Thing is Jerry, he's probably been using that same reel for over thirty years
Thirty eight to be exact Nicepix, it's a yorkshire thing !!!
The thing that always amuses me is when some specie type says how long they,ve had their reels "Ooooo it's been ten years now and its never let me down".Course it has'nt twonk! its spent ninety nine % of its time doin nowt in a rod rest/bite alarm waiting for a bite.
Use a mitchell match/300 for stickin on a river for a couple of weeks and it equates to the other guys reels ten year hibernation!:wh
mg:
ps, Nicepix.
I've got loads of old spools, one is solid like the one on your picture. If you want it ,its yours.May make a good replacement/spare.
If you're over anytime let me know.
pps.
Jerry , like you i'll make an exception, had loads of twenty plus carp ,pike, and a river record Barbel (and bettered it several times since) on my old mitchells as well as winning a fair few matches in fenland and the Trent when matches were matches, in my time (I can hack it anywhich way)and the dam things just wont give up the ghost, when they do (if ever) they will get something of a viking sendoff by being buried by a river or dropped off a bridge in respect.
All the others I,ve got will just be binned.