Alright, let’s talk about them vintage Eagle Claw fishing reels. You know, the ones your grandpa probably used, or maybe even your great-grandpa. These ain’t your fancy new reels with all the bells and whistles. These are good, solid reels, made back when things were built to last, ya know?
Eagle Claw, that’s a name been around forever. They make all sorts of fishing stuff, but their reels, especially the old ones, they’re somethin’ special. They’re from America, made in the USA, not like some of that stuff you see nowadays. I heard they’re the only ones still makin’ fishhooks in America, which is pretty somethin’, I reckon.
Now, I ain’t no expert on all them fancy reel types, but I know a good reel when I see one. You got your spinnin’ reels, your baitcastin’ reels, even them automatic fly reels. Eagle Claw made ‘em all, and the old ones, well, they just don’t make ‘em like that anymore. Tough as nails, they are. You could probably drop one off a truck and it’d still work, though I wouldn’t recommend tryin’ it, mind you.
I seen some fellas talkin’ about fishin’ for big ol’ fish with reels made of strong stuff. Said they could reel in tuna and marlin, big as a cow! Well, I ain’t never seen a fish that big, but I bet an old Eagle Claw could handle a good-sized catfish or bass no problem.
- Spinning Reels: These are the ones most folks use, easy to cast and reel. You can find old Eagle Claw spinnin’ reels pretty cheap if you know where to look. Ebay, flea markets, garage sales, that’s where you find ‘em.
- Baitcasting Reels: These are for the more serious fishermen, the ones who like to cast real far and accurate. Eagle Claw made some good baitcasters back in the day, tough as can be.
- Automatic Fly Reels: Now, these are a bit different. They got a lever or somethin’ that helps you reel in the line. Eagle Claw made some of these too, back in the 80s, I think. Heard they’re called ECD models or somethin’.
You can find these old reels all over the place, like I said. Ebay’s a good place to start, always seein’ folks sellin’ ‘em there. Sometimes you can get a real bargain, too. Seen some go for as little as ten or twenty bucks, which ain’t bad for a reel that’ll probably last longer than you will. And they got free shippin’ sometimes, which is always a good thing. I saw some graphite ones, light as a feather but strong they said, model numbers like 4060, or MT101 baitcasters, and R120s. All sorts of numbers and letters, makes your head spin.
Now, some folks collect these old reels, just like they collect stamps or coins or whatever. They like ‘em ‘cause they’re old, and ‘cause they remind ‘em of the good ol’ days, I guess. And some folks still use ‘em, ‘cause they know a good reel when they see one. Don’t matter if it’s got a scratch or two, long as it works, that’s all that matters. I heard tell that some folks overseas, in Canada and such, they like these reels too, lookin’ for deals and free shippin’ just like us.
The Chinese, they been usin’ reels for a long, long time. Way back when, even before my time, they had pictures of folks fishin’ with reels. So, it ain’t a new thing, this fishin’ with reels. But the Eagle Claw ones, they got their own special somethin’. They’re American made, simple and strong, built to last.
So, if you’re lookin’ for a good, solid fishin’ reel, and you don’t care about all that fancy new stuff, then you should check out an old vintage Eagle Claw. You might just find yourself a new favorite reel, and you won’t have to spend a fortune neither. Just remember to keep an eye out at them flea markets and garage sales, and don’t be afraid to haggle a little. Folks like to get rid of old stuff, and you might just get yourself a real steal. And it don’t matter if its a freshwater reel, or what, a good reel is a good reel, I always say.
There’s a lot of different models out there, and some folks like the freshwater ones best. I seen fellas fishin’ for all sorts of fish with ‘em, bass, trout, catfish, you name it. And like I said before, they’re built tough, so they can handle a good fight. So, go on out there and find yourself an old Eagle Claw. You won’t regret it.
Tags:Vintage Fishing Reels, Eagle Claw, Fishing Equipment, Spinning Reels, Baitcasting Reels, Antique Fishing Tackle, Collectibles, USA Made Fishing Reels, Fishing Gear, Fly Reels