Good price?

[Randy Griffin]

Hello all,
I'm de-lurking here for a moment to ask a very basic question. I'm
really just a beginner at tying, and the vise I use came in one of those
kits. (My wife actually bought the kit; she's since lost interest and I
acquired another hobby I didn't need.)

Anyway, I saw Thompson "A" and "Pro" vises on clearance this week. They
were marked at about $28.00, if I remember correctly. There was also one
with a pedestal (Pro II?) at $38, or was it $48?

I mentioned to my wife that I thought of buying one, and she says I'm an
idiot for not doing so. She thinks I should get the pedestal model,
though, which I really didn't look at. I think for our basic tying, the
C-clamp would be fine.

I've been tying mainly streamers and terrestrials so far, with the
occasional attempt at spinning deer hair thrown in. (Spinning is
definitely a problem with the cheap vise we have.) I won't rule out
tying some dry flies eventually, though.

So, are these good prices? Would I be making a mistake buying any of
them?

And no, I won't tell you where I saw them until I've had a chance to buy
one!

-Randy
--
Randy R. Griffin
Sheboygan Astronomical Society
http://www.ShebAstro.org

[Stan Gula]

"Randy Griffin" > wrote in message
...
> Anyway, I saw Thompson "A" and "Pro" vises on clearance this week. They
> were marked at about $28.00, if I remember correctly. There was also one
> with a pedestal (Pro II?) at $38, or was it $48?

That's a good price.

Pedestal vs. clamp is all up to you. I like both. I would get the clamp
model and add a pedestal (or vice versa).

[Bill Kiene]

Boy, I know this will stir up some stuff............

Like the Pflueger Medallist fly reel (I am an old fan of these), the
Thompson A vise (I am an old fan of these too) was the big deal many years
ago. Today both the Medallist fly reel and the Thompson A or Pro vise are
not built like they use to be 30 to 40 years ago.

Our gray haired veteran fly tying instructor told me that the new Thompson A
or Pro vise no longer hold a hook well. The fact is they don't use the same
metal they uses 30 or 40 years ago when they were made famous. We still
carry them but the low end Griffin vises @ ~$35US (made in the USA) are a
better value.

If you can find an old Medallist reel or old Thompson vise that has not been
used up, it is a good thing. It is the new stuff that is now not a good
thing. If the Thompson A vise or Pflueger Medallist fly reel where the same
quality as they were 40 years ago, they would have to be over $100, not $35.

Don't buy vises made in Indian either. They are worse than the new Thompson
A or Pro. It is all about the metal they use.

I am always interested in what low end (under $50US) vises actually hold a
hook and hold up too. What do you think?

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA
www.kiene.com

"Randy Griffin" > wrote in message
...

> Hello all,
> I'm de-lurking here for a moment to ask a very basic question. I'm
> really just a beginner at tying, and the vise I use came in one of those
> kits. (My wife actually bought the kit; she's since lost interest and I
> acquired another hobby I didn't need.)
>
> Anyway, I saw Thompson "A" and "Pro" vises on clearance this week. They
> were marked at about $28.00, if I remember correctly. There was also one
> with a pedestal (Pro II?) at $38, or was it $48?
>
> I mentioned to my wife that I thought of buying one, and she says I'm an
> idiot for not doing so. She thinks I should get the pedestal model,
> though, which I really didn't look at. I think for our basic tying, the
> C-clamp would be fine.
>
> I've been tying mainly streamers and terrestrials so far, with the
> occasional attempt at spinning deer hair thrown in. (Spinning is
> definitely a problem with the cheap vise we have.) I won't rule out
> tying some dry flies eventually, though.
>
> So, are these good prices? Would I be making a mistake buying any of
> them?
>
> And no, I won't tell you where I saw them until I've had a chance to buy
> one!
>
> -Randy
> --
> Randy R. Griffin
> Sheboygan Astronomical Society
> http://www.ShebAstro.org

[Ernie]

Bill,
What you say is true about most things made overseas these days. I am
fortunate enough to have a vintage Thompson Vise and Some Medallist Reels.
I found some good things at the flea market. I bought a very old reel for
$5 that had a sticky bunch of line on it. The line turned out to be silk
and after cleaning and treating it was like new. I love to use it on an old
bamboo rod I got at the flea market for $12. There is nothing quite like
fishing up a trout stream with bamboo and silk. It is magical and really
takes me back.
Ernie

