One of the secrets is to keep the levelwind lubricated. A drop of reel oil
every now and then will keep those old knuckle busters working well.. Another
secret -- as Steve said -- is to use a heavier bait than you might be used to
throwing.

I think it's a hoot to use those old reels today. I love catching fish when
the only drag is my thumb. Sure, I get a backlash every now and then, but I
just take the time to untangle and keep on fishing. When Bob R. first sent out
the Secret Weapon prototypes, I spent one day thowing a chartreuse and white
1/2 oz bait on a steel rod equipped with a Shakespeare Criteron left hand
retreive reel. I caught four or five bass and I promise you that I enjoyed the
fight much more than I do than with my beloved Curados.

I use the old reels for catfishing because I love to hear the scream of a
reel's click when a big cat makes his first run. I've caught some good cat and
also some big buffalo up to 27 pounds. Again -- part of the fun is using your
thumb for the drag. I highly recommend trying one of the old reels if you can
find one.

Family, Friends, Fishing,
Rob Storm
http://stormsrestaurants.com