2021 ORCA National photos from San Diego

[Richard Lodge]

The 2021 show is up and running here in San Diego, thanks to the efforts of John Elder, Roger Schulz, Ron Gast and others. I'll try to post a few photos each day but look for a lot more in the November issue of The Reel News.
Here's a quartet of notable ORCAns enjoying lunch at the Kona Kai Resort, including, from left, John Elder, ORCA founder Mike Nogay, David Erickson and Terry Ow.


And, at the risk of making it look like all we do here is eat, this was breakfast at a great place on the waterfront in San Diego, with Henry Caldwell, Tom Richards and Ron Ellis.


The wharf where we had breakfast was hopping before 7 a.m. when sport fishing boats were landing and unloading some great bluefin tuna and other fish. This crew caught a lot of fish but, sadly, weren't in town for the ORCA convention.

[Richard Lodge]

Tonight was "Wine and Reels" or beer and reels or whatever you wanted in the great outdoor courtyard at the Kona Kai. Lots of interesting and mysterious reels were discussed and passed around and it looked like a lot of people had a good time and either reconnected or met for the first time.


And it was a chance for a group photo of the present and some of the past ORCA presidents.

From left, Michael Nogay, who founded ORCA, Betty Barr, John Elder, Tom Harwood, David Lehmann and current President Ron Gast. A great group of people and avid reel collectors!

[Mike N]

Tom Harwood and ORCA VP Matt Wickham lead a discussion on a Meek saltwater reel.


ORCA member (and former NFLCC President) Randy Anderson from Oklahoma and Butch Carey from Key West enjoying the meet and greet.

[john elder]

Room trading has started! Here’s a small dose of tackle i have out… much more to come on wednesday!

[Mike N]

Long-time ORCA member Terry Ow of California brought a tiny Edward vom Hofe No. 5 Peerless trout reel in its leather case:

[Mike N]

Terry also had some great tournament casting reels, including a handmade Jack Welch, a tiny Meek with an add-on thumb rest and a Heddon:




Here is a tiny, narrow-spool Heddon 3-15 tournament casting reel:

[reelsmith.]

Thanks for the pictures Mike !

Terry always brings the goods !!

Dean.

[Mike N]

How about this postcard backdrop of downtown San Diego for this morning’s casting competition?

[Mike N]

Jim Brown lectured on the history of the fly reel

[Mike N]

Tom Harwood spoke on Northwest tackle

[Mike N]

Ward Tonsfeldt spoke on Saracione/Bellinger reels.

[Mike N]

From the collection of Terry Ow:

[Mike N]

Breakfast with the Board saw a large turnout this morning:


The ORCA fishing tournament took place at a pier right across the street from the Kona Kai resort:

[Mike N]

John Bechtold and his incredible Kovalovsky display:

[Mike N]

There are even some displays that left our club president in awe:



ORCA President Ron Gast, Ron Lewis and David Gee:

[Mike N]

David Gaustad displaying some incredibly detailed miniatures, many of which he actually made:

[Mike N]

Gerald Scharfenberg with a few of his Record reels:

[Mike N]

We were lucky to have Mrs. Elizabeth Kovalovsky visit the show and view the display of her husband’s tackle:

[Mike N]

Dennis Buranek's Leonard reels:

[Mike N]

There has been a lot of speculation about who made the reels sold by Al Foss under his name, some which were later modified for his tournament casting endeavors. After a lot of comparison, Randy Anderson floated the rather brilliant idea that at least some Foss reels were made by the Richardson Rod & Reel Co. which was bought out the Talbot Reel & Mfg. Co. in 1920

In the second photo, two known Richardson reels flank a 4-screw Talbot tournament reel owned by Foss.

[Mike N]

ORCA Director Bryce Tawney and his custom PAL tournament reel owned by Walter Willman.

[Mike N]

It’s been a pleasure to meet and talk reels with Dave Contreras, an ORCA member from California.

[Bill Muth]

Mike, thanks for posting all these pics, it makes me wish I was there but also not feeling completely left out!

[Teal]

I miss all my ORCA friends. Wish I could have been there.

-- Dr. Todd

[Mike N]

Our venerable ORCA Reel Talk admin, Brian Funai, flew in from Hawaii: