It is always a risky business buying an item without seeing it “in-the-flesh”, first hand.
Fishing recently with a good friend, he showed me a new reel he had acquired, an Aerial 4.5 inch, and used it on the day to catch some cracking Roach on the River Stour.
I have always fancied one of these reels myself. Seeing one for sale online, I bid for it and made a purchase. Upon receipt, I was a little disappointed to be honest, as it wobbled like a granddad at a Christmas party. Non-the-less, I did get it for a good price. After cleaning the reel further, i found it spun well, and now gleams!. It still requires a bit of work to get rid of the wobble, and I can’t wait to try it out next time I get down to the river.
The previous owner very kindly sent me a series of historic pictures to show its development. The final picture shows what it is like now. Apparently, it is quite literally a barn find, and was found in Ireland. Skeletal-like, cobweb bound, It can be seen from the first photographs that it was found loaded with Salmon or Trout line. The previous owner has had it for a number of years and done a great job bringing it back from the dead. Now I own it, and a new chapter will begin, hopefully being used to catch a 3lb Crucian, or a 20lb Carp, or even a 4lb Tench; who knows? watch this space….
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