Johnson Reel Collectors Assn. (J.R.C.A.) since 10/10/14

Johnson Trade Reels => Unknown Distributors => Topic started by: salmonfishing on May 09, 2017, 09:48:48 AM

Title: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: salmonfishing on May 09, 2017, 09:48:48 AM: An unusual reel! It is a Laker 140 with a gold colored cover and a decal that simply says "The Flying Fisherman". No other ID on it. The seller of this reel lives in West Virginia. I asked if they knew any history on the reel. She said all she knew was what her Dad had told her and that was he thought it was a promo reel for a restaurant in WV of that same name that had closed many, many years ago. I know that back in the '50s and '60s a man called Gadabout Gaddis who lived in the Northeast had a TV show called "The Flying Fisherman" and advertised fishing equipment. So maybe it relates to him. Anyway a cool reel barely used and fully functional.
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: Skip Smith on May 09, 2017, 08:09:46 PM: Very cool reel!
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: TIMMY on May 20, 2018, 08:09:05 AM: this is only the second one of these i have ever seen. i had the other one but gave it to paul ( alpenflage ).
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: salmonfishing on March 02, 2019, 07:42:08 PM: I just saw some owner docs for sale on eBay. What was interesting is included a doc for "The Flying Fisherman". And when you read the guarantee, it says there was a Flying Fisherman division in Mankato. The reel I have has a name side badge. The picture on this doc doesn't seem to show a name on the reel. But interesting!
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: Skip Smith on March 03, 2019, 04:18:17 AM: I saw those owner docs and wondered about the Flying Fisherman user guide! Very interesting!
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: GaryWB on March 03, 2019, 07:31:06 PM: Maybe there are other pictures of the reel inside of the paperwork
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: JCreek on March 15, 2019, 11:01:16 AM: Quick internet search shows this brand name in use today at Wally and Amazon. First I've heard of it.
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: Huckster37 on May 18, 2021, 06:59:05 PM: I got lucky last week. Ebay seller had two Flying Fisherman reels N.I.B. up for auction. I made him an offer he couldn't refuse for both. The boxes are plain label, nothing written or printed on them. The user manuals are the standard Johnson manuals with The Flying Fisherman label instead of Johnson Laker.
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: Jp Elim on May 18, 2021, 08:21:06 PM: Great find. Never even knew about these reels. Are they just the laker copy or are there other models ?
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: salmonfishing on May 19, 2021, 04:20:00 AM: Outstanding Dennis! Plain boxes makes me think these were a promo for some business. If they were for regular retail sale, I would think the boxes would have something on them. Wonder where your seller got them?
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: 409davidb on May 20, 2021, 07:45:48 AM: That's an amazing find Dennis! I put in my best bid in on one at least a year ago that had box and paperwork like yours. I didn't get it despite my best efforts. I did pick up a nice one since then without the box and papers though. They are a neat little reel!
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: Skip Smith on May 20, 2021, 08:26:58 PM: Awesome find, Dennis! The extent to which Johnson supplied trade reels under other names has all kinds of surprises.
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: Huckster37 on July 11, 2021, 04:33:46 PM: Here's an ad for the Flying Fisherman show. Notice the fish logo is the same as the decal on the reel.
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: salmonfishing on July 11, 2021, 05:11:46 PM: Thanks for the info. Now we know for sure who the reel was tied to! Cool!!
Title: Re: The Flying Fisherman reel
Post by: Baron2 on July 12, 2021, 08:57:11 AM: I wonder if this is the same Gaddis that was so helpful on Fiberglassflyrodders? He was up there in years.