Your Oldest Reel. 2025
*Hank reply :
What's your oldest reel?
Mine is a 4 year old shimano Sedona( nothin special)
What's yours?....
lmbfisherman reply :
My oldest reel now is my Curado 200B series. Kicks ass, it was one of the reels I learned to use baitcasters.
fisherrw reply :
Shimano sahara 2500
WRB reply :
Langley Lure Cast 330 was my 1st reel I saved enough money to buy in 1955, still have it!
Tom
Goose52 reply :
Ted Williams 400 - 1959:
I still take it out about once a year - catch a fish with it on its 60s-vintage solid-glass rod, then put it back on the rack. It still works, catches fish - usually about the same size bass as I caught with it when it was new... 
Bluebasser86 reply :
I have an old Pfluegar levelwind that still has the multicolored silk line on it that's mounted on an old steel casting rod. I actually tried to fish with it one day just to see what it was like. Having to pull line off the reel to cast, the whippy rod, and the 1:1 gear ratio makes a Zebco 33 look like a top of the line combo.
*Hootie reply :
My oldest reel is 105 years old. It's a Meisselbach Takapart 480. Manufactured in 1909.
Hootie
HoosierHawgs reply :
Shimano Bantum Magnumlite 30 years old
tholmes reply :
Shakespeare Wondereel Model 1920 manufactured in 1951.
The oldest one still in use is an ABU 5000C from 1972.
Tom
Tywithay reply :
Have a Ted Williams baitcaster from Sears in the 70s. Made in Japan, back when that was worse than being made in China.
Goose52 reply :
On 12/15/2014 at 7:48 PM, *Hootie said:My oldest reel is 105 years old. It's a Meisselbach Takapart 480. Manufactured in 1909.
20141215_033852.jpg
Hootie
20141215_033852.jpg
Hey Hootie - I got my Ted Williams 400 spinning reel new in 1959. How about you, did you get that reel new or used.................................................
*Hootie reply :
On 12/15/2014 at 9:41 PM, Goose52 said:Hey Hootie - I got my Ted Williams 400 spinning reel new in 1959. How about you, did you get that reel new or used.................................................
Bought it new, back in....well, let's see now...lol. Actually picked it up at a flea market sometime in the mid 70's.
Hootie
new2BC4bass reply :
Oldest baitcast reel is an Ambassadeur 5001C over 30 years old. Would have to look at my old spinning reels to take a guess as to which would be the oldest. Probably at least 10-20 years older than the Abu.
thehooligan reply :
Mitchell 308
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
75 yr old abu still use it also rough lookin reel but rollin like new inside
Crestliner2008 reply :
It's an old Pflueger "SilkCast":
*Hootie reply :
Left to right, Pflueger Trump, Akron, Skilcast, and Summit.
Hootie
aavery2 reply :
Southbend model 1131A 1905
Goose52 reply :
On 12/15/2014 at 11:06 PM, Maxximus Redneckus said:75 yr old abu still use it also rough lookin reel but rollin like new inside
No doubt that Records/Ambassadeurs can last a long time 
I'm wondering, however, if you rounded UP to get to that 75 years number... 
Significant Abu Garcia Milestones (from http://www.abugarcia.com/Our-History/AbuGarcia-our-history,default,pg.html )
- 1921 – AB Urfabriken is founded as a watch factory in Svängsta, Sweden
- 1941 – The first Abu Garcia fishing reel, the ABU Record® is introduced
Raul reply :
My oldest reels in operation are:
Abu Garcia Cardinal Ultracast 62
Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 521 XLT Plus
Abu Garcia Ambassadeur XLT Plus
Abu Garcia Ambassadeur XLT Scyncro.
Grantman83 reply :
Well I feel lame lol..mine are my TD itos from 2003
Catch and Grease reply :
I've got a Shimano Bantam 100, 10SG, 250 and a Diawa PL 1500...
