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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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Group of Eight Assorted Fishing Reels
Jul 17, 10:00 AM EDT
Group of Eight Assorted Fishing Reels
by Nye & Company
Est: $50- $500
$251 Bid
Sea Fishing Interest-Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Seven Reel
Jul 20, 7:00 PM BST
Sea Fishing Interest-Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Seven Reel
by James Auctioneers London
Est: £60- £100
£600 Bids
1940s Early Fishing Reel & Pole
Jul 21, 6:00 PM EDT
1940s Early Fishing Reel & Pole
by Atlee Raber Auctioneer
Est: $0- $0
$50 Bids
Good Luck Horseshoe & Fish SideWinder Fishing Reel
Jul 21, 6:00 PM EDT
Good Luck Horseshoe & Fish SideWinder Fishing Reel
by Atlee Raber Auctioneer
Est: $0- $0
$50 Bids
Langley Reelcast Fishing Reel
Aug 04, 6:00 PM EDT
Langley Reelcast Fishing Reel
by Atlee Raber Auctioneer
Est: $0- $0
$50 Bids
Shakespeare & Great Lakes Fishing Reels
Aug 04, 6:00 PM EDT
Shakespeare & Great Lakes Fishing Reels
by Atlee Raber Auctioneer
Est: $0- $0
$50 Bids
LOT OF 2 VINTAGE FISHING REELS PFLUEGER
Jul 23, 9:00 AM EDT
LOT OF 2 VINTAGE FISHING REELS PFLUEGER
by Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC
Est: $80- $120
$200 Bids
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PFLUEGER "EVERLASTER" SURF CASTER 20th Century Length approx. 9'0".
Jul 24, 9:30 AM EDT
PFLUEGER "EVERLASTER" SURF CASTER 20th Century Length approx. 9'0".
by Eldred's
Est: $300- $500
$1500 Bids
5 FRESH WATER FLY FISHING REELS PFLUGER 1774 IN ORIGINAL BOX
Jul 31, 6:00 PM EDT
5 FRESH WATER FLY FISHING REELS PFLUGER 1774 IN ORIGINAL BOX
by Legacies Old & New, Inc.
Est: $0- $0
$400 Bids
PENN Lot 2 Assorted Fishing Reels
Jul 23, 10:00 AM EDT
PENN Lot 2 Assorted Fishing Reels
by The Benefit Shop Foundation Inc.
Est: $40- $80
$100 Bids
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EDWARD VOM HOFE DEEP SEA FISHING REEL WITH ROD Late 19th Century Approx. 6' 7".
Jul 24, 9:30 AM EDT
EDWARD VOM HOFE DEEP SEA FISHING REEL WITH ROD Late 19th Century Approx. 6' 7".
by Eldred's
Est: $600- $800
$3000 Bids
Lot of 2 Ross Reels Evolution Fly Fishing Reels
Jul 26, 11:00 AM EDT
Lot of 2 Ross Reels Evolution Fly Fishing Reels
by Kavanagh Auctions
Est: $50- $50,000
$500 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Fishing Reels


Atlee Raber Auctioneer

Atlee Raber Auctioneer

Eldred's

Eldred's

Nye & Company

Nye & Company

Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC

Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC