I guided John Shaw, owner of the Rogue Reel Company for two days of tarpon and bone fishing in the Florida Keys. I guess he was impressed with the fishing and my guiding ability because before he left to go back to Grants Pass Oregon he gave me two of his fly reels. They both had the finger sticking out of the drag adjustment area. This finger was for a quick release of the drag while you were trolling a lure or a fly for salmon or trout.
I promptly loaded one of the reels with backing and an eight weight fly line. There was a problem in the wind with the fly line being caught on the finger when you cast. So, I cut it off flush with the drag adjustment.
I told John Shaw about what I did and that because of the saltwater the reel needed to be anodized and this black anodized reel was what he came up with. I used this reel to catch numerous big tarpon and one very large Pacific sailfish.
Stu Apte
The original reel to the left with the drag brake cut off. Anodized reel on right with modification that Stu requested of no drag lever sticking out. This was later cataloged as the Modified 200 fly reel or M-200.
Above is the M-200 drag wheel.
86 pound sailfish caught on the black reel above.