Can my Grandad's Antique Pflueger Baitcaster Survive a Pike Attack?

[@elonmust7470]

One of the only videos of such old reels in action!

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Yeah - although if you look closely in the fishing boat scene, one of those reels appears in "Capone" with Tom Hardy!! I also shot some footage of me cleaning and restoring the reel along with chatting to my dad about his father (whose rod and reel it was). We'll have to edit that up soon. Paul.

[@bobwolf1811]

It's very nice to see the old rods and reels getting used again. The fish sure don't know whether you're reliving your Grandfathers dream or using a fancy new Daiwa. Also, I like the way you treated that pike. By keeping him in the net in the water you helped him avoid the stresses of rough handling and increased the chances of his survival. I enjoy a video like this in which you preserve the past and protect the future of our sport.

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Thank you Bob - I really appreciate all the sentiments in your feedback. As a freshwater biologist I try to understand and provide for fish welfare as best I can while sharing experiences. Next challenge is to try a vintage lure to complete the setup - Paul

[@thenatureoffishing7591]

Watching again! I’ve collected up a few old reels now, but haven’t had a chance yet to fish them. Finding learning about them and getting them ready to fish both enjoyable and meditative. Btw, I too talk to my fish: “honey”, “love”, “sweet pea”, … . I’ll have to add “sunshine” to the list. :)) Cheers. Paul

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Haha, yeah I do it without being aware of it at all. Sometimes it's necessary to fill in their part of the conversation obviously 😊. Thanks for commenting and making this (at least) a two-way conversation! Paul

[@kennethcolbert2921]

My Dad had this same Pflueger reel back in the 60s and he hated it lol my Dad has passed away now all I fish with nowadays is baitcaster reels he would be so pissed at me lol.

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Ah, that's actually a heartwarming story - love it. Paul

[@BenLillegard]

Wow, I'm so glad I found this video! I have a Pflueger Akron no 1894 that I purchased at a garage sale (on a rod) almost 20 years ago and has been sitting in storage ever since. I'm finally getting around to restoring that rod and reel. I'm in the research stage and I could not figure out why it would click all the time, even when reeling in. There are no wear marks on it so I had no idea that nub on the left side is actually a toggle switch! I'm hoping to restore the rod and reel and go fishing with them this summer.

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Awesome - I think you'll have a ton of fun with it. I'm amazed at the fact you can still buy spare parts for these reels... try doing that 50, 60 or even 80 years after the current state of the art reels have been released. I bought several parts from the USA and Glenn's Reel & Rod Repair in Des Moines were really helpful as well as having an amazing stock of parts. Paul.

[@BenLillegard]

@@FishingDiscoveries I appreciate the info! I'm not sure if it needs parts but I was debating buying at least one other reel to have spares in the future.

[@ddselvig]

i'm partial to using a Pflueger Akron 1894, too! I can get casts up to 45 yards using a vintage steel rod.

[@af4od02]

Excellent catch!

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Thank you - it was a ton of fun on that outfit. Paul

[@Yelladog78]

I use the Rockets for catfish, they're like elegant tanks

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Nice!

[@thenatureoffishing7591]

Fun! I have been looking into some vintage casting reels like yours. I think I might give one a go. Thanks for sharing your adventure! Paul

[@FishingDiscoveries]

I really got a lot out of it, and many vintage reels can be bought at very affordable prices - especially if you're willing to clean one up.

[@thenatureoffishing7591]

@@FishingDiscoveries Thanks. Prices are affordable and a ton of choices. Was helpful seeing you handling yours so well. Not so many vids out there showing them in use. Fun to see. Thanks again!

[@ddselvig]

Nice way to use an old Pflueger Summit reel! I've use my vintage bait casting reels to fish for large carp and found it takes a bit of finesse to land one without the using drag. Sometimes my thumb gets a bit hot while thumbing the spool.

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Thanks Dan! I found that using fabric tape on my "drag thumb" makes it a lot smoother and also less likely to cause friction burns. My brother recommended me to use the tape that soccer goalkeepers use now - since it's super adjustable and also doesn't include any tacky glue (the fabric sticks to itself). I'll be giving that a go soon... Paul

[@Grim0954]

I have a 1993L with the cork still on the reel spool. I took the "leather" part off cuz it was junk, but the rest looks mint. All I did was polish and lube it up and it works perfect. Without a line release, I was wondering how to cast... well, I seen you do it... still weird without a line release. lol

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Sweet! Yeah, just turn the clicker off until you're playing a fish and you're good to go. It is weird though, I always think I'm going to get my knuckles rapped haha. Paul

[@Familyman0838]

So are you in the states or using American tackle here in the UK 🇬🇧🤔 great video love antique tackle 👏

[@FishingDiscoveries]

I'm in Yorkshire, UK. My dad (who is in his 80s now) recently told me that his father ran a tackle shop in Lancashire for around 10 years until World War II broke out. When my grandad died, my dad salvaged a lot of the catalogues, posters and flyers from the shop - along with some of the more unusual tackle. I guess that a small village in the North West of England is kind of a strange place to be rocking American bass/baitcasting gear! My grandad was a bit of a "character" btw...

