I own a 1494(DA I believe), and have it paired up with an 8' 7wt Shakespeare Wonderglass and spooled with a DT7F Cortland Peach line. Its a fun setup for bass, that I don't use as often as I should. Both pieces of hardware are from the mid 70s IIRC, making the setup older than me by a significant margin. I do need to visit One-Pfoot to get some spare screws for the reel though, but other than that, I have absolutely no complaints.
Bruce,Originally Posted by lastchance
FWIW, my brother has been using one of the newer models for nearly 2 years now and swears by it. He says he'll never use anything else and is looking to buy another. At least one satisfied customer
John
I have a 1499 CJ that weighs about 2 pounds and has a huge cork drag, together with a spare spool. I haven't been able to find out anything about it. It came with a 13 weight rod and line. I have used it a few times but when combined with a 13 weight rod, it about threw my shoulder out of joint.
You don't ever want a crisis to go to waste... - Rahm Emanuel
Who is John Galt?
Pflueger is truly the "American Working Man's" reel.
My gripes:
1. The reel was a little too heavy.
2. The fly line had a tendency to find itself between the frame and the spool.
3. I had to carry a screwdriver to tighten loose screws... and when a screw was lost it was a pain to replace it finding the part.
4.The paint comes off the finish.
...otherwise I'm glad to see the history of American Fly Fishing carried on. I think it's great! Like rebuilding a '57 Chevy.
I fish with a Berkley 1056.. I guess a dinosaur, but a good one in my opinion, that never really caught on. It has served me well for many years.
Last edited by hairwing; 09-09-2010 at 03:52 PM.
"As far down the river as he could see, the trout were rising, making circles on the surface of the water, as though it were starting to rain."- E.H., The Big Two Hearted River
The Medalist was the 1st fly reel I'd ever bought (my first fly get-up being a "combo", which doesn't count). The first year I used it, I caught @ 1,000 fish on it. I must confess, I don't believe the drag was ever called into play. I retired it after that first year, but still have it. It owes me nothing, and I have nothing but great fishing memories from it.
David Merical
St. Louis, MO
My first fly reel was was a 1496 Medalist, given to me by my father in the late 1950s, he acquired it in the late 1930s as a premium for selling subscriptions to one of the major outdoor magazines of the day. I later bought a 1494 and a 1495, pre-Shakespeare and pre-offshore manufacture. The 1496 was lost during a move and the 1494 and 1495 were given away in time. Over twenty years ago I came across (and purchased) a 1494 which was apparently a very early drag model (the drag was introduced in 1937). Incorporating the drag required a new frame casting to add a boss to house the drag-control knob but apparently some of the old frame castings were simply drilled to accept the shaft which left the knob sticking out rather awkwardly, and this was one of those. A few years later, I came across a 1494 on E-Bay which appeared to be a pre-war (Medalists made before WWII and, for a short period afterward, were easily identified by the round Diamolite line guard, aluminum latch cover, amber-colored handle and riveted, sculpted pillars) model in very good condition. Only after purchasing it did I discover that it pre-dated the introduction of the drag, having a simple spring and pawl ratchet mechanism.
I am still using both, usually on my Granger cane rod, particularly for sea-run cutthroat in the fall. Here are some pictures.
I use my imports more than the vintage. Best reel you can buy for $25.
And personally I'll never try to make a silk purse from the old sows ear. That's just plain silly.
medalists.jpg
The simpler the outfit, the more skill it takes to manage it, and the more pleasure one gets in his achievements.
--- Horace Kephart
Thanks to all who are participating...here's another great site
http://www.kiene.com/articles/pflueg...istflyreel.htm
"Trust, but verify" - Russian Proverb, as used by Ronald Reagan
I have a Pflueger Sal Trout 1554
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