The Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute is in need of semi-automatic Vivarelli and ATP reels. AFFI is a TX-based non-profit association under Section 208 of the Texas Business Organization Code. www.adaptiveflyfishing.com
For questions or shipping instructions email: info@adaptiveflyfishing.com
i have a dumb question… whats a simi-auto reel ? ive had automatic reels and manual reels but never heard of or seen a simi-auto…
Semi-automatic reels have a lever that comes off the front of the reel where you can squeeze it with your rod hand while holding the rod, and each time you squeeze it line is retrieved. But unlike automatic reels, there is no spring. They are gear-and-ball-bearing actuated. So one pump of the lever = only so much line retrieved. They are far superior in performance and durability to automatic reels. And they are a vital piece of adaptive equipment to someone who wants to fly fish, but only has use of one arm.
Yup! Vivarelli is the relatively inexpensive reel of choice for our Project Healing Waters wounded vets. Our club is picking up two more… one to hold onto until needed. the other to a Vietnam vet who took to fly fishing like a fish to water.
The neat thing with the Viv’s (and probably the other newer automatics) is that the vets can strip line with their mouths when needed.
thanks for the description… i got to learn something today…
Relatively is the key word there. They make the least expensive model on the market in the US. And it’s about $160. It’s a graphite model that goes up to about 6wt duty. Their saltwater model that goes up to 8wt (9wt if you’re pushing it by reducing the backing) is $600.
AFFI is currently testing the brand new entry to the market, the Thinkfish BOLD from Spain. It goes for about $500 and is saltwater ready up to a 7wt and is the only model on the market with a true adjustable drag.
All of the semi-auto reels are made in Europe, where they are considered a luxury item for anglers who just like tech gadgets. And when you convert euros to dollars and ship them to the US, pay import fees, etc. they get pretty expensive.
An American company made one, Pachmeir and Koller (sp?) or P&K. I’ve seen them go on eBay for $7. I have one, which, many apo0logies, I’m not letting go, but they are cool reels.
found one here on ebay…
I assume there is a discount for you, right? these sound like retail prices…are you paying retail?
Truth to tell, the institute…as well as our certified instructors…can buy most products at pro or dealer prices. But when it comes to luxury imports, the duty fees and such are a big chunk of the price and the margin isn’t really that big. Besides, normal retail mark-up in sporting goods being anywhere from 15-40%, a $600 reel at wholesale is still expensive for a charity. But that’s just half the story…
What about the disabled angler? How many people living on a disability check do you imagine can afford a $300-600 fishing reel? Their monthly rent is usually half that!
What is really behind our request for donated semi-auto reels is a research project whereby we are using these reels to teach with and take disabled anglers fishing, yes; but we are also taking them apart, studying their ease of maintenance and repair, looking for ways to improve on various designs, and coming up with our own ideal model. Then we will take that to a US reelmaker with a price-point that is affordable and see if we can get someone to make them for us.
Thanks for the education! Information is also valuable.
I would have thought that a company would either give them to you or sell at cost…guess not
Thinkfish did send us a reel and 2 extra spools at no charge. But they are brand new to the market. Europeans think very differently about such things than Americans do.