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Fishing Reels

Fishing reels—like fishing itself—have become highly specialized over the last two centuries, and their evolution has left a variety of collecting options. Whether searching by company, era, or type, the fishing reel market contains many brands and models.

Early Chinese literature mentioned the fishing reel’s existence around 3-4 A.D., but it was nearly 1,000 years before an artistic version of a reel appeared in Ma Yuan's "Angler on a Wintery Lake" painting. The first advertised reels, narrow spindled and made of wood and brass, appeared throughout Great Britain in the mid 1700s. By the 1800s, reel invention had caught on in the U.S., and George Snyder, Francis Loomis, and A.H. Illingworth became a few of the forefathers to modern fishing reel mechanics. Snyder brought about the serpentine crank, while Loomis made the first successful automatic reel, and Illingworth modified the shuttle reel. In 1954, the French engineering firms of Charles Pons and Leon Carpano designed some of the first affordable spinning reels with functional bale arms.

Factors involved in determining a reel’s collectible value include age, scarcity, and quality, along with individual preference. Reels have a formal grading system, and valuation works on a scale of one to 10 with appearance and mechanics graded separately. Some highly valued reels include Nottingham, Howban, the Hardy Perfect Fly Reel, Heddon No. 30, and 1880s German silver or hard rubber reels.


Quick Facts

  • In 1874, Charles F. Orvis invented a reel and fly design that became the first modern fly reel in existence
  • Shops in London advertised fishing reels as early as the mid 1700s
  • A prototype of the first patented American fly reel made by William Billinghurst reached $40,320 at a Lang’s auction in 2008

Recommended Items at Auction

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OKUMA FISHING REEL AND ALPS ROD
Oct 02, 10:00 AM PDT
OKUMA FISHING REEL AND ALPS ROD
by O'Gallerie
Est: $0- $0
$14010 Bids
FISHING GEAR: 3 RODS AND 2 FLY REELS
Oct 02, 10:00 AM PDT
FISHING GEAR: 3 RODS AND 2 FLY REELS
by O'Gallerie
Est: $0- $0
$254 Bids
2 x vintage fishing reels incl, Alvey and Academy, Australian made. Largest is 17cm Dia.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
2 x vintage fishing reels incl, Alvey and Academy, Australian made. Largest is 17cm Dia.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD353 Bids
Fishing Gear, Reels, Lines, Sinkers
Oct 07, 10:00 AM MST
Fishing Gear, Reels, Lines, Sinkers
by EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Est: $0- $0
$152 Bids
3 x vintage Alvey fishing reels. Largest is 17cm Dia.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
3 x vintage Alvey fishing reels. Largest is 17cm Dia.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD252 Bids
4 x assorted vintage fishing reels incl, Avon Royal. Avon is 10cm Dia.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
4 x assorted vintage fishing reels incl, Avon Royal. Avon is 10cm Dia.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD201 Bid
A HARDY BROTHERS FISHING REEL. 7.75 cm x 3.75 cm.
Oct 11, 10:00 AM BST
A HARDY BROTHERS FISHING REEL. 7.75 cm x 3.75 cm.
by Hannam's Auctioneers
Est: £30- £50
£200 Bids
Group of 11 8mm Adult Film Reels in Case
Oct 07, 9:00 AM CDT
Group of 11 8mm Adult Film Reels in Case
by Matthew Bullock Auctioneers
Est: $30- $300
$150 Bids
2 x vintage fishing reels incl, The Graeme Supreme 300A. Supreme is 13cm L, 7cm Dia.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
2 x vintage fishing reels incl, The Graeme Supreme 300A. Supreme is 13cm L, 7cm Dia.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD200 Bids
Two Penn Bakelite fishing reels together with two wooden fly fishing reels (4).
Oct 13, 10:00 AM BST
Two Penn Bakelite fishing reels together with two wooden fly fishing reels (4).
by Hannam's Auctioneers
Est: £30- £50
£250 Bids
2 x vintage fishing reels, Steelite S&A Sydney. Largest is 12cm Dia.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
2 x vintage fishing reels, Steelite S&A Sydney. Largest is 12cm Dia.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD200 Bids
2 x vintage fishing reels incl, Intrepid Sea Streak made in England. Largest is 15cm L.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
2 x vintage fishing reels incl, Intrepid Sea Streak made in England. Largest is 15cm L.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD200 Bids
2 x vintage fishing reels incl, Capstan No 69 and Dolphin 615 Olympic. Olympic is 16cm L, 9cm Dia.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
2 x vintage fishing reels incl, Capstan No 69 and Dolphin 615 Olympic. Olympic is 16cm L, 9cm Dia.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD200 Bids
2 x vintage fishing reels incl, Penn Peerless No 9 and Indian. Largest is 14cm L.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
2 x vintage fishing reels incl, Penn Peerless No 9 and Indian. Largest is 14cm L.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD200 Bids
Yokozuna Secret 70 Fishing Reel Unused Example
Oct 08, 7:00 PM BST
Yokozuna Secret 70 Fishing Reel Unused Example
by James Auctioneers London
Est: £15- £25
£150 Bids
2 x vintage hardwood timber fishing reels, brass fittings. Largest is 11cm Dia.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
2 x vintage hardwood timber fishing reels, brass fittings. Largest is 11cm Dia.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD200 Bids
2 x vintage fishing reels, Steelite S&A Sydney. 12cm Dia.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
2 x vintage fishing reels, Steelite S&A Sydney. 12cm Dia.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD200 Bids
2 x fishing reels incl, ABU Garcia Ambassadeur T.E.N. CL and Cussons Estuary. 16cm W, 7.5cm Dia.
Oct 05, 7:00 PM AEDT
2 x fishing reels incl, ABU Garcia Ambassadeur T.E.N. CL and Cussons Estuary. 16cm W, 7.5cm Dia.
by Bargain Hunt Auctions
Est: AUD0- AUD0
AUD200 Bids
A COLLECTION OF FOUR EARLY FISHING REELS
Oct 18, 9:30 AM BST
A COLLECTION OF FOUR EARLY FISHING REELS
by Hutchinson Scott Limited
Est: £400- £600
£2000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Fishing Reels


Bargain Hunt Auctions

Bargain Hunt Auctions

O'Gallerie

O'Gallerie

Hannam's Auctioneers

Hannam's Auctioneers