Hi Bob,

I sold and used the old Pflueger 'Medalist' fly reels for 40 years. Actually
we don't sell them anymore.

You can get very nice old ones on eBay or at garage sales.

At one time they were one of the standard fly reels for most fly fishers in
the USA. 1940s-1980s. Like the Ford Model A.

1492 = 3 line

1492 1/2 = 3/4 line

1494 = 4/5 line

1494 1/2 = 5/6 line

1495 - 6/7 line

1495 1/2 = 8/9 line

1496 = not many

1498 = 10/12 line


The older ones had 6 rivets holding the spool together. The later had 3
rivets. The good ones are made in the USA.

The real old ones had a machined steel drag disc inside.

Old ones had metal drag knobs and metal caps on the center of the spool
where the latch was.

I sold machined naval bronze drag disc that I bought from Herman Voss of
Pompano Beach, Florida.

I have a one piece machined solid aluminum spool for a Pflueger 'Medalist'
1492 1/2 that was made by Herman Voss. I got it from Chico Fernandez.

We also had Hardy nickel silver counter balances we installed in the
Medalist in the 70s and 80s so we could go for steelhead and bonefish with
them.

I sold a product called the 'One Foot' which was an accessory for the
Medalist that was a machined aluminum foot assembly with cross pillars.

Real old ones were riveted together, no screws.

In the '80s they went to metric screws. I called Shakespeare who bought the
Pflueger company and they said we did not need those SAE frame screws
anymore. That really ****ed me off.

I have a collection of old ones that are just for memories.

I have a 1495 1/2 that I landed a 40 pound tarpon on in Venezuela in 1985
with my dad.

With the same reel I was spooled wading at Christmas Island by a rather
large bonefish in 1986.

I caught steelhead on it on the Dean River in BC with it.

I caught big Rainbows in New Zealand with it.

They used them at the Fenwick fly fishing schools in the 60s/70s so many of
them are still around. All of Mel Krieger's old friends have them. We put
bronze drag disc and counter balances on many for Mel's buddies.

They made the Pflueger 'Supreme' anti-reverse models too with a solid
aluminum spool. Kind of a poor man's salt water reel.

They are all but gone from the seen today. We only see a few every season.

I use to install dozens of screws in them every summer for customers. They
would vibrate out. We put head cement on the screw heads to keep them from
coming loose and falling out.

I am sure I could clean and lube mine up that are here on the shelf and go
catch anything on them.

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA

Web site: www.kiene.com


"Bob" wrote in message
...

What's up with Pflueger reels. I know some very distinguished casters who
use them. I don't get all the screws that hold them together. Is this a
cost savings, or am I missing something? Yet holding one, they seem sturdy
and well manufactured. I'm thinking specifically of the 1400 series, which
has been around for a thousand years. Does anyone use them? If so, what
are the advantages for the 3-figure reels?

Thanks,