"Bill Kiene" > wrote in message
. ..
> Boy, I know this will stir up some stuff............
>
> Like the Pflueger Medallist fly reel (I am an old fan of these), the
> Thompson A vise (I am an old fan of these too) was the big deal many years
> ago. Today both the Medallist fly reel and the Thompson A or Pro vise are
> not built like they use to be 30 to 40 years ago.
>
> Our gray haired veteran fly tying instructor told me that the new Thompson
A
> or Pro vise no longer hold a hook well. The fact is they don't use the
same
> metal they uses 30 or 40 years ago when they were made famous. We still
> carry them but the low end Griffin vises @ ~$35US (made in the USA) are a
> better value.
>
> If you can find an old Medallist reel or old Thompson vise that has not
been
> used up, it is a good thing. It is the new stuff that is now not a good
> thing. If the Thompson A vise or Pflueger Medallist fly reel where the
same
> quality as they were 40 years ago, they would have to be over $100, not
$35.
>
> Don't buy vises made in Indian either. They are worse than the new
Thompson
> A or Pro. It is all about the metal they use.
>
> I am always interested in what low end (under $50US) vises actually hold a
> hook and hold up too. What do you think?
>
> --
> Bill Kiene
>
> Kiene's Fly Shop
> Sacramento, CA
> www.kiene.com

[Clark Reid]

"Bill Kiene" wrote
> Boy, I know this will stir up some stuff............
>
> Like the Pflueger Medallist fly reel (I am an old fan of these), the
> Thompson A vise (I am an old fan of these too) was the big deal many years
> ago. Today both the Medallist fly reel and the Thompson A or Pro vise are
> not built like they use to be 30 to 40 years ago.
>
> Our gray haired veteran fly tying instructor told me that the new Thompson
A
> or Pro vise no longer hold a hook well. The fact is they don't use the
same
> metal they uses 30 or 40 years ago when they were made famous. We still
> carry them but the low end Griffin vises @ ~$35US (made in the USA) are a
> better value.
>
> If you can find an old Medallist reel or old Thompson vise that has not
been
> used up, it is a good thing. It is the new stuff that is now not a good
> thing. If the Thompson A vise or Pflueger Medallist fly reel where the
same
> quality as they were 40 years ago, they would have to be over $100, not
$35.
>
> Don't buy vises made in Indian either. They are worse than the new
Thompson
> A or Pro. It is all about the metal they use.
>
> I am always interested in what low end (under $50US) vises actually hold a
> hook and hold up too. What do you think?

I agree whole heartedly... A good vice usually costs a little bit and the
best vices I have used have all been American made. The Thompson isn't what
it it once was. It was the pro's choice and the introduction of the Regal is
what killed it off I believe... The Inidian ones have all been crap after a
couple of months tying, at the most. Not all overseas products are crap...
Loop reels, BMW cars, English reels etc... but in this case you are spot on.
--
Clark Reid
http://www.dryflynz.com
Umpqua Designer Flytier

[George Cleveland]

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 17:34:33 GMT, "Bill Kiene" > wrote:

>Boy, I know this will stir up some stuff............

>I am always interested in what low end (under $50US) vises actually hold a
>hook and hold up too. What do you think?
>
>--
>Bill Kiene
>
>Kiene's Fly Shop
>Sacramento, CA
>www.kiene.com
>

Jeez, my old (20 years+) $14 Indian manufactured Sunrise A vise was still
holding hooks just fine last time I used it.

I replaced it with a better vise, mainly for more room to work on small flies,
but it was always a functional tool.

g.c.

[Randy Griffin]

Bill, and everyone,
Thanks for the advice. I just checked back to see if anyone had replied
yet, and I'm amazed at the responses already.

I appreciate the heads-up on the foreign-made angle. I'm currently in
the aluminum die casting business, and we're fighting off foreign
competition, of course. Mainly China. But try to convince a buyer that
the quality will be a problem - aluminum is aluminum, right?

Anyway, several of these vises were in (what appeared to be) older
cardboard boxes, while some were in plastic shells. I wonder what the
chances of finding a "made in the USA" label on any of them is? Now I
have to stop back just to satisfy my curiosity.