ColdSVT reply :
My dad bought me a shimano bantam in 1993...it kicked my butt. Sold it a week later
In late 2002 i bought a calcutta 251( i consider it my first bc)...i still use it today for crankbaits. Ironically i caught my PB bass with that reel in 2003
I will never part with that gem...it is still my only round bc
I almost dare say it launch any lure in the 1/4 to 1/2 class as most reels on the market today and it performs just like when it was new
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 12/16/2014 at 5:27 AM, ColdSVT said:My dad bought me a shimano bantam in 1993...it kicked my butt. Sold it a week later
In late 2002 i bought a calcutta 251( i consider it my first bc)...i still use it today for crankbaits. Ironically i caught my PB bass with that reel in 2003
I will never part with that gem...it is still my only round bc
I almost dare say it launch any lure in the 1/4 to 1/2 class as most reels on the market today and it performs just like when it was new
Calcutta = Best reel ever made!
War Eagle 44 reply :
My oldest, and first, baitcaster is an Ambassadeur 5601 C4 I bought in late 2001 or early 2002 (can't remember exactly). Learned to fish baitcasting gear with it (obviously) and still have it today. I "tuned" it last year just for fun, haven't fished with it much since moving on to low pro reels. It's stupid fast now with all the upgrade parts and bearings, actually it's pretty difficult to get a handle on. I really have to pay attention now when using it. With lures 1/2 oz and up I can get some really impressive (to me at least) distance.
Not long after becoming a fan of casting gear I moved on to a Shimano Chronarch A, still have it as well. It was my first low pro. I've also done a few upgrades to it as well. Seriously considering getting an Avail spool for it.
Both reels still perform great and can hang with my newer generation reels as long as the lure weights stay around the 3/8 to 1/2 oz and up mark.
Matthew2000 reply :
1973 ambassaduer with pearl handles
Bankbeater reply :
A Johnson Century 100 series spincast reel. One of the green ones.
Jeff H reply :
On 12/16/2014 at 6:35 AM, Bankbeater said:A Johnson Century 100 series spincast reel. One of the green ones.
Those were as popular as the Mitchell 300! You either had one or wanted one as a kid. I never had one, mine were ABU Garcia instead 
John G reply :
My oldest reel is my first baitcaster. My dad bought it for me in 82 or 83. Neglect and abuse from when I was a kid make this reel not very desirable to use. It still functions but it's not very smooth.
basseditor reply :
Ambassadeur 5000 I got when I was 10 yrs old in 1963. Still works great.
Don Iovino in California specializes in refurbishing them so I might it send it to him.
Fisher-O-men reply :
My first reel was a Wondercast. Still have it but it is not in usable condition. My oldest fishing outfit is a Cane Pole. Three piece, I think.
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 12/15/2014 at 11:30 PM, *Hootie said:Pfluegers.jpg
Left to right, Pflueger Trump, Akron, Skilcast, and Summit.
Hootie
Those are sweet.. Nice lines on a couple of those too!
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
No plasticexcept knobs stainless steel and brass i have 3 of these,they even had a aftermarket rubber profile and.knobs for theseOn 12/16/2014 at 10:20 AM, Alonerankin2 said:Those are sweet.. Nice lines on a couple of those too!
*Hootie reply :
I purchased these new,... If I am not mistaken in 1969 and 1970.
Hootie
Mike L reply :
On 12/16/2014 at 6:35 AM, Bankbeater said:A Johnson Century 100 series spincast reel. One of the green ones.
Me too!
Love that little thing
Mike
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
works of art love umOn 12/16/2014 at 8:04 PM, *Hootie said:I purchased these new,... If I am not mistaken in 1969 and 1970.
20140828_111010.jpg
Hootie
BasshunterJGH reply :
Shimano bantam b-mag 1000.
roadwarrior reply :
The oldest reel I still use is a Calais that I acquired about 12 years ago.
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