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Single-Action Brass Ball-Handle Reel

Ball-handle reels were immensely popular with the New York tackle retailers and manufacturers throughout the 1800s. Used for larger game fish and some saltwater applications, they were a popular choice for bait anglers, but the offset handles of the multiplying reels were problematic for fly anglers, with the line often catching under the handles. Single-action, center-mounted handle versions found favor among fly fishers, offering a reduced chance of line fouling.

Courtesy of Jim Schottenham


Yearc. 1850Accession No.L2022.004.001Made byUnknown

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