Traditional sea fishing rods, reels and tackle...

[Mr B]

A few photos bellow...

Mr B

[Kev D]

I actually collect and use Alvey reels, got about 13 of them. There made in Australia.
My ones date from around 1950’s up to around the late 70’s.
I have some big boat reels and the bigger side casters up to 6 1/2 inches.
I have a couple of hollow class rods with the reel fitting down low Australian style. ( the but end about 8 inches from the reel.
One of my favourites in the 6 inch wooden surf master.
I do also have a nice old split cane pier rod.
I have been meaning to do a traditional day on a Pier Complete with over coat a tie and flat cap!
Brighton would have been the place buts it’s now closed to fisherman! Last time I fished on that old pier was with my grandfather when I was around 9 or 10.

Mr B

What about nearby Shorham Harbour Arm?
Though the retrospective attire might might hinder integration with the locals.
A stroll there with T'Other Half revealed de rigor custom and costume to include camouflaged bomber jackets worn over track suits, gold neckchains ,folding chairs,scowling countenances and lots of plastic bags. Not forgetting the obligatory and overtly displayed big knife, bottle of wine or strong spirits and at least one bored looking female in a silver puffer jacket and Primark leggings attached to each group of adult males
That was two years ago though and fashion moves so quickly
It is quite possible that a betied Gentleman with a flat cap ,raincoat sea-boot stockings , turned-over Wellingtons and wooden rod would find himself just one among many.

[RobGoodwin]

Thanks for the replies and the pictures gents. There used to be a tackle shop in Scarborough - Pritchards I think it was - and they used to display Scarborough reels. I think the oilbaths were "specials" and were made to order. By the time I could afford "proper" gear in the late 70s, to my shame, I was persuaded by the advertising of that era, and I got a hollow glass ABU Atlantic beachcaster and an ambassadeur 7000, both of which I still have.

[RobGoodwin]

By the way I did once own an Alvey sidecast which was bottom mounted on my beachcaster but TBH I couldn't get on with it. I also struggle with a fixed spool for beachcasting - my cast always flies off to the right. Tried a trigger button and a finger stall but somehow can't get everything right. So its a multipier for me these days. I started with a Mitchell 602AP with a Dons of Edmonton's cast controller; this had a spring loaded chrome leather brake on the spool rim (great for night fishing off the beach) and then graduated to ABU Ambassadeurs. I used to fish at Spurn Point on the Humber Estuary and Sandsend beach near Whitby.

[Banksy]

My father-in-law and I fished from the ledges below Flamborough lighthouse, directly under the foghorn station.
Not a good place for anyone prone to vertigo. And if the foghorn started up, it was enough to blast you off your perch!

I still have his rod and reel. The rod has a wooden handle, cane butt and a greenheart top section.
The label is barely legible, but I can make out 'T. Linford Fishing Tackle Bridlington. Linford's tackle shop was on Hilderthorpe Road, about 200 yards up the street from my father-in-law's grocers shop.
The reel is a standard 6" wooden Scarborough reel bearing the mark Eton Sun (?)

A couple of years ago I fished at the bottom of Sewerby Steps and was reminded of how things used to be.
An old chap walking his dog asked me how many codling I had caught.
When I replies that I had caught nothing, he smiled.
"Well you do surprise me, young man, it's a right good spot this. When I were down here last I had about thirty good fish.
"Just after t' war it would be, about 1948."

[Old Man River]

I do like this thread, it relates a lot to the east coast beaches and rock marks I have fished for the last 40 plus years , and still do, all the reminders of the tackle I used to use , and still own are a testament as to how things really dont change that much .
OK, now I use modern up to date gear and can cast distances that would seem impossible all those years ago,but the basics, as with freshwater fishing dont change much ,but the fish are no longer there in the numbers they were once. I can remember only 25 years ago, going to the beach in winter with full expectations of returning home with a good half dozen or more cod to 6 or 8 lbs, nowadays one would be a bonus .The Whitings and Flatties are still there in numbers though, and Bass seem to be appearing on a more regular basis than ever I can remember ,at least on the Yorkshire coast.

All the gear mentioned I have , Alvey sidecast reel, Abu 484, Abu 7000, Eton Sun Centrepins, etc etc.... just as a quickie, has anybody got one of these bad boys... somehow I ended up with 3,two are still loaded with Dacron and one with the original Shark trace from when they were last used .....photograph taken with a Rapidex for a size comparison




Now some of my vintage sea gear is in a jumbled heap in a display not unlike a junk shop.



I still use my Abu 7000, my Original Conoflex rods, and the aged but ageless Abu 484 when bassing in Wales ,and a few of my vintage Penn Senators, when charter boat fishing when the mood takes me, but I generally draw the line at Cane, except for the occasional foray with this ..



Do keep the reminiscences coming...

OMR

[Kev D]

Until recently , when l gave it to my brother to go with an old rod he was selling, l had an Eton Sun. It was 5 or six inches in diameter with Tufnol side plates .
It looked functional but the simple Sarborough style back strap looked like a recipe for loopy tangles for someone with my variable casting techiques.

[Mr B]

IMG_3561.jpg

Very nice reels! Are the big steel ones Allcox’s complete with break!
Very interesting post we have hear..
I to use old Penn Senator’s up to 9/0 for boat fishing.
Also for beach casting like above I use old ABU Ambassadors on the 484 Super Zoom Atlantic.
Also got a few old Conoflex beach casters.
Here I am bellow using my 6ft split cane boat rod, with a Penn Seaboy reel.. Hampton Pier around 1969.
And bellow some old photos from A book I have from The Herne Bay Sea Angling Club.
Mr B

Ps.. I will give the arm at Shoram a miss!
I am going to take a trip down memory lane though Celt summer and fish Hampton pier again!

[Mr B]

And one from the good old days

Herne Bay Pier.

Mr B

[Mole-Patrol]

I've been using a 9 foot cane rod coupled with an Alvey ( courtesy of Mole Patrol) for boat fishing this Summer. My casting technique is less than elegant but l can heave leads between one and five ounces maybe 35 yards from the boat- most of the time
I gather loops in one hand,at which point my companions are either bearing worried looks , rolling their eyes at my idiocy or simply waiting for something to go wrong
If (That should probably be an upper case IF... ) l get the timing right l can gain extra yards by flicking the drum while the lead is in flight.
I would possibly do better with more user friendly and sensitive modern tackle but it adds a bit of fun to the day.
On one occasion l handed the rod,complete with an attached conger to the chap next to me so he could share my boyish glee. He handed it back in about ten seconds - scared he would break something.
It wouldn't 've bothered me; the rod cost £9.50 and anyway some of the chaps bring bundles of spare rods with them. If l grovelled someone would've lent me one.
Hopefully .

I have a Mitchell 624 that you can have Kev, if you fancy a 'proper' casting reel

Might be a bit more difficult to change over to left hand wind than Alvin was but it should give you that extra few yards without worrying about one of the loops getting around your ankle and you following the lead into the briny