-Randy

Bill Kiene wrote:
>
> Boy, I know this will stir up some stuff............
>
> Like the Pflueger Medallist fly reel (I am an old fan of these), the
> Thompson A vise (I am an old fan of these too) was the big deal many years
> ago. Today both the Medallist fly reel and the Thompson A or Pro vise are
> not built like they use to be 30 to 40 years ago.
>
> Our gray haired veteran fly tying instructor told me that the new Thompson A
> or Pro vise no longer hold a hook well. The fact is they don't use the same
> metal they uses 30 or 40 years ago when they were made famous. We still
> carry them but the low end Griffin vises @ ~$35US (made in the USA) are a
> better value.
>
> If you can find an old Medallist reel or old Thompson vise that has not been
> used up, it is a good thing. It is the new stuff that is now not a good
> thing. If the Thompson A vise or Pflueger Medallist fly reel where the same
> quality as they were 40 years ago, they would have to be over $100, not $35.
>
> Don't buy vises made in Indian either. They are worse than the new Thompson
> A or Pro. It is all about the metal they use.
>
> I am always interested in what low end (under $50US) vises actually hold a
> hook and hold up too. What do you think?
>
> --
> Bill Kiene
>
> Kiene's Fly Shop
> Sacramento, CA
> www.kiene.com
>
> "Randy Griffin" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > Hello all,
> > I'm de-lurking here for a moment to ask a very basic question. I'm
> > really just a beginner at tying, and the vise I use came in one of those
> > kits. (My wife actually bought the kit; she's since lost interest and I
> > acquired another hobby I didn't need.)
> >
> > Anyway, I saw Thompson "A" and "Pro" vises on clearance this week. They
> > were marked at about $28.00, if I remember correctly. There was also one
> > with a pedestal (Pro II?) at $38, or was it $48?
> >
> > I mentioned to my wife that I thought of buying one, and she says I'm an
> > idiot for not doing so. She thinks I should get the pedestal model,
> > though, which I really didn't look at. I think for our basic tying, the
> > C-clamp would be fine.
> >
> > I've been tying mainly streamers and terrestrials so far, with the
> > occasional attempt at spinning deer hair thrown in. (Spinning is
> > definitely a problem with the cheap vise we have.) I won't rule out
> > tying some dry flies eventually, though.
> >
> > So, are these good prices? Would I be making a mistake buying any of
> > them?
> >
> > And no, I won't tell you where I saw them until I've had a chance to buy
> > one!
> >
> > -Randy
> > --
> > Randy R. Griffin
> > Sheboygan Astronomical Society
> > http://www.ShebAstro.org

--
Randy R. Griffin
Sheboygan Astronomical Society
http://www.ShebAstro.org

[daytripper]

On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 07:52:00 +1200, "Clark Reid" >
wrote:
[snipped]
> Not all overseas products are crap...
>Loop reels, BMW cars, English reels etc... but in this case you are spot on.

I believe you should take BMW cars off your short list...

/daytripper (the new ones sure look like crap! ;-)

[Hooked]

Hey Randy! Long time since we've heard from you. What have you been up to?
How's Plymouth? I haven't been up there for a while. Have you had the chance
to fish the Milwaukee river at Fredonia this year? Is the job situation
picking up? If I remember correctly, you were about to get laid off. Hope
everything is better.

If you can afford it now, go with a better (meaning higher priced) vise.
You'll be a lot happier in the long run. I had a cheap vise that I paid
about $30 for, made I don't care to know where, and I became very
frustrated with it very fast. Then I spent about $125 and bought a Regal.
Nice vise for tying bigger flies (and I do believe you like fishing for
bass.) Then I decided that I should give a rotary vise a try and spent about
$150 for a Renzetti. Both are nice vises, and I will probably never be
disappointed in the money spent on them. I guess you really do get what you
pay for.

dparadise


"Randy Griffin" > wrote in message
...
> Bill, and everyone,
> Thanks for the advice. I just checked back to see if anyone had replied
> yet, and I'm amazed at the responses already.
>
> I appreciate the heads-up on the foreign-made angle. I'm currently in
> the aluminum die casting business, and we're fighting off foreign
> competition, of course. Mainly China. But try to convince a buyer that
> the quality will be a problem - aluminum is aluminum, right?
>
> Anyway, several of these vises were in (what appeared to be) older
> cardboard boxes, while some were in plastic shells. I wonder what the
> chances of finding a "made in the USA" label on any of them is? Now I
> have to stop back just to satisfy my curiosity.
>
> -Randy
>
> Sheboygan Astronomical Society
> http://www.ShebAstro.org

[Randy Griffin]

Don!
Changed your "handle" I see. Didn't realize that was you. I've been
working at Stroh Die Casting in Wauwatosa Since November. Still live in
Plymouth; my younger daughter's a senior and we'd like to see her
graduate from PHS. The older daughter's at UW-Oshkosh.

