Automatic fly fishing reel

evo

evo

Been here much more than a while
Location
My Island, WA
I watched oldfart's youtube vid on the x-rings and saw that he had a fly fishing reel for throw line. I'm wondering how many people here use them, in tree, big shot, hand throwing, ect... it there a type preference, brand, ect?

I just blindly ordered one on ebay for $5 to play around with. Apparently it has a retractable spring operated like a tape measure. I know Jomoco has something similar made out of a logging tape, but could be made from this as well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390507875815
 
I have a few and take them with me on most of my rec climbs. Never seem to need them on work climbs for whatever reason.

I like the one you got and $5 is a good price!

love
nick
 
I bought one shortly after I saw the photo Tom posted of his. I used it in the tree for a little while. It was short-lived though. It stopped working. I dunno, the one I bought might have been a cheaper one. I suspect none of them are very heavy duty. I've been planning to try the chalk line reel ever since Tom suggested it before. Just haven't gotten around to picking one up yet.....eventually.
 
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An alternative is to use a carpenter's chalkline reel. Super cheap, durable too...but not automatic.


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That is an awesome idea! Now just need to decide whether I want my hands to turn red or blue. I wonder if the dishwasher can get the color out.
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I got a nicer reel and put a handle on it. I think I got around 50 feet of the small zing it on there. It's a little big to keep on my saddle all the time.

I have an 8oz throwbag taped to the inside of a petzl william biner that I use to advance my line. I got the trick from Oceans and I'd recommend giving it a shot rather than a reel. You can get some good distance when you coil a length of rope and give the whole thing a toss.
 
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I have an 8oz throwbag taped to the inside of a petzl william biner that I use to advance my line. I got the trick from Oceans and I'd recommend giving it a shot rather than a reel. You can get some good distance when you coil a length of rope and give the whole thing a toss.

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Can you explain this to me a little more? So this gives your coil a little more momentum and a weighted end? I have used a heavier bag on the end of my throw line attached with a biner and that does help, I'm not real good at getting the coil were I want it sometimes.
I did get to HD today and purchased this chalkline, it comes with 100' of line, I was able to get 60' of zingit in it comfortably, just a few modifications and seems to work well. I measured how much line I was able to install with my 100' tape measure and I think it was very worried that it may be next.
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Used the chalkline today to help make a 30' lateral traverse from my white oak to a pine.

chalkLine.jpg
 
Not to sure when I'd use 60' of throwline while in a tree unless I was setting a traverse like moss did with his foot slingshot. He's so rad.

I think that for shorter advancements, you could save time by tossing the weighted biner on the climbline over the next target, rather than transferring from throwline to climbline, etc...

Simply grab a spare biner, (we all have like 20 just lying around, right?) and tape up an 8oz. throwbag inside the biner, leaving enough room to open and close the gate. Connect it to the end of your climbing line and toss. The added weight will get it to come right back to you with little additional effort.
 
I've really surprised myself with being able to throw, for better and worse. When I made the switch from steel rope snap to biner I missed the extra weight and bought a Oxan. There have been a few times where setting a throw line from a tree into a second can be a time saver and having hangups with tossing can make it not worth it. I'm hoping that this will help, keeping things compact. I hope that the rewind spring will be strong enough to pull a throw weight.
 
I should do this throwline thing, even if only to learn Gerald Beraneck's boomerang toss. It just seems that so many New England trees are tight for that. Time to do more climbing out in the wood.
 
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Not to sure when I'd use 60' of throwline while in a tree unless I was setting a traverse like moss did with his foot slingshot. He's so rad.

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Very good point, why would someone want to do such things? For me it is BECAUSE I saw Moss do it, or I read it in a book, saw it on a video, watched the experts at a competition or learned about it here. It becomes a challenge and "bucket" to do. Just want to take a moment and say thanks for all of the inspiration provided here! Not that I aspire to be as good as those with so much experience but it is so much fun trying.

So, I have linked to a few photos.

My dual chalk-line throw line. (sure to get some chuckles) I used Velcro to connect them if I am going to use both or the Velcro on one to stick it to the side of my saddle. Yesterday it worked very well and I am going to give it a try again today.


An advance of my climb line swinging the throw bag.


Mid traverse between an oak tree and a pine tree about 30' apart. Using my dual chalk-line. The Unicender is on my left and DdRT is on the right.


Tending the slack on my Uni.
 
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I like the new tagline, Eric. :)

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Right back at ya', Mr. President!!!
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I first saw one in use when eval'ing an old growth Doug-fir with Scott Baker. 60' was a good amount, and possibly too short for some shots between well-spaced re-iterant growth laterals. This worked in conjunction with his motion lanyard length.

The reels to not pay out line while throwing, but rather store and rewind line between throws. Scott 'flaked' out the throwline across his lanyard back and forth for easy pay-out as the throw-weight was thrown.

Slick for the right tree. I've wanted to get a reel, but for most residential work, a steel 'biner or snap will do a lot. Add a throw-weight to it, and I think you'll be well set for a lot of residential jobs.
 
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