SW Flyfisher,

In all due respect, I think what Rawthumb was referring to were reels used for severe salt water applications. It is true that with 30+ years in the business, Tibor has accumulated a lot of records, and deservedly so. Not to mention Ted is a great guy. But with regard to Charlton, can we just set thier record srtaight? At this moment there are only 18 CURRENT IGFA fly fishing records for species over 100 pounds. Given the fact that there are many reels in the hands of salt water fly fishers (200,000+ by some market studies), the records are skewed tremendously in Charlton's favor. Of the 18 current records, Charlton holds 8 of them with several more pending. Considering Charlton production of thier large salt water reels at best may have been 1000 units, the reel has nearly 45% of todays IGFA records. Not bad for a dis-continued reel that hasn't been produced since mid 2003. Having said that, Charlton also holds CURRENT IGFA world records for Wahoo 1993 and 1994, Spearfish 2004, Dorado 12# and 20# - 2003, Roosterfish 2002 on and on down to the current record for Whitefish on 4#. A list of the current 100 pound+ records are as follows:

Blue Marlin 20# 289 pounds 2002
(largest fish ever caught on a fly)

Striped Marlin 16# 230 pounds 2002
Bluefin Tuna 20# 197 pounds 2001
Tarpon 20# 191 pounds 2003
Blue Shark 20# 165 ounds 1997
Striped Marlin 12# 154 pounds 2004
Pacific Sailfish 12# 114 pounds 2003
Pacific Sailfish 20# 112 pounds 2003

The bottom line is Charlton reels, although representing easily less than 1% of all reels in use today, has performed to an extroidinary level. I realize Tibor and Scientific Anglers may be sponsors of this site, but I also (love you guys) feel this site is for the general education of the fly fishing public and Rawthumbs comments were more than "right on the mark"!

Best .... Jeff