[@Familyman0838]

@@FishingDiscoveries That's amazing I'm in Yorkshire aswell 😀 small world but iv fished all over the world I'm a big vintage tackle fan and the story's they tell keep on going with the videos and thanks for the reply 👍

[@stefanscrivens6765]

Lovely video. Cheers pal.

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Thanks Stefan, glad you enjoyed it. Paul.

[@andrewhondo]

i got the pfluger trump from 1943 that was my grandfaters and his langley cast right from the 60s if i wanted to use them they would work and last longer then any thing made today i also have a lot of vintage spincast and spinning reels to they can't make reels like these any more if they made them to the same standard back then now you would be paying out the foot for fishing equipment

[@FishingDiscoveries]

That's awesome Andrew!

[@bushleague3472]

Cool video, I've got a few rigs like that hanging on my wall. I recently pulled them apart and oiled them up, and they are suprisingly smooth now. I might try and get a few pike on them next summer, I'd imagine that a big one might leave you without a thumbprint though. Wondering what line you are using on yours?

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Do it! It's a ton of fun. SInce this video I've taken to wrapping fabric sticking plaster fabric around my thumb (and I've heard that the tape goalkeepers use in soccer is even better) - and this improved the drag hugely. The line I have on in this video is Berkley Fireline (fused braid seems to work nicely) - I think in 29 lb if I remember right. I did hook a big pike on my most recent trip fishing this rig from a boat - though it came off after a few head-shakes. It hit like a train though (and the crank handles are so tiny, you kind of need to reel with your pinky finger sticking out - which makes you look kind of fancy 😂 )

[@bushleague3472]

@@FishingDiscoveries Good tips, thanks. I've got one where the handle itself has a crude drag. The other has an anti backlash that puts light spring tension on the levelwind, pretty darn clever if you ask me. Cant wait to give it a go!

[@tonybolony4886]

What weight of line were you using? I just serviced one of these reels and I cant wait to try it out.

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Hi Tony, I had on Berkley Fireline (braid) rated at 13.2 kg (just over 29lb). Diameter is 0.2mm. Good luck with your own outings! Paul

[@jorvikangler]

Well done on the pike. Those old multipliers are a nightmare to fish with especially if it's windy. I wonder how people managed to catch anything with them let alone anything of size.

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Thanks - I'm actually growing very fond of that reel's quirks and difficulties. I think it has forced me to improve my casting with modern baitcasting reels, so I kind of owe it a debt for that haha. Paul

[@BackTheBlu]

I love the sound made by the whopper plopper. Have you tried the whopper plopper 60?

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Me too, it's a great noise. I haven't tried a 60 yet though...

[@Williamthehedonist]

I'm also from Yorkshire, which venue was this>

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Hi William, it's a place on a club ticket which is pretty affordable but doesn't do day tickets. I understand it can be frustrating when folks don't publicise and share their spots - but I've seen a lot of the effects of hot-spotting (which haven't been good), so if people recognize and already know a place then that's fair enough. With that said, unless a particular venue was looking for publicity and new members (or is incredibly well known and popular already) - I'd always tend to keep it un-named. Paul.

[@thirdblackbeard2134]

So I have a Pflueger Trump 1943. I haven’t got the slightest idea how to set the drag or anything. The only part that is labeled is the anti-back lash knob. Any ideas?

[@FishingDiscoveries]

There is no drag...also no clutch/freespool. Your thumb is the drag

[@trevorroberts-o7q]

2nd chance Tackle on KZbin has a video on using a Pfleuger Supreme 510 . It's worth a watch.

[@wvlf]

This reel looks really enjoyable, Is it worth picking one up? hope the leg surgery went well 🥂

[@FishingDiscoveries]

I'd say it's definitely worth getting one to clean up and use. They are very basic and that makes them easy to service; although you'll need to use your thumb to control back lashes. A lovely retro experience. Paul (and thank you, the surgery was successful)

[@lukeholloway7836]

There fun to use

[@seymourwrasse3321]

you had plenty of drag left, your thumb wasn't smoking yet, let alone caught fire. you could always make a thumb brake out of leather

[@FishingDiscoveries]

Haha - yeah I need to aim for the fully smoking thumb next time :) Actually, in all seriousness, I found that the "grabby/jerky" drag from my naked thumb was hugely smoothed out by using elastoplast on my thumb for further experiments. I got some advice from my brother which I'll also be trying out which is the stretchy adhesive tape that goalkeepers use. Watch this space. Paul.