Pro Angler 50 lever drag trolling reel

[Fishing Hawaii]

I recently found a brand new, still in the box, never been used lever drag trolling reel with the brand name Pro Angler 50. The original sales slip was in the box and indicated that the reel was purchased in Alaska in 1996. Obviously, it has been sitting in the box untouched since then.

I am completely unfamiliar with this reel brand. An online-search reveals nothing about the manufacturer and country of origin.

Is anyone familiar with the brand and whether the company is still in business? If you have used one of these, is it worth putting line on and using for wahoo, mahimahi and similar sized fish? I wouldn't feel comfortable using if for marlin and big-tuna.

It looks like it is well-made and on a par with a Penn Senator, at least.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

[alantani]

possibly an old chinese knock off. can you post some pictures? alan

[Fishing Hawaii]

Here it is

[alantani]

oh, now THAT looks interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!! never seen one before, but the construction of most of these early reels was pretty simple. alan

[Fishing Hawaii]

After I unbolted the reel strap, I spotted a red ink stamp that said "Made in Taiwan." Not a permanent mark by any means, so I assume it was applied in a way that would allow a seller to rub it off if it suited the sale.

I've got it loaded up with line and will give it a try sometime this week.

I'm way to old to think of a 1996 lure as an "early lure" so your comment was worth a chuckle. I bought my first reel back in 1945. It was an early Shakespeare level-wind. Still got it!!

Jim Rizzuto

[Fishing Hawaii]

After I unbolted the reel strap, I spotted a red ink stamp that said "Made in Taiwan." Not a permanent mark by any means, so I assume it was applied in a way that would allow a seller to rub it off if it suited the sale.

I've got it loaded up with line and will give it a try sometime this week.

I'm way to old to think of a 1996 lure as an "early lure" so your comment was worth a chuckle. I bought my first reel back in 1945. It was an early Shakespeare level-wind. Still got it!!

Jim Rizzuto

I meant "reel" rather than lure in my message above, of course. Attribute the error to advancing senility and the fact that I am up to my ears writing about fishing lures on another thread.

Jim Rizzuto

[Deep C]

I had some of their brand sent to me back in the late nineties as a potential for private labeling... My would be supplier wouldn't say for sure but they seemed to have very similar components to Okuma... I never went with private lable but used them for a while. Not international class but they did hold up pretty good. One problem I did have was the spool seemed to have a bit of gap between it and frame and getting loose line between the two was common...

[Fishing Hawaii]

Not an extreme test, of course, but here's what we got on the Pro Angler 50 reel today. We had spooled the reel with 50-pound class mono and did not notice the gapping problem. Perhaps that is a little surprise still to come.

The girl in the pic is Shirley Rizzuto, author of the cookbook "Fresh Catch of the Day." As you can see, she is hard at work thinking about how many ways she can cook this pile of fish. Look for her cookbook at <www.FishingHawaiiOffshore.com>.

[alantani]

jim, you're on the big island, right? i'll be on oahu from june 29th to august 4th with the wife and kids. we'll be staying at a small place in waialua and i hope to hitch a ride with jesse of chupu charters in haleiwa. too bad i won't be closer to you. i would have loved to crack this one open. alan

[Deep C]

The gap issue I had was on the small 20lb class ones I had. The 50 class was no issue... Again seemed very close to Okuma but the corrosion resistance was far better and they were tougher...