I don't think there is any disadvantage to using old reels, as long as they are maintained.  I love Tatulas but still use the first baitcasters I bought.  Probably for nostalgia if anything.

Anybody else?

I'm with ya! I love older reels as well.

 

I just finished up overhauling a Quantum HyperCast HC3. Its a solid and super smooth old reel. Kind of unique in its design needing a little tweaking here and there since it relies on a lot of springs- nearly a dozen of them, some needed more expansion strength, but now its back to like new and I am having a blast using it.

 

My next purchase will the reel Shaw Grigsby is seen using in his 1991 Clearwater fishing video. It is also an old quantum. Kind of hard to find. None are available right now so I have to wait until a nice one pops up somewhere.

 

I still have old Shimano stradic spinning reels from the FE to FJ series only. Nothing older. No Aeros. And nothing newer as those have too much plastic in them. I focus on the stradic line's good years of solid reels. I also have sustains as well.

 

I just gave my 12 year old son for Christmas some older Shimano spinning reels. A couple of 6000FA sustains. A stradic 4000FG in like new smooth condition. A 2000FE also in like new super smooth condition. He also got a rare stradic MG only made for 2 years. I think its a 2500. And he got an SLX baitcast reel and some others like a Shimano 6500 baitrunner which he loves using since he fishes with shrimp a lot inshore.

 

I still have numerous older Shimano chronarchs and curados going back to the green bean B series and my primary go to workhorse reels are the Curado HG series made before the K models. Great reels that never fail and never have any problems or issues. Gotta love that.

 

I have some older Browning and Bass Pro round baitcast reels that work really well and last forever.

 

I now have 4 older Daiwa spinning reels that have like 3 parts inside. And all metal. Solid "clicker" reels that will last for another 50 years without fail.

 

So yeah I am with you on using older reels. Would not give them up for all new reels- which I do have a few of them but I really do love the older vintage reels more. My older stradics and sustains just can't be beat. Same with the Curado HG's.

 

But there is one disadvantage to using older reels, and that is parts are no longer available to keep them up and running. So I keep specific searches programmed 24/7 to keep an eye out for parts reels which I buy from time to time and just set aside for parts only.

 

I think between my son and I, we are sitting at around 60 older reels all rebuilt and ready to fish with. I even still have my fathers 1940's baitcast reels, but never use them. Just shelf decorations now. I have considered using them for shiner fishing at Rodman Reservoir though... for that big one one day.

 

I also collect vintage made in USA fishing rods to use them on.

@FloridaFishinFool

Man, you got some good stuff!

Photo is from early 1970's.  Still use the reel and 5 1/2 foot, pistol grip rod today (I did put new line on...hehe!)

This one is still in service and just used for salt water. It's a Quantum US300 that was upgraded from 3 bearings (I believe) to 6. I think was a mid '90's or right around 2000. Love this reel

Here's one of my '77 4500C's - rebuilt for finesse braid, full-ceramic-BB LW upgrades, SiN spool bearings, alloy rider w/ ceramic line guide, zirconia pawl, Avail shallow spool -

 

- this combo will cast 3 g past 150'

A couple of later Ultracast (C3) examples

 

LottaBass thanks for your service!

 

I only recently found out about the Quantum HyperCast spinning reels. They are quite rare. Part of the reason they did not sell well is probably due to their design and function. It takes some getting used to. I still tried using it like normal spinning reels unaware of the "firing pin" catching the line rather than my finger so now I have to try and relearn how to even use this reel the way it was designed to be used. I get it now, but it took a youtube video to put me on the right path on this one.

 

Another issue with this reel is how complex it is to do a full tear down and overhaul on it. This reel uses around 12 different springs.

 

And it is in the rotor where it gets really complicated and that old idea of laying the parts out in order they came out in will not work on this reel because there are 4 "pilon" springs inside the rotor and when I first disassembled my reel I was not aware those 4 springs are all of different spring capacity. And each one goes in a specific location because of that difference in spring ability. It threw me off while trying to rebuild one without a schematic. Once I got the schematic, it becomes clear that very careful reassembly is necessary.

