Never been a fisherman (apart from a single, unsuccessful attempt by my schoolfriend to get me interested) but I did get to go to Shimano HQ on a component launch once. We got to wander into the fishing tackle showroom and some of the reels were incredible in terms of machining and technology. Really wanted to get an Ultegra reel just because it was lovely... An I now see that electric-assist is becoming a thing. Who wouldn't want a Beastmaster 3000 eh? 😉
No Dura-Ace? Surely that should be their top model?
the lusted-after Mitchell Match with the auto bail
I have a sneaky feeling I've got one if those, mid 1980s vintage, tucked away in the kit in the attic. Also a couple of Abu 501 enclosed spool reels, and at least one rather nice centrepin reel in the tackle box too. I was quite into it in my 20s, regular matches with the local club, and a frequent flyer in the Midlands series of the Angling Times winter league. I used to haunt the Severn just upstream of Shrwwsbury, and the canal near Eccleshall, we were always up there early on a Sunday morning.
I keep thinking I'll get back into it when I retire, which is now looking like next year, but will probably have to replace things like the landing and keepnets. There used to be several tackle shops nearby, all closed now of course, although Preston Innovations was founded by a guy in Telford (shop was in St Georges at the time) and they still manufacture locally. We also had a 'maggot factory' nearby where you could buy fresh bait dirt cheap; it had a unique smell all of its own.
Abu closed face reels! Yeah, they were also very cool bitd. Well they looked cool. No-one I knew had one though, it was just that they were different and some visiting folk had them when they came for match.
I mostly fished club matches in Hampshire, occasionally the odd open. Ended up as junior and then senior club match secretary so got to shout 'off you go' and do the weigh-ins. I remember as a kid, winning my section in an open on the Basingstoke Canal. Felt like a big deal beating all the adults and it was proper sponsored match. But it was sponsored by Wella Balsam so I got cash from the pool and then a big bag of haircare products. Win!
I still want an Abu (or Daiwa!) closed face reel for lightweight float fishing. Off to ebay I go with a cuppa!
