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If you love fly fishing then there is a chance you appreciate the beauty of an antique fly fishing reel. Just like any other collector of obscure or extremely specialized fields you will find that it is sometimes very hard to go about your hobby.

If you are just starting to collect fishing rods and reel then get ready for an onslaught of information you will have to collect and catalogue to begin this hobby. It can be quite hard to identify when your antique fly fishing reel was made thus making it hard to value your collection. There are some tips to finding out how much your collection is worth and how to find antique fly fishing reel.

Dating

Finding out the age of your antique fly fishing reel can be difficult as it is quite rare for the manufacturing date to be printed on an antique fly fishing reel. Patent dates can be misleading as they often refer to the patent date of a particular part of the reel and not the whole reel. Often the patent date can be decades before the actual reel was manufactured.

Sometimes the model number may seem like a manufacturing date too. The best way to find the date your antique fly fishing reel was manufactured is to look through the companies old catalogues. This is not always possible but worth a shot. You may also want to start collecting old fishing magazines to help you track down the year a particular reel was made.

The ‘X’ Factor

So what makes an antique fly fishing reel a collectible? There are a number of factors that make something a collector’s item. A fifty year old reel may not be the only thing that makes it a collectible. If a reel is old but widely available and easily recognizable to other collectors then chances are that it is not valuable.

A reel that is amazing in terms of its mechanical characteristics may also yield very low collector value. It may be too new to be considered a collector’s item. The things that make a reel collectible can vary, sometimes it is up to each collector to decide what makes a reel an antique fly fishing reel.

The design of a reel may attract one collector but another may completely ignore it. Another thing that discounts collector value is the material used to make a reel. A reel made of poor material can be very old but have absolutely no value as a collector’s item.

If you are new to the sport of fly fishing than you probably don’t have any equipment. If you nothing about fly fishing that you will have to rely on the expertise and honesty of the salespeople at your nearest hobby store or wherever you choose to buy your fly fishing reel.

Having a little basic information on how to choose a fly fishing reel can be very beneficial. It will prevent you from getting caught up in a salesman’s pitch and leaving the store broke. Once you have been fishing for a while then you can start buying what you judge to be necessary to hook yourself the perfect catch.

What is a Reel?

A fly fishing reel is basically a piece of metal or plastic that will keep your fly line and backing in place. Think of it as a big spool for your fly line. When you are just beginning you can make do with a single action fly fishing reel. Most reels these days will come with interchangeable spools unlike an antique fly fishing reel.

Drag Systems

When shopping for a fly fishing reel you need to take into account a drag system. A drag system is basically a device built into the reel that determines how fast a fish can swim away from an angler. A bad drag system will be one that is stiff and might result in a hook snapping while you battle it out with a tough fish.

Keeping this in mind you will probably find that most cheap reels either do not have good drag systems or have bad ones. An expensive fly fishing reel will boast an excellent drag system and claim that you will never have to suffer a fish getting away. It is possible to get a good drag system without paying a fortune so ask for advice at the tackle shop when shopping for affordable fly fishing reel.

The Fish Factor

The fish that you are out to catch also play a role when selecting the perfect fly fishing reel. If you are going to be fishing for trout then you will probably not need a very big reel. You will find that the bigger and stronger the fish you are out to catch the bigger the reels.

If you aim to catch saltwater fish you will definitely need bigger reels with heavier line. You also need to keep in mind the frequency of use. A small cheap reel will not last long if you aim to be out fishing every weekend.