 

The one issue I had with mine was the bail spring was weak and needed an increase there, but now its all done and back to like new and what an amazing reel. Very solid. And super smooth. Now I just need to get used to how it operates because there is not another spinning reel out there like this one.

 

I may buy another one or two of these. I want the smalled version the HC2. I prefer this reel for medium to medium light use. I'll stick with the stradics and sustains for the heavier lifting into medium heavy. My HC3 is an excellent swimbait reel on a 7' to 7'6" medium rod with fast action. Works great with rat'l traps and other crankbaits as well.

 

What is unique about it and hard to get used to is it can cast from any rotor position 360 degrees around. I am so used to centering the line roller guide to the top and grabbing line with my finger that when I started using this reel that is how I used this one, but the following video makes it clear this reel design is one of a kind.

 

It also has a slightly tapered spool which is unique. But to anyone who buys one of these, be very careful reassembling this reel! Its not easy. And keep in mind the old springs need some extra kick to them!

 

 

1 hour ago, Lottabass said:

Still use the reel and 5 1/2 foot, pistol grip rod today (I did put new line on...hehe!)

Oh man I missed this. I still have 2 St Croix 5 1/2' pistol grip rods I built in the late 90's. I believe they are SC2 or SC3 blanks, I'd have to look. I haven't fished them in quite some time, perhaps I should dust them off. Love the pic!

I never cared for pistol grips, but I love offset reel seat on medium-frame round reels.  

These are go-to for me in river kayak.  (not Ambassadeur, but contemporary Isuzu).  

I even set up a couple w/ 2-hand grip for close-fishing salt mud marsh - '18 and '26 Ryoga.  

These are also contemporary offset grips and ferruled-butt rod blades, made in Japan by Bright River, and Smith Super Strike in my first post - a market I call the Japan Underground.  

I have a few that are 20+ years old but nothing older that I use regularly.  These are my TD ITO, TD-X and TD-S.  The have all been modernized a bit because I think that cool and a fun thing to do. 

1 hour ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Oh man I missed this. I still have 2 St Croix 5 1/2' pistol grip rods I built in the late 90's. I believe they are SC2 or SC3 blanks, I'd have to look. I haven't fished them in quite some time, perhaps I should dust them off. Love the pic!

 

Today I am pulling out the old Quantum HyperCast HC3 (1990 era) and put it on a 6' medium "Pro Advantage" rod made in USA over 40 years ago to go fishing at a local retention pond and do some bank fishing since weather is too bad to take boat out.

 

My son is learning how to cast baitcast reels on my old 5 foot pistol grip rods as well. They are easier for him to learn on and handle. But I will say he is not getting the good ones! I have one of those older Shimano pistol grip rods with the stainless steel reel seat on what could be a Gary Loomis blank (some say) that is today probably worth around $300. He is not getting that one until I kick the bucket.

 

There is one on Etsy right now for near $200, but mine is in better shape and worth more I do believe. Cool old rods! These were what the pro's used back in the 1980's.

 

 

I put one of my Curados or Chronarch reels on this rod and its like butter. Super smooth.

 

 

3 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

My son is learning how to cast baitcast reels on my old 5 foot pistol grip rods as well. They are easier for him to learn on and handle.

This is awesome! Let us know how he does. I also think it’s really great that you’re taking him out and making memories with him. My son is 21 now and just got back into fishing with me about 4 or 5 years ago. It’s great having a fishing buddy. 
 

 

3 hours ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

Cool old rods! These were what the pro's used back in the 1980's

Those rods are timeless. Thank for sharing 

From time to time, I still fish a Garcia Mitchell 409. It’s been properly maintained and will outlive me. 

I still use a couple Daiwa TDX reels and a couple green Curados that are 25ish years old.  They're been surpassed by my Zillions, Tatula SV TW, a Curado 70 MGL in my arsenal but those old reels are perfect for throwing heavy spinnerbaits, C-Rigs, and big jigs.  I'll add some pics later on.