It's a long commute, and money's still tight, so the hobbies suffer.
Haven't done much fishing again this year. What I have done is mainly
bluegills & crappies, since that keeps my wife entertained. The
occasional bass is welcome, of course.

I may slip out by myself tomorrow morning, but probably won't go far as
I'll only have a couple of hours. Rivers still seem a little low around
here, even with the recent rain. What's your experience been this year?

-Randy

Hooked wrote:
>
> Hey Randy! Long time since we've heard from you. What have you been up to?
> How's Plymouth? I haven't been up there for a while. Have you had the chance
> to fish the Milwaukee river at Fredonia this year? Is the job situation
> picking up? If I remember correctly, you were about to get laid off. Hope
> everything is better.
>
> If you can afford it now, go with a better (meaning higher priced) vise.
> You'll be a lot happier in the long run. I had a cheap vise that I paid
> about $30 for, made I don't care to know where, and I became very
> frustrated with it very fast. Then I spent about $125 and bought a Regal.
> Nice vise for tying bigger flies (and I do believe you like fishing for
> bass.) Then I decided that I should give a rotary vise a try and spent about
> $150 for a Renzetti. Both are nice vises, and I will probably never be
> disappointed in the money spent on them. I guess you really do get what you
> pay for.
>
> dparadise
>
> "Randy Griffin" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Bill, and everyone,
> > Thanks for the advice. I just checked back to see if anyone had replied
> > yet, and I'm amazed at the responses already.
> >
> > I appreciate the heads-up on the foreign-made angle. I'm currently in
> > the aluminum die casting business, and we're fighting off foreign
> > competition, of course. Mainly China. But try to convince a buyer that
> > the quality will be a problem - aluminum is aluminum, right?
> >
> > Anyway, several of these vises were in (what appeared to be) older
> > cardboard boxes, while some were in plastic shells. I wonder what the
> > chances of finding a "made in the USA" label on any of them is? Now I
> > have to stop back just to satisfy my curiosity.
> >
> > -Randy
> >
> > Sheboygan Astronomical Society
> > http://www.ShebAstro.org

--
Randy R. Griffin
Sheboygan Astronomical Society
http://www.ShebAstro.org

[Wolfgang]

"Clark Reid" > wrote in message
...

> ....Not all overseas products are crap...

Um......where was it you live again?

Wolfgang
for the "belabor the obvious" bureau.......irian jaya office.

[George Cleveland]

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 20:58:33 -0500, Randy Griffin > wrote:

>Don!
>Changed your "handle" I see. Didn't realize that was you. I've been
>working at Stroh Die Casting in Wauwatosa Since November. Still live in
>Plymouth; my younger daughter's a senior and we'd like to see her
>graduate from PHS. The older daughter's at UW-Oshkosh.
>
>It's a long commute, and money's still tight, so the hobbies suffer.
>Haven't done much fishing again this year. What I have done is mainly
>bluegills & crappies, since that keeps my wife entertained. The
>occasional bass is welcome, of course.
>
>I may slip out by myself tomorrow morning, but probably won't go far as
>I'll only have a couple of hours. Rivers still seem a little low around
>here, even with the recent rain. What's your experience been this year?
>
>-Randy
>
>Hooked wrote:
>>
>> Hey Randy! Long time since we've heard from you. What have you been up to?
>> How's Plymouth? I haven't been up there for a while. Have you had the chance
>> to fish the Milwaukee river at Fredonia this year? Is the job situation
>> picking up? If I remember correctly, you were about to get laid off. Hope
>> everything is better.
>>
>> If you can afford it now, go with a better (meaning higher priced) vise.
>> You'll be a lot happier in the long run. I had a cheap vise that I paid
>> about $30 for, made I don't care to know where, and I became very
>> frustrated with it very fast. Then I spent about $125 and bought a Regal.
>> Nice vise for tying bigger flies (and I do believe you like fishing for
>> bass.) Then I decided that I should give a rotary vise a try and spent about
>> $150 for a Renzetti. Both are nice vises, and I will probably never be
>> disappointed in the money spent on them. I guess you really do get what you
>> pay for.
>>
>> dparadise
>>
>> "Randy Griffin" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Bill, and everyone,
>> > Thanks for the advice. I just checked back to see if anyone had replied
>> > yet, and I'm amazed at the responses already.
>> >
>> > I appreciate the heads-up on the foreign-made angle. I'm currently in
>> > the aluminum die casting business, and we're fighting off foreign
>> > competition, of course. Mainly China. But try to convince a buyer that
>> > the quality will be a problem - aluminum is aluminum, right?
>> >
>> > Anyway, several of these vises were in (what appeared to be) older
>> > cardboard boxes, while some were in plastic shells. I wonder what the
>> > chances of finding a "made in the USA" label on any of them is? Now I
>> > have to stop back just to satisfy my curiosity.
>> >
>> > -Randy
>> >
>> > Sheboygan Astronomical Society
>> > http://www.ShebAstro.org
>
>--
>Randy R. Griffin
>Sheboygan Astronomical Society
>http://www.ShebAstro.org


