[Mike Barrio]

Projects are always great fun, some don't quite make it as products for whatever reason, but they are always fun

[Sandy Nelson]

Aye we have done a few

Always a lot of fun, can't wait for the next one

Sandy

[Mike Barrio]

Great stuff Sandy

Here is one that did make it as a product for a while, there are a good few of these about

[Mike Barrio]

And of course the best bit is getting out to try them, in this case the bamboo

[Will Shaw]

Love the aerial-style reel Mike.  

Will

[Sandy Nelson]

You should have seen the proposed back to it
It would have been awesome, just expensive to produce

Sandy

[Mike Barrio]

And more recently, out testing the new Switch prototype line ...... which we are about to launch now

[Mike Barrio]

Love the aerial-style reel Mike.  

Will

It was a beautiful reel Will, but it would have had a retail of about £350 to £400

Cheers
Mike

[Will Shaw]

You should have seen the proposed back to it
It would have been awesome, just expensive to produce

Sandy

If I remember correctly Bob Church used to use the original Match Aerial for his shooting head outfits in the late 60's/70's. Don't think I'd want to risk mine banging around in the bottom of a boat, way too sensitive!

That sound about right for the price Mike. :-(

W.

[Mike Barrio]

This one was a large arbor design Will

[Euan Innes]

Here is one that did make it as a product for a while, there are a good few of these about

I still really love the simplicity of the Vossler reel Mike. Might still have to have one! Or the new Battenkill II maybe...

I do love a click drag reel   I bought into the "must have a big drag" thing way back in the mists of time and after many different sorts of brake / reel I ended up with my lovely Teton. I can say now that I have never had to use the brake in anger on a Brown trout yet and the palm of my hand was always more than enough for a big trout.

I always thought that Mike was brave selling a reel with no "features" but always seemed to lead the way with what the fisherman actually needed, not what the adverts say they needed. I mean bamboo and reels with no brakes FFS  

Here's to the next projects Mike  

[Mike Barrio]

More toys

[Noel Kelly]

Great stuff Sandy

Here is one that did make it as a product for a while, there are a good few of these about

All my 3, 4 and 5 lines are on these, own 4 of the reels and loads of spools.If I don't loose them somehow I hope to be using them for another 30+years 
In fact if anyone has any they want rid of drop me a pm, I'm always on the lookout for spools especially.

[Loxiafan]

I still really love the simplicity of the Vossler reel Mike. Might still have to have one! Or the new Battenkill II maybe...

I do love a click drag reel   I bought into the "must have a big drag" thing way back in the mists of time and after many different sorts of brake / reel I ended up with my lovely Teton. I can say now that I have never had to use the brake in anger on a Brown trout yet and the palm of my hand was always more than enough for a big trout.

Agree with you dude - I really do like the Barrio/Vossler shame they are not for sale. But.....I just bought another Hydros II from Orvis Banchory   These days I mainly play 'normal' fish by hand (and find I drop way less fish). However, bigger fish invariably strip the line from your fingers and I find the easily adjustable drag on the Hydros help subdue them 'on the fly' on those rod dipping runs ! I really wanted to buy a CFO II but honestly the larger arbor and line management the Hydros affords wins hands down. You can also silence the checker if you wish.

That said, the Battenkills are deadringers for the old Rimfly's and that ain't a bad thing !  

Lindsay

[Mike Barrio]

Still plenty of these being used too ....... Great rods Sandy

[Sandy Nelson]

You just made me think, so I checked the records, I reckon there are 60 of them in circulation
I still have enough bits to build another 3 , if anyone fancies one

Might keep me amused while we wait to see if the new prototype is good enough to fill it's forebears boots

Ooops ........

Sandy

[Rob Brownfield]

It was a beautiful reel Will, but it would have had a retail of about £350 to £400

Cheers
Mike

And your point is??  A fair price for a fair product! 

Not sure if you ever heard of an Engineer by the name of Richard Carter. He started hand building centrepins, including some gorgeous fly reel versions a few years ago. He has retired now but his reels go for £800+ on ebay. The Dragonfly was an absolute beauty and a fair few went Stateside for the "Bamboo boys".

Milltackle still make them http://www.milltackle.co.uk/

[Sandy Nelson]

And your point is??  A fair price for a fair product! 

No arguements there

But the minority that can help make it work aren't enough to justify the initial set up costs. I imagine that is what prevents a huge number of beautiful and very clever products from ever reaching the public view.
I know we have a few that would have been fantastic. I'll try to find the pictures from the back to see what you make of that

Sandy

[Mike Barrio]

[Alex Burnett]

Aye Mike

That was a gorgeous Reel.

Sandy if you are looking for something to do let me know, I am struggling to
get decorating  & rod preps for this season completed along with work commitments.   

Alex

[Rob Brownfield]

No arguements there

But the minority that can help make it work aren't enough to justify the initial set up costs.

Richard Carter ceased trading in 1999, although the rumour mill are suggesting he is making reels once more.

Interesting story and photos of his reels here http://www.tonbridge-angling.co.uk/Reels.html

[Will Shaw]

Richard Carter ceased trading in 1999, although the rumour mill are suggesting he is making reels once more.

Interesting story and photos of his reels here http://www.tonbridge-angling.co.uk/Reels.html

Interesting stuff Rob. I have a couple of Richard Carter's reels: an Aerial Perfection and a Dragonfly. Really lovely reels. Amazed that they're going for £800! 

I can remember him looking at doing fly reels at some stage but I don't think he ever made any beyond prototypes.

Will

[Rob Brownfield]

I can remember him looking at doing fly reels at some stage but I don't think he ever made any beyond prototypes.

Will

I am sure he produced some fly reels, and I thought they were the Dragonfly..but I guess the name is wrong. I remember them being in that wonderful but now de-funked magazine "Traditional Angling". I am sure they were retailing at about £450...but I could well be mistaken.

I had one of his Ariels with the "antique" finish. I loved it but foolishly sold it a few years back. I wish I had kept hold of it as it was a far nicer reel than the JW Youngs Heritage I have now.

[Will Shaw]

I spoke to him at a Gamefair once and he showed me a prototype SWFF reel he'd made. Looked cool, but I never saw anything more of it.

My Dragonfly is a 4" ball bearing reel. Antique finish. Great fun to fish with. I think the firefly was a 3" Aerial style reel - prob. would've made a nice fly reel.

W.

[Mike Barrio]

The Barrio reel will return soon ..............................

Cheers
Mike