7 hours ago, Bigbox99 said:

I have a few that are 20+ years old but nothing older that I use regularly.  These are my TD ITO, TD-X and TD-S.  The have all been modernized a bit because I think that cool and a fun thing to do. 

I have all three as well.  I'm not a fan of the TD-S spool release so it very seldom gets used, but it does cast quite well.  The ito hasn't been spooled yet.  Just one of several reels waiting for line.  BUT it's one I am really looking forward to fishing with.  I believe I have five TD-X.  Two were gifted to me after I gave a member free spacers and a copy of the lathe program for making them.  Think they went through WWIII but the gentleman went through both making minor upgrades and they function flawlessly.  I am also a big fan of the TD-Z 105H.

 

I suppose my Black Max 1600C reels are among my oldest reels.  A pleasure to use.  If I ever decide to try large swimbaits, I will dig my oldest baitcast reel out....an Ambassadeur 5001C.  Although it has some boat rash because it was bought before I ever knew reel covers existed, it is basically brand new inside having been used maybe two times after first purchasing and once after I learned to use baitcast reels about 30 or so years later.  If I do use it more than occasionally, it will require a new handle.  Dislike what came with the reel.

I just got my original shimano bantam from my dad when I was home (and his also).  I haven’t fished one in 30 years or so, but might just have to put one on a rod for a trip or two this year.  They are still silky smooth.  They just don’t have infinite anti reverse which is annoying.  

 

 

A cool old reel. And kind of rare these days.

 

It is truly ironic that Shimano invented and patented the Fighting Star drag mechanism to be used on baitcast reels. But somewhere along the way Shimano developed a way of transferring it into their spinning reels.

 

And what is ironic is that the mechanism was more useful and more successful in the spinning reels than the baitcast reels.

 

It was quickly discontinued in the baitcast reels I think in part because it was not so easy to use, and the servicing of them was much more difficult and a pain in the rear for any tech, especially Shimano techs. So Shimano dropped it in baitcast reels.

 

But it has successfully lived on in some of their spinning reels. Right now I am searching for specific spinning reels with the fightin' drag mech in them, but without the quickfire trigger.

 

I have really enjoyed using one particular spinning reel for bass fishing over the last few decades until I have just about worn it out. Finding another has been a challenge. Most of them come with the quickfire trigger, but I just want a regular spinning reel without the quickfire trigger but with the fightin' drag mech. It has been very useful indeed.

 

With it I can see the drag where I want it for normal fishing. And I can turn on the fightin' drag full on for a hookset and once the fish is hooked I can back off the fightin' drag to below normal drag setting or use normal drag setting or increase as needed while the fight is on. And all without changing the normal drag setting.

 

It is really a very useful feature. So since I wore my favorite reel out, I want to buy two more, but the particular model I am after is not easy to find any more. Most of them have that dreaded quickfire trigger.

 

The most successful baitcast reel that Shimano made with the fightin' star drag was the Black Magnum which was in line as a precursor reel to the citica and curado reels. The Black Magnum was Shimano's move towards the new reel shape. Yours is still the old school shape. I never got to use one like yours with that lever mech. I always used the Black Magnum and boy were those ever tricky to take apart and put back together. I can see why Shimano dropped it.

 

This Black Magnum came after yours. Notice the lever is gone but now operated by a drag star. The normal drag was adjusted by the thumb dial between the star and handle. This is probably Shimano's idea of trying to keep the fightin drag alive in baitcast reels seeking better functionality improvements.

 

And the final stab at Shimano trying to keep the fightin drag alive in baitcast reels, the precursor to the curado and citica right here- and today the above reel is still quite common, but this one seen below is a very rare model these days. I wish I could find one as a lefty.

 

 

Shimano in early 1990's ditched these old reel designs and moved to these... The curado green bean B series. A Curado 200B

 

 

And then Shimano created this beast. The very first true free spinning spools where the spool axle no longer touched the inside of the pinion gear to slow it down by friction. If you could cast one of these then you really knew what you were doing because these reels did not have the spool controls and better brakes like we have today. Super tune one of these reels and you better have a good thumb! The Curado 200BSF. Or, B model with "Super Free" spool.