Holy smoked chub! This is a regular Cheesehead thread.


g.c.

Merrill, WI

[Hooked]

George,

How's the smallie fishing below the dam up there? What is it, the Council
Bluffs State Park? Was up there this last August. Had a great time until
that damned pike bit me off just after sunset and it was too dark to see to
tie on again. That is one place I will plan on getting to at least once a
year.


"George Cleveland" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 20:58:33 -0500, Randy Griffin >
wrote:
>
>
>
> Holy smoked chub! This is a regular Cheesehead thread.
>
>
> g.c.
>
> Merrill, WI

[Hooked]

Just dug out the map. It's the Council Grounds State Park.


"Hooked" > wrote in message
...
> George,
>
> How's the smallie fishing below the dam up there? What is it, the Council
> Bluffs State Park? Was up there this last August. Had a great time until
> that damned pike bit me off just after sunset and it was too dark to see
to
> tie on again. That is one place I will plan on getting to at least once a
> year.
>
>

[Hooked]

Is it wadeable? Or should I bring the boat?


"George Cleveland" > wrote in message
...
>
> Email me before you come up next time (or call, the only Cleveland in the
book).
> I'll show a place that will make Council Grounds seem tame. Ask Wolfgang
if
> y'all don't believe me.
>
> g.c.
> >

[George Cleveland]

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 23:30:10 -0500, "Hooked" > wrote:

>George,
>
>How's the smallie fishing below the dam up there? What is it, the Council
>Bluffs State Park? Was up there this last August. Had a great time until
>that damned pike bit me off just after sunset and it was too dark to see to
>tie on again. That is one place I will plan on getting to at least once a
>year.
>

Email me before you come up next time (or call, the only Cleveland in the book).
I'll show a place that will make Council Grounds seem tame. Ask Wolfgang if
y'all don't believe me.

g.c.
>
>"George Cleveland" > wrote in message
...
>> On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 20:58:33 -0500, Randy Griffin >
>wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Holy smoked chub! This is a regular Cheesehead thread.
>>
>>
>> g.c.
>>
>> Merrill, WI
>
>

[Wolfgang]

"George Cleveland" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 23:53:58 -0500, "Hooked" > wrote:
>
> >Is it wadeable? Or should I bring the boat?
> >
> Wadeable, as long as you pay attention to the sirens from the dam.

I listened to the sirens. Nasty wenches........damned near drowned me.

Wolfgang
and don't even get me started on nymphs. :(

[George Cleveland]

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 23:53:58 -0500, "Hooked" > wrote:

>Is it wadeable? Or should I bring the boat?
>
Wadeable, as long as you pay attention to the sirens from the dam.

g.c.
>"George Cleveland" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> Email me before you come up next time (or call, the only Cleveland in the
>book).
>> I'll show a place that will make Council Grounds seem tame. Ask Wolfgang
>if
>> y'all don't believe me.
>>
>> g.c.
>> >
>
>

[Clark Reid]

"Wolfgang" wrote > Um......where was it you live again?
>
I don't live everseas... you do... :)
--
Clark Reid
http://www.dryflynz.com
Umpqua Designer Flytier

[Larry and a cat named Dub]

I have one of the sunrise rotary vises It holds the hooks just fine but the
workmanship is terrible. I modified it by adding a crank handle but the
part that holds the jaws is not drilled at a 90 to the shaft. I a mailed
Sunrise and got no response. Surprised huh?

