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Vern · Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2018 3:06 pm Post subject: Level Wind?

All of the conventional reels I have and have used have level wind on them. I see a lot of reels that dont have. What is the advantage of not having a level wind on a reel?
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Ma4011392 · Finger Mullet Joined: 13 Dec 2010 Posts: 21

I will take a crack at this, I run a couple seagates and sealines and have had a couple Abu's 6500. I feel like my non level winds cast further and have a lot less restriction when I am casting and reeling them in. Once I got them dialed in I added approximately 45 more yds of distance with the non level winds on the same rods and I am by no means a good long distance caster. I might be off on this and I sure some one else will chime in, but I know I get more line per turn of the handle, but that may be the gear ratio difference. It just seems like it takes forever for me to reel in my abu 6500 when i really sling it out there.

SADONALD · Pony Mullet Joined: 30 Sep 2011 Posts: 57

Always been about casting distance for me....along with a few less parts to fail down the line. Any level wind is another moving part that for the majority moves in conjunction with the spool thus slowing the spool down while casting.

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

I like the levelwind at times on my 7000 and 7500. Yes the non levelwind will cast farther but I used to take my late father and still take kids and ladies surf fishing. Having them wind on in the same spot not mending the line correctly will cause a crack off the next time you try to cast it. If it were just me I would have the non levelwind but with guests, old people and novices levelwinds are great!
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ziacatcher · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2018 1:14 pm Post subject:

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

Donnie · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2018 2:55 pm Post subject:

bulldog1935 · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2018 2:57 pm Post subject:

How old you wanna go?
How about a 1914 Talbot Niangua NLW with a Thomas Mahogany grade bait rod date-marked the same year.

original taffeta sock, hangtag filled out by Fred Thomas, aluminum rod tube
(aluminum was expensive in 1914)

I take this bass fishing when I'm feeling obstinate.
At the end of the day, have to dry the braided silk line on a line winder - prevents the line from mildewing and rotting - this way, silk line lasts forever -
also lets you lay a new level wind when you respool.

Johninaustin · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 1115

Okay, this is going to sound weird.

I remove the levelwind from the Penns I use. My trolling rods are mostly Penn 209's modified that way.

For surf I use 9m or Jigmaster reels. (No levelwind on the latter)

Better distance, (I believe) and fewer backlashes.

bulldog1935 · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2018 8:27 am Post subject:

one reason I've always been a fan of Lew's is the narrow spool combined with the long-reach line guide, the line guide traveler is disengaged during casting, so there's no friction losses to move the traveler being taken away from the cast energy.

IrishSharker · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2018 12:46 pm Post subject:

SaltyMutt · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2018 8:57 pm Post subject:

bulldog1935 · Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2018 9:45 pm Post subject:

thanks, I fish a couple of 100-y-o trout rods, too.
Thomas Special 8-1/2' 5-wt date marked 1918 - in fact, the biggest rainbow I've ever caught (including AK) was 27", 8 lbs., caught on the Guadalupe with the rod.

Second is a c. 1915 8' Leonard Fairy Catskill 3-wt. Have this good photo of it in NM, but it's also landed some 18" rainbows on the Guadalupe.

The matching reel is the Pflueger Golden West that I use for my avatar.

I have a hobby business repairing other people's valuable antique fly reels, that and smart trading has helped me pay for a bit of tackle.
I've worked on some 1880's reels that are worth $4000 to $6000 (took good photos of them, too).
Don't own anything that valuable, but when you lump it together, I do have a chunk of change in antique tackle.
A common repair needed on Meeks and Talbots is the phosphor-bronze clicker spring. Here's the one I fabricated for my reel, not yet cut to final length.

In addition to fly tackle (mostly pre-WWII, benchmade American rods and Brit reels), a particular collecting bent of mine are the bemchmade non-level-wind bait reels
made before the Marhoff level-wind patent expired in 1928, also the curious level-wind mechanisms that competed with Marhoff,
such as this first model Pflueger Supreme, 1922 Douglas patent, freespool, anti-reverse - silver plated. Beside it is a Shakespeare Style B LW, s/n 127, and dates to 1910.

But the Talbot is definitely my most valuable bait reel, worth about $500. (ok, and some of my fly reels are worth more)
I know some people with pre-civil-war Meeks and Milams worth 5-digits.

Rocky in NM · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:51 am Post subject:

Vern

I always suspected it might be casting but then when I got to looking at the big reals for offshore I noticed most didnt have them either so I thought maybe I better rethink it and ask.
Got a Penn conventional from my dad some years ago with no level wind. I had the level wind reinstalled and then bought a new one like it. The one from him must be 50 years old by now.
_________________
Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might. (Fishing is one of those things Wink

)