A River Runs Through It What Reels Were Used?

[Ed Barrett]

Can anybody help me identify the reels that were used in the movie A River Runs Through It?

I have watched the credits at the end of the show and they don’t specifically list who made the rods and reels.

The reels appears to be Pflueger Medalist, but no mention is made of the name of The Enterprise Mfg. Co or Pflueger.

[Ron Mc]

I'm sure the reels were Pflueger Medalist's.
I forget the maker, but the rods were hand-built to clone old Montague's.

[Ed Barrett]

Thanks for the speedy reply. I stopped my vhs tape several times to look at the reels and them seem to be Medalist 1496. Ed

[Ron Mc]

oops - The rods used were restored Grangers, the restorer was Doug Kulick of Kane Klassics.

[Stu Lawson]

Ed - and everyone else,
The only identifiable reel used in the film was a Pflueger Medalist which didn't exist at the time (1925) the movie depicted. The Medalist was first introduced in 1929. A friend at Shakespeare told me the movie people wanted input on this in order to have the props accurate, but I guess that either they never got the word at all or they got it and ignored it.

I've seen the film two or three times and still say it didn't need dialog - the scenery was magnificent.

Stu Lawson
- Hope to see you all at Lake George

[Ed Barrett]

Stu, thank you for the information concerning the reels used in the picture “A River Runs Through It". The last few minutes of the film was certainly a moving and an emotional experience for me. I believe that solitary angling in beautiful surroundings can be a spiritual awaking. Maybe that’s what this life is all about. Ed .

[Teter]

I thought I read somewhere that one of the reels was a Wanita, either Ocean City or Sturdi-bilt. And I thought I saw an early Pflueger Progress in the early scenes where the brothers are little boys.
Also, some of the rods were Hexagraphs, I think.

[Richard Lodge]

It was definitely a Hexagraph rod used for the fishing scenes in the movie. And I think Jason Bolger (not sure of spelling) was the "body double" who did the actual casting.

See www.hexagraph.com for more or read this:
THE HEXAGRAPH TRADITIONS SERIES - The Traditions Series offers the ultimate in Hexagraph's custom-finish abilities. Our Traditions rods were chosen for their cosmetics and performance for the fly fishing movie classic "A River Runs Through It". A Hexagraph Traditions rod, modeled after Ernest Hemingway's personal favorite, a Hardy Cane, was used in the movie "In Love and War". The Traditions Series can duplicate many of the famous rods from fly fishing history or we can duplicate one perhaps not so famous from your own family's history. If you want to send us a cherished family rod, we can closely duplicate its action as well as the cosmetics. Call us to discuss the details of the Traditions Series or the many elements of custom finish work that we can do for you . Custom price quoted.

-- Richard

[Richard Lodge]

The fly fishing "body double" stuntman who did the fly fishing scenes in A River Runs Through It was Jason Borger. I spelled his name wrong in previous post.
Richard

[Flyman615]

FWIW:

I agree that Pflueger Medalists were seen in the movie and that Jason Borger did the "Shadow Casting" segments using Hexagraph rods.

What you may not know is that my late friend and fellow Granger collector par excellance. Phil Snyder of Fullerton, CA furnished several of the Granger rods. Champions, Victorys and Specials as I recall.