These old Daiwa reels rule! Check out these classic Daiwas, still singing after 40 years! SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook - / retrobassinproductions Instagram - / retrobassin
I love those old Daiwa Millionaires! I bought my first one in 1977 and paired it with a Shakespeare Ugly Stik casting. Sure this rig was heavy, but it was state-of-the-art back then. The reel cast as smooth as silk. I took it to Canada that year to fish for large northern pike. It performed admirably casting Dardevle spoons along the weedlines. I nailed the biggest northern of the trip and won the pool of money me and my buddies had for the biggest fish.
Great video; how older fishing tackle can look brand new with some loving care. Most of my stuff is old because I bought it brand new and still use all of it still. I was never a Daiwa fan mostly because I bought Lew’s and Shimano rods and reels. I used Shakespeare, Fenwick, Mitchel, Abu Garcia, Pflueger, Quantum, Pinnacle and not forgetting Bass Pro, Cabela’s and Berkley rods and reels. What you probably know; features that came on older reels few talk about or know about. Most spinning reels worth more than a nickel included a spare spool. Many also had a quick change spool system and rear drag adjustment features. I have two Abu casting reels with quick change spools (XLT Models). Shimano made two speed gear ratio bass reels with a lever drag. Older Shimano reels had a switch that engaged the reel handle enabling back reeling and still left the drag work at the same time. Others had clickers that sounded as the drag slipped too. Many old reels had far more features than the stream line ones of today. Today; it is all about smaller reel size, bearing count, high-speed retrieval and longer handles. All of them cost little to add to any reel however, older reels still cast as far as new ones if they are well maintained. They just need a better caster holding the rod. Old casting reels with jewel bushing will spin longer than reels with bearings; most were made before 1900. They were made by hand one at a time with the precision of watchmaker’s. They used no bearing and had no drag except for a clicker; never used casting. However, they used bronze frames engraved and plated with fine German silver. Handles made from Ivory and rods made with split bamboo. I hope someday you get to see one; because they sure are Retro and works of art too.
Gizmo Carr Hey Gizmo! Oh, I’ve got a Pfleuger Skillcast rugged up with a Creek Chub Wiggle Fish for an upcoming tribute episode...bet you can guess which one!
@@RetroBassin Creek Chub Fintail Shiner is currently said to be the lure used. However, over the years some said it was a Pikie Minnow in a perch pattern. I remember reading about it in Field & Stream. The other question is the line used; in 1932 it likely was braided silk or linen line. The reel and rod, I haven’t a clue about. Pictures show Perry holding what looks to be a bamboo pole and reel. But, they didn’t show the World record fish and pole together. The legend has been surpassed a number of times but failed to qualify for different reasons. One bass caught in Japan and two in California. Aug. 24, 2003 Leah Trew 22-pounds 8-ounces, March 20, 2006: Mac Weakley 25-pounds one-ounce, bass was named Dottie, Japan; Manabu Kurita 2009, 22 pounds, 5 ounces. IGFA rules require fish must weigh more than 4-ounces more to break previous World Record weight. The sad story of Dottie is good reading and the most interesting of all.
@@RetroBassin Some of the most interesting finds are hidden in old tackle boxes. The estate sale big rusty ones hold the history of the angler’s knowledge that fill it. If you are lucky; you find a few filled with hidden treasures. You seldom find soft plastics in the oldest ones; and those ones are most interesting. You might find a pristine lure; but more often the lures that tell the important stories are batter from teeth marks and hard use. It’s enlightening to CSI the contents. It might make a great series of videos if you don’t pay a fortune for one. There are ones made to look vintage filled with lures of the time however, it is easy to see ones of this nature. The untouched ones are the most interesting and the hardest to find. That is why; I believe your channel is unique and bound for future greatness.
As great as those features are..that's just more parts to fool with and they're no longer available. There's also a reason those features were short lived. Like the clicker on his Millionaire..usless..
The frog spot bombers are amazing if you ever find them. And that copper and black lure you definitely need to fish with cause I caught my biggest fish ever which was 50 plus pounds and every black and copper lure I've used has been an absolute fish catcher.
The 'ol bullfrog pattern! Yeah, copper used to be a much more common color, be it for cranks, spoons, or spinnerbait blades...it's got a subtle, deep flash to it perfect for a little overcast.
Great video episode ! I bought a Daiwa reel in Springfield on one of the big BASS Pro Shop trips and I pretty much was underwhelmed by it. Great to see those properly working
You mentioned at 10min and 30sec about old lures sounding better. I paint a lot of baits. What I have found is older baits are made with better materials. Most lures today are made of clear plastic with big hollow rattle chambers which also makes the plastic thinner and the bait lighter. The older let's for the most part were made of solid color plastic that was thicker which made the baits more dense and slightly heavier. Now as for the sound the older baits with thicker plastic had smaller sound chambers and the thickness gave you more of that thumping low frequency sound. You mentioned rattle trAps and rattle spots. Great example. If you strip the paint off, every rattle spot is clear and all "old" rattle traps are solid bone white plastic. The old baits definitely perform better and sound better. The bomber model A has not been the same since this transition and the big O went the same way
Bought a millionaire reel around 91 for 25.00 and put it on zebco rino road. Never got a thing on it. Most of the time I use a Garcia Mitchell 300 on a 6 1/2 fiberglass rod. And stay out of my tackle box.
I have a millionaire reel, but much prefer my 1972 Ambassador, growing up in the 60s and 70s Daiwa was seen as an also ran in the UK , ABU had pretty much stole the market before Garcia screwed everything up. Great video as always, and I think I have most of the lures and use them as they should be.
7:50 loading the reel. Funny… I always use some mono for backing like a lot of people then fish braid. Reason being braid will slip and your whole spool of line will just spin around the spool free from to spool. You will reel and reel and get nothing and your line won’t be spinning. You think your real gears broke cause it don’t look like spool tuning but the spool is turning and the line slips inside. Mono will grip the spool. So….. if you do this and put braid on the inside for backing…. Put 10-20 yards of mono first.
I bought a whole bag of those Poe's lures down in FL about 10 years ago, I was in a Walmart and they had a tray of them on the bottom shelf below the cheap reels marked down to $.50 each. I bought the whole box, about 6 of every pattern. They work great up north. About 18 years ago one tackle company I dealt with was using old worms as 'packing'. I'd order a few bags of rod guides or parts and get 5 lbs of worms as filler in the box. (Shipping was free, so I didn't much care but most of the worms were out of date product at the time. It didn't take long to have a few hundred pounds of assorted worms. Lots of 7.5" flipper tails, older Mister Twister, and a ton of unknown rubber as well. Got most of those reels myself, still use them on occasion but my go to bait casters have always been Abu Garcia. I have most of the Daiwa Millionaire line from that era, they're 'well used' but still going strong all these years.
The “Camel” Rebel humpback was a promotional deal from Camel cigarettes. You had to save the bottom portion of packs to buy stuff from a selection they offered. (Pre “Camel Cash”)I gave out some as Xmas gifts years ago to some of the fisherman in my family. I still have one.
I Agree with everything out do except when it comes reels round bait casters I prefer the Shimano Calcutta I have the gold gtb 250 I found this jem on black Friday sale at Cabela's when lt comes to spinning reel I also like Diwia the Calcutta reel is no longer in production the silver one are nowhere as nice I do have a Abu Garcia red round reel that needs service don't know where to send it
