours truly. The thing I like about our magazine is that it brings together amazing research and writing by some reel fanatics who are generous in sharing their knowledge to help all of us enjoy this great hobby. As always, I welcome your articles, your photos and your ideas. Thanks for supporting ORCA.
Happy new year!
Richard