Just like buses, there have been virtually no posts on this blog all year and now here are two in two days. Work has decimated my fishing for twelve months and any free time has been swallowed up by catching up on all the things I should have been doing were I at home in Mayo and not two hundred kilometres away in Offaly. I am actually on holiday this week, hence the sudden uptick in activity. Anyway, following on from yesterdays post:
In another recent spend, I bought a 1960’s ‘Landex’, my initial intention being to use it for trolling next year. Made by JW Young, this somewhat unusual reel is one I have been after for a while but they are scarce and often in poor condition. Sold as a ‘mooching reel’, the drive disengages when a fish pulls line off the spool, something I have not seen on any other centrepin style reel. This one is like new and I am looking forward to trying it out, well at least I think I am.
This is an impressive beast of a reel. Four inches in diameter and with a wide spool, it has a large capacity. Fitted with a ‘Bickerdyke’ style line guard, it is, to my eyes anyway, a very handsome reel. Some anglers use them as a fly reel and indeed, my new purchase arrived with a very heavy floating fly line spooled on it. A bit of me is thinking I should use use it strapped to a fifteen footer but that is a question for another day. For now, I want this reel for trolling (I think). Let me explain.
When I got my sweaty paws on the reel it was very quickly clear that I had a problem on my hands. This example of a scare model was in absolutely mint condition. I am usually lucky and my second hand reels are generally in good condition or can be brought up to that level by simple cleaning and servicing. This Landex though is in a different class and I need to think about the wisdom of actually fishing with it, as opposed to keeping it safe and in pristine condition. Up until now all my fishing tackle has purely been for use, not show. While I admire those who buy up old tackle just to own it and not to fish with, I could never really understand the motivation of a collector. I am having to reappraise that train of thought now.
Trolling is a tough game and the tackle used is subjected to every conceivable manner of abuse. All my trolling rods and reels bear witness to the rough and tumble of days afloat in all conditions and the inevitable damage inflicted. Normally I just shrug this off as part and parcel of that branch of the sport but something is not sitting right with me using this fine reel knowing it will get damaged. Maybe I am just getting sentimental in my old age!
There is plenty of time for me to mull this issue over and decide if the Landex will be in use on lough Conn next spring. For now, I’ll remove the fly line and keep the reel in a safe place.
Talking about trolling, I have been stocking up on Tasmanian Devil lures of late. ‘Tassies’ are a bait I fished with in the past but for some reason I stopped using them a few years back. Working in the midlands for the last year has made me reconsider the wisdom of ignoring the Tassie. On the big loughs down there such as Ennell and Ree, the Tassie is king when it comes to trolling for trout, pike and perch. Every angler has his or her favourite colour of course. so a bit of trial and error will be required to see what does and does not work on my local loughs.
I’ve augmented my tiny existing stock of old Tassies with some new colours, including a couple of odd ones I bought from Norway. These are all blue and all green respectively and while I doubt they will attract a trout I have high hopes for them as pike lures. Time will tell.
Claretbumbler 
Lovely reel. I can see the dilemma you have! Like you I usually only buy tackle I will use. Coincidentally the Roddy I had, though not as valuable, was the same almost mint condition, boxed with all papers. I used it sparingly and sold it on perhaps to a collector, subconsciously not wanting to mark or damage it myself I think. I would be tempted to do the same with your pristine Landex, assuming you did not pay what it could be worth? You have to consider if you are ready to have a collection of ‘untouchables’, on top of all the tackle you use, because for me one collectors piece would almost surely lead to another! 😊
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I suspect I am already committed to not using the Landex. I can’t find a single blemish on it, despite buying it for relatively little money. I would be upset the first time it was chipped or scratched when in use so I think it will be the first item in a small display case. With retirement looming very large, I will not be in a position to spend silly money on collecting tackle but a few nice items would be a lovely addition to the tackle room.
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My collection of “display reels” look rather nice externally, but none are useable. I have quite a few wooden reels bought for next to nowt or given. The spindles are badly warn or the wood has cracked and been glued back together. I’ve stripped the varnish off and polished the brass. A bit of wood polish and they look great. The fixed spool and multipliers again have polished up great but the internals are worn, seized, or teeth missing from gears.
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I suppose when I think about it there are a few non-operational reels lying around which I could display. Only issue will be selling this idea to my other half as we are in the middle of ‘down-sizing’ to move to a smaller house soon. Hanging on to more fishing tackle is definitely not part of Helen’s plan!
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