Recently retired and am wondering if anybody sells the old swish rods/reels I used 40-50 years ago for perch? I'm sure there are better options today but the swish rods worked very well back in the old days....
Ice Fishing
Swish Rods/Reels ?
Percheye1,
I didn't get your PM, not sure what has changed but it seems like LL changed how messages get received. As far as how many I'd like if the rods/reels are in good shape I'd use 2, maybe I can get my grandson to join me on nicer winter days as he likes fishing with me during the summer, but he's not a teenager yet when his priorities will change.
If you're handy, pretty easy to convert to an panfish ultra-lite. Use any blank you want. I used existing rods, just removed the handles. You can use the existing assembly by cutting off and drilling out the existing handle. I found them rather bulky and just bought smaller ones on line. Didn't like the existing setup for retrieving and replaced it with old Mitchell speed knobs. Again, can be found on-line. The nylon spacers and other hardware can be bought at any local hardware store. It is critical to have a line guide mounted as close to the front of the reel as possible. I just used shrink tubing and old line guides. The smaller 4" reels worked out great. I think the larger reels would be just to awkward and clumsy, at least for pan fish.
I'm thinking with technology today everyone with electronics a spinning reel set up dropping it down to where they're at is the methode but I always liked the set up on the swish rod knowing I'm exactly back to where I was. When I get a chance I'll go through my stuff I may have a couple I could part with.
So it seems the swish rods/reels are discontinued, what other rod/reel combos are favorites for deep water perch fishing? I thought the idea of setting the depth on the swish reels to keep the bait a foot off the bottom was a factor in getting right back down to the fish when a school came thru and increasing catch rates.
E-tec,
I contacted them but they didn't have enough of a market to continue making them. I did tell the Executive Director I'd take the first 2 off the production line if they ever started up again, made them laugh and will contact me if more old timers want them. And I remember the drop lines and carrot bobbers too Carpio !!