trueblue
02-02-2006, 05:47 PM
G’day all
A few years ago, I was sitting talking with a mate over a few beers and the latest Mo-Tackle mag when the weather was too rough and we couldn’t get out wide for a fish.
We were putting together a combined Mo-Tackle order for some braid and a couple of flash reels, when my mate asked if I remembered when as kids we never had any of the flash kit that is so widely available today. We talked for a while about using cheap rods, cheap Alvey reels with no drag, and how we used to catch even big fish ok with them as young fellas.
We both recalled times long gone by when using an Alvey reel with no drag, and a big fish would put on a good run and you would have to use your hand under the reel to act as the drag, sometimes getting quite hot. We reminisced times gone by for a few more beers and then we sorted out our Mo-Tackle order, and I never thought much more about it.
Then a few weeks later the missus asks if I want to go to the beach for a picnic. I say ok, and the little nipper asks me if I am going to take a rod. Is the pope a catholic I say, and off to the shed to grab some kit.
Then as I am looking to select a spinning setup out of the rack I remembered about the conversation about using the old Alvey kit. So without any particular reason, I grabbed an old little beach rod, and an even older Alvey. The line on the Alvey was stuffed as it had been sitting in a box for years, so I changed it over to some newer 15 lb mono that I had lying about and away we went.
I can’t say I took anything too seriously that day. I lobbed out a pilchard bait, and settled down under the shade of a tree and had a few beers enjoying the tropical day.
Next I know the rods going off and I go bolting down the beach to pick it up before the line goes slack. Not too long and I realize that its not the usual flattie on the other end.
It had been a long time since I had used an Alvey reel, so I copped the inevitable thumps to the fingers by the reel knobs before I got back into the swing of using my hand as my “drag setting” and keeping fingers clear of the spinning reel knobs.
My young fella was in my ear the whole time with a thousand questions, the fish was caught and released, and I had a ton of fun with old kit that hadn’t been out of the box in about 20 years.
The fish didn’t put up that much of a fight for its size; instead it was just a series of fairly long and steady runs. But this event remains with me as one of my more memorable fishing experiences, going back to basics, and it was great to have the young fella along and starting to see what it is all about.
And bless the missus for bringing the camera…
10 photos to follow. pls wait for photos...
A few years ago, I was sitting talking with a mate over a few beers and the latest Mo-Tackle mag when the weather was too rough and we couldn’t get out wide for a fish.
We were putting together a combined Mo-Tackle order for some braid and a couple of flash reels, when my mate asked if I remembered when as kids we never had any of the flash kit that is so widely available today. We talked for a while about using cheap rods, cheap Alvey reels with no drag, and how we used to catch even big fish ok with them as young fellas.
We both recalled times long gone by when using an Alvey reel with no drag, and a big fish would put on a good run and you would have to use your hand under the reel to act as the drag, sometimes getting quite hot. We reminisced times gone by for a few more beers and then we sorted out our Mo-Tackle order, and I never thought much more about it.
Then a few weeks later the missus asks if I want to go to the beach for a picnic. I say ok, and the little nipper asks me if I am going to take a rod. Is the pope a catholic I say, and off to the shed to grab some kit.
Then as I am looking to select a spinning setup out of the rack I remembered about the conversation about using the old Alvey kit. So without any particular reason, I grabbed an old little beach rod, and an even older Alvey. The line on the Alvey was stuffed as it had been sitting in a box for years, so I changed it over to some newer 15 lb mono that I had lying about and away we went.
I can’t say I took anything too seriously that day. I lobbed out a pilchard bait, and settled down under the shade of a tree and had a few beers enjoying the tropical day.
Next I know the rods going off and I go bolting down the beach to pick it up before the line goes slack. Not too long and I realize that its not the usual flattie on the other end.
It had been a long time since I had used an Alvey reel, so I copped the inevitable thumps to the fingers by the reel knobs before I got back into the swing of using my hand as my “drag setting” and keeping fingers clear of the spinning reel knobs.
My young fella was in my ear the whole time with a thousand questions, the fish was caught and released, and I had a ton of fun with old kit that hadn’t been out of the box in about 20 years.
The fish didn’t put up that much of a fight for its size; instead it was just a series of fairly long and steady runs. But this event remains with me as one of my more memorable fishing experiences, going back to basics, and it was great to have the young fella along and starting to see what it is all about.
And bless the missus for bringing the camera…
10 photos to follow. pls wait for photos...