Any gear head can tell you a ‘50s-era Rat Rod is a homemade hot rod made from cast-off parts. It’s all in the retrofitting and styling. Here are two photos from MSN.com and Wikipedia.
I’ve always thought some tournament casting and OTHER homemade reels I’ve seen from almost that same period resembled fishing reel versions of Rat Rods. Here are a few, and I hope others post a few photos, too.
“Rat Rod” Reels
“Rat Rod” Reels
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
- john elder
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Re: “Rat Rod” Reels
My favorite Rat Reel... medalist brought back from dead with turned parts to replace degraded plastic... love to fish it:
ORCA member since 1999
Honorary Life Member
Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
Honorary Life Member
Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
Re: “Rat Rod” Reels
Very cool, Dr. E. At the risk of showing my age, Big Daddy Roth would rate that fly reel at least a double Rat Fink:
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
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- Advanced Board Poster
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- Location: Shingle Springs CA
Re: “Rat Rod” Reels
Alan- very nice reel and definitely a couple of Rat Fink thumbs up, as well.
Mike N
PS That San Diego circumstantial evidence link sure leads to an inference of the possible involvement of DrBaits or one of his proteges in that modified engineering...
Mike N
PS That San Diego circumstantial evidence link sure leads to an inference of the possible involvement of DrBaits or one of his proteges in that modified engineering...
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
- kyreels
- Super Board Poster
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- Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Re: “Rat Rod” Reels
Maybe the reel hacker was attempting a mod that would prevent the line from entering the area around the spool and wrapping on the internal gears. I have had that happen on some light Shakespeare 1973D.
Matt Wickham
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
- john elder
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Re: “Rat Rod” Reels
Can’t take credit or blame, but can certainly appreciate that problem and solution.
ORCA member since 1999
Honorary Life Member
Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
Honorary Life Member
Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures