Fishing reels continued

There appears to be as many fishing reels as there are fishing rods. Of course, there is one reel per rod, but one reel could be used with one rod and then switched to another rod on another day.

There are level-wind reels, fly reels, spincast reels, baitcast reels, spinning reels and others. Each reel has a been designed for a specific purpose.

As with rods, the reels vary greatly in price. There are cheap and expensive reels. Yet, the cheap rod and reel is able to catch a state record fish as is the expensive rod and reel.

It is a fair statement to say an expensive reel is better constructed and able to stand the fierce and violent runs of large fish such as salmon. Buy a reel appropriate for your wallet.

A level-wind reel was ruined once by my hands. This was a stupid exercise and never should have been undertaken. Two of us decided to fly a kite, but we didn’t want to unwind the string and bring the string in by hand.

We grabbed my level-wind reel, attached with a strong rod and loaded with 20-pound line. The end of the line was attached to a large-sized kite. A strong wind pulled the kite into the air and up into the sky at a fast rate.

The kite was easily pulled down with the cranking of the reel handle. The kite was flown several times in the spring. It was fun and easy to accomplish.

However, we began letting the line out in a faster and faster manner. The reel became hot to the touch and finally began smoking. We never lubricated the reel and it was eventually ruined.

A representative of the Zebco Fishing Reel Company was interviewed a few years ago. He asked if anyone has ever told me the history of the company.

It seems the Zero Hour Bomb Company, of Tulsa, OK, made and used bombs to drop into oil wells. When detonated, the bomb would shatter the rock formations and help find oil or increase oil production.

The bomb company was about to go out of business, due to a reduction in oil production and new technology. In walked R.D. Hull with a new idea for a fishing reel. His idea came after watching a meat-market worker pull string off a fixed spool.

The company helped Hull development the world’s first spincast reel, which was guaranteed to never backlash. This is why the reel continues to be a favorite of youth and the parents of youth.

The reel is named Zebco, after the Zero Hour Bomb Company.

Tomorrow: Fishing line and hooks.