 

Sorry, I got carried away on my progression of reels to where I am at today. Reliving some old history here. A trip down memory lane.

 

Below is one of the Shimano spinning reels incorporating into it the fightin' drag mech seen on rear of reel. The round dial adjusted the reel's normal drag, and the lever operates the fightin' drag mech. This one is a 2000 size. I want this reel but in 4000 size. Two of them if I can find them. Gonna cost me for sure to find them in good condition. For a 2000 size this one is nice and clean. I am considering it....

 

I take the drag apart and upgrade the drag washers in these... and throw in some extra bearings as well. The bass don't stand a chance. Drag changes on the fly quick and easy.

 

I wonder if Shimano is still making any reels with the fightin' drag today? They sure sold a lot of reels with it, but far more spinning reels than baitcasters simply because it lasted decades longer in spinning reels than baitcasters.

 

 

And lastly here is the el primo best version ever made, and one of the newest models with it. Its only $262.00. And its a stradic! Anyone have one? Give us a review! A dream reel right here. And quite rare too!

 

 

Outside of shimano, I know Daiwa had a ‘team Daiwa’ reel with the fighting drag circa 1995.  My dad has one still and just pulled it out not long ago.  That was his main spinning reel for most of the years I fished with him in the 90’s and early 2000s.  I’d have to check the model.  

ah come on, you guys want old?

1st model Pflueger Supreme Douglas patent on 7' Thomas Bangor rod, 1920

(salmon and steelhead)

Talbot Niangua on 6' Thomas Special Mahogany grade bait, 1914

(casting and working plugs)

Meek Bluegrass 33 on 8'3" Chubb Henshall bass rod, 1909

(slow-lobbing live bait to distance)

 

"Old" is such a relative term. 😊 As I get older, the stuff I used to use years ago still doesn't seem old. "Old" to me is my Grandpa's old casting reels, if you call them that, that look like the images @bulldog1935 showed. Those are safe and secure on a shelf in the hobby room.

 

I do have some "older" reels that I still really like and use quite often, surrounded by lots of newer offerings. Things **** TDZ and TDX 100 and 103 reels in both RH and the left handed ML versions, plus a handful of the left hand versions with the clutch lever on top like the 103HL. Throw in a couple of the SV103 LH and some LH TD Fuegos and Sols too!!

 

I've also still got some older Shimano reels like the E series Curados in LH form, some older Chronarch 51's, and a couple Metatium Scorpion MG that are similar to the Core reels.

 

There's also a mixing of Gen3 Revo S and STX reels that are becoming "Older" now that I still like.

 

I believe most of the ones listed above that I still use were from late 90's to early 2000's, with a couple from the early 2010s.

 

Some of those reels just feel right in the hand and I still find myself reaching for them..... ESPECIALLY the TDZ and TDX. Those were some comfortable reels. Never understood why they stopped making those.

Bought my first decent baitcasting reel in the early 80s, a Shimano XHS Bantam 200 and used it in the Pacific for everything including Albacore.  Since then I watched ebay and bought a bunch of them and still use them. They're 5:1 ratio.  I also have a herd of Mitchell Garcia reels, 308s, 3 and 400s and 302s.  The Mitchells are retired and everything is for sale.   

Personally not a fan of anything released prior to the early 2000s. Too bulky and heavy.

Modern UL rod.  Vintage UL reel.  Small creek bass.  The combination works well for my style of fishing.

 

 

On 1/5/2026 at 12:13 AM, bulldog1935 said:

ah come on, you guys want old?

Show off! Haha ... J/K ... That's an impressive collection BD1935 ... talk about going to the way back machine!

 

I had many Bantam 200BFS reels.  I loved them back when...

Since I spent quality time with my grown daughters yesterday, I'm reminded they will always quietly out-fish any man they know.  

My older daughter had the choice of any tackle she could see.  Her go-to choice for creek fishing was always this prewar Luxor on short postwar Airex solid glass rod.  

Note this half-bail spinner has no type of anti-reverse  She honed the skill to land, handle, and release all her fish on her own.