Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
I bought this on eBay from the same former tournament caster as the last reel I posted. I’m told it’s an early reel made by Lew Perkins (of Dayton, Ohio) in the 1960s, so it’s about 60 years old.
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
- john elder
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Re: Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
Neat construction! Do you pull the handle out for free spool, Mike?
ORCA member since 1999
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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
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Re: Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
Very cool reel Mike, thanks for sharing your latest contraption.
Ed Pritchard
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http://www.AntiqueFishingReels.com
ORCA Charter Member "First Paid Member"
Honorary Life Member
"Reels As Big As Your Head" Always looking for BIG game reels and anything else that might go along.
Re: Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
John,john elder wrote: ↑Tue Dec 20, 2022 7:59 am Neat construction! Do you pull the handle out for free spool, Mike?
Yes, extracting the handle disengages the gear shaft drive from the spider line spool, as shown below.
Mike
Engaged:
Disengaged:
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
Re: Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
Thanks, Ed.reeltackle wrote: ↑Tue Dec 20, 2022 9:45 am Very cool reel Mike, thanks for sharing your latest contraption.
Colby Sorrells was kind enough to send me a photo of Lew Perkins this morning. He and Matt Wickham are hard at work on a new book that will focus on the these tournament casting reels and their makers. I can’t wait. The reel shown would fall into what is known as the “unrestricted” category.
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
Re: Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
Here is a link to a 2016 Reel Talk thread on this topic that Brian F. and a few others helped make very interesting:
viewtopic.php?p=85972&hilit=Perkins#p85972
viewtopic.php?p=85972&hilit=Perkins#p85972
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
Re: Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
We have several such excellent posts about distance casting reels, but these guys needed a rod to cast. Any input about distance casting rod types? Were they special? Inquiring minds....
Bad Bob
Bad Bob
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Re: Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
Yes, there is lots of info on the Distance Rods in the Netherton casting books and Earl Osten Fly and Bait Casting books. Earl speaks from the 1946 era and says of split bamboo rods "5 and 5 1/2 ft rods, heavy musky action, power plus performance". Use a one piece stick. The general practice was to buy the blank and build the ferrule and guides on it.
I brought several modern (1980's) graphite distance rods to the national. I also purchased three Lew Perkins owned distance rods from Jay Klenk, in bamboo, fiberglass and graphite. I have now 8 rods. All are less than 5 feet, but you have to add the handle size into that, which is generally 9 to 10 inches. They are all about as stiff a rod as you can imagine.
I will post some better photos later.
I brought several modern (1980's) graphite distance rods to the national. I also purchased three Lew Perkins owned distance rods from Jay Klenk, in bamboo, fiberglass and graphite. I have now 8 rods. All are less than 5 feet, but you have to add the handle size into that, which is generally 9 to 10 inches. They are all about as stiff a rod as you can imagine.
I will post some better photos later.
Matt Wickham
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
Re: Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
Thanks Matt. Seems obvious then that the weights did the work with such rods. As little friction as possible as little wind resistance as possible, just flail the heck out of that rascal (with finesse, of course) and see how far it goes!
BB
BB
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Re: Early Lew Perkins distance casting reel
The distance casts are violent. Verification ? See Matt's write-up of BLF and the hole in the Volkswagen door! CS