[Herman Nijland]

George Cleveland wrote:

>
> Jeez, my old (20 years+) $14 Indian manufactured Sunrise A vise was still
> holding hooks just fine last time I used it.
>
> I replaced it with a better vise, mainly for more room to work on small flies,
> but it was always a functional tool.
>
> g.c.

Mine still is. Somehow I don't see myself spending 100 usd plus on a
hook holder, the Indian Regal imitations work just fine. But, as always,
ymmv.

--
Herman, chapati anyone?

[Bill Kiene]

Hi Ernie,

Those very old ( but not worn out or beat to death) Pflueger Medallist fly
reels and Thompson A vises are real gems. They were built in the USA so well
that they could last for ever. I have some old Pfluegers in different sizes
that I have used for years and would never get rid of for sentimental
reasons.

I use to buy special machined brass drag discs for Pflueger Medallist fly
reels from Herman Voss in Pompano Beach, Florida. We replaced the plastic
drag discs with these brass ones that made the drag on these old reels much
smoother. We also had counter balances for the reels that made them smoother
at high RPMs associated with bonefishing and steelheading years ago. The
real old Medallists had steel drag disc but were only for right hand crank
anglers.

I just hate to see people miss informed because they don't know things have
changed in some areas. Sadly some fly anglers that could fish circles around
me are not up to date with what is available in the fly fishing market today
and what are the best values. Some do know though.

I am not interested in feeding everyone a bunch of BS. I am interested in
giving people some straight information because I am in a place were I see
and have seen enough to know what is going on in the fly fishing tackle
industry today. The other reality is that less that way less 1% of the
people that read this will ever shop at my store which OK too.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA
www.kiene.com

"Ernie" <NO_ > wrote in message
m...
>
> Bill,
> What you say is true about most things made overseas these days. I am
> fortunate enough to have a vintage Thompson Vise and Some Medallist Reels.
> I found some good things at the flea market. I bought a very old reel for
> $5 that had a sticky bunch of line on it. The line turned out to be silk
> and after cleaning and treating it was like new. I love to use it on an
old
> bamboo rod I got at the flea market for $12. There is nothing quite like
> fishing up a trout stream with bamboo and silk. It is magical and really
> takes me back.
> Ernie
>
> "Bill Kiene" > wrote in message
> . ..
> > Boy, I know this will stir up some stuff............
> >
> > Like the Pflueger Medallist fly reel (I am an old fan of these), the
> > Thompson A vise (I am an old fan of these too) was the big deal many
years
> > ago. Today both the Medallist fly reel and the Thompson A or Pro vise
are
> > not built like they use to be 30 to 40 years ago.
> >
> > Our gray haired veteran fly tying instructor told me that the new
Thompson
> A
> > or Pro vise no longer hold a hook well. The fact is they don't use the
> same
> > metal they uses 30 or 40 years ago when they were made famous. We still
> > carry them but the low end Griffin vises @ ~$35US (made in the USA) are
a
> > better value.
> >
> > If you can find an old Medallist reel or old Thompson vise that has not
> been
> > used up, it is a good thing. It is the new stuff that is now not a good
> > thing. If the Thompson A vise or Pflueger Medallist fly reel where the
> same
> > quality as they were 40 years ago, they would have to be over $100, not
> $35.
> >
> > Don't buy vises made in Indian either. They are worse than the new
> Thompson
> > A or Pro. It is all about the metal they use.
> >
> > I am always interested in what low end (under $50US) vises actually hold
a
> > hook and hold up too. What do you think?
> >
> > --
> > Bill Kiene
> >
> > Kiene's Fly Shop
> > Sacramento, CA
> > www.kiene.com
>
>

[Ernie]

Bill,
I had an old 44 cal. muzzle loader I made and half of a lead ball I cast
for it was just right to balance the reel on my old Medallist. A quick
spray with black paint and a little epoxy to glue it to the spool and I had
a balanced reel. :)
Ernie

"Bill Kiene" > wrote in message
> Hi Ernie,
We also had counter balances for the reels that made them smoother
> at high RPMs associated with bonefishing and steelheading years ago.
> Bill Kiene