Pflueger Medalist 1595 Rc Fly Fishing Reel

I sold and used the old Pflueger ‘Medalist’ fly reels for over 40 years now. Actually we don’t sell them anymore but you can get very nice old ones on eBay, fly fishing classifieds and at garage sales. At one time they were the standard fly reel for most fly fishers in the USA.

Fly reels have evolved from simple spindles holding the line to sophisticated, highly technical reels capable of delivering and retrieving specialized fly lines and backing for fighting all fish species. The main purposes of a fly fishing reel are to house the fishing line and ensure casts and drag are. Pflueger Medalist 1595 Rc Fly Fishing Reel Bb5 Easy Service Tool Comic Zerns Sickest Twitch For Premiere Pro Monitor When Network Drops Smaart V6 Download Win About Freedos Usb Stick Einbinden The Kapil Sharma Show Download Proteus 8.3 Download Free Download Epson L120 Printer Installer For Windows 10.

My first new ones were bought locally around Sacramento, California in the 1960s. I think I bought a new ’1494′ from Thrifty’s Drug in south Sacramento for $14.88. It was set up for left hand crank and had a plastic drag disc and I think 6 rivets holding the three peice spool together. I converted it to right hand crank because I thought it felt better. This was put on a new Fenwich FF805 2 piece fiberglass fly rod for trout.

My next new one was a ’1495″ that I put on a Fenwich FF85 which was an 8’6″ #6/7/8 line fiberglass fly rod for light Steelheading.

We use some big 1498 models for holding demo lines for large saltwater fly rods and Spey rods.

If you can find old ones that have not been “used up” they are a nice fly reel

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More good Medalist article:

These are the models I am familiar with:

1492: #2-3 line (click drag)
1492 1/2: #3-4 line (click drag)
1494: #4-5 line (adjustable disc drag from here down)
1494 1/2: #5-6 line
1495: #6-7 line (my favorite size)
1495 1/2: #8-9 line
1496: not many around
1496 1/2: fairly rare
1498: #10-12 line

The older ones had 6 rivets holding the spool together. The later models after about 1960 had 3 rivets.

The first models were click drag only in the 1930s. Then in the 1940s they went to the adjustable disc drag.

The real old ones had a machined steel drag disc inside. Old ones had metal drag knobs and metal caps on the center of the spool where the latch was. The frame pillars were actually not removable on the ones made before 1940.

The good ones were made in the USA from 1930 to 1980. The ones made from 1940 to 1960 where best. Then in the 1980s they went to Japan, Hong Kong and China. These are not much good for anything.

For years I sold ($20.00) machined naval bronze reversible drag disc that I bought from Herman Voss of Pompano Beach, Florida.

I have a one piece machined solid aluminum spool for a Pflueger ’Medalist’ 1492 1/2 that was made by Herman Voss. I got it from Chico Fernandez.

We also had Hardy nickel silver counter balances we installed in the Medalist in the 70s and 80s so we could go for Steelhead and Bonefish with them.

I sold product from a small company that made after market parts for the Medalists. The ‘One-Pfoot’ company made accessory for the Medalist that were machined aluminum foot assembly, drag discs and counter balances. The ‘One-Pfoot’ company has many after market parts for the Medalists.

In the ’80s Pflueger went to metric screws. I called Shakespeare who bought the company and they said we did not need those SAE frame screws anymore. That really pissed me off. Today we really don’t need many of the screws but I think you can get them from One Pfoot.

The Medalists are all but gone from the scene today. We only see a few every season now. I still like to fish with some of my old ones.

Years ago I use to install dozens of screws in them every summer for customers. They would vibrate out. We put head cement on the screw heads to keep them from coming loose and falling out. Today we would use Loctite to hold them in.

I have a collection of old Medalists that are just for memories now.

I have an old ’1495 ½’ that I bought used. It was built in the 1940s. All metal parts with and round line guard and 6 rivets on the spool. I landed a 40 pound Tarpon on an 8 weight rod at the Rio Chico lagoons in Venezuela with it in 1985.

With the same reel I was ‘spooled’ (~150 yard of backing to the end) wading at Christmas Island by a rather large Bonefish in 1986.

I caught big Steelhead with it on the Dean River in British Columbia in 1983.

I caught big Rainbows in New Zealand with it in the late 1980s.

They used them at the Fenwick Fly Fishing schools in the 60s/70s so many of them are still around. Mel Krieger and many of his friends have them still. They called me years back for the Voss brass drag disc and Hardy counter balances.

**They made the Pflueger ‘Supreme’ anti-reverse big game models in two sizes too with a solid machined aluminum spool and disc drag.

I am sure I could clean and lube mine up that are here on the shelf and go catch anything on them.

Pflueger Medalist 1595 Rc Fly Fishing Reel

Pflueger Medalist parts:

Bill Archuleta has the number one fly reel parts and repair business in the world. Call or email Bill for any help you need with any older fly reels. Bill’s specialty is old Hardy fly reels made in England but I believe he will work on most anything.

The One-Pfoot Company has lots of good after market parts for Pflueger Medalists.

Feel free to contact me for any help as well.

Bill Kiene

Kiene’s American Fly Fishing Company

Sacramento, CA

1-800-400-0359 USA toll free

1929-1936

The 1931 catalog listed the 'MEDALIST.' The reel appears to be the one C.T. Pflueger applied for a patent on Oct. 27, 1928 and was granted on Sept. 9, 1930 as Patent Number D81995.

1930s-40s era Pflueger Medalists

- Model #, 'Patented' stamped on the reel body below the foot
- Bronze spindle
- Round metal Diamolite line guard
- 6 rivets around spool latch cover
- Amber colored plastic handle
- Aluminum spool latch cover
- Knurled metal drag knob
- Sculpted cross pillars, riveted to body

In 1931, the models were as follows:

1937

The 1396, 1592 and 1596 were dropped. The reels included the change to a spool arbor, which could be weighted. That was patent number 2,018,468, granted Oct. 22, 1935.

The models were as follows:

1938

This year, the Medalist underwent a few more changes. The main one was the adjustable drag under Patent number 2,059,763. The dual click patent was awarded patent number 2,059,765.

The models were as follows:

1939

The Medalist line gained a wide frame model, the 1495 ½. The ½ models were 1' wide versus the standard 13/16' wide models.

The models were as follows:

1940 - 1949

The 1496 1/2 and 1494 1/2 were offered. The 1496 was dropped.

The models were as follows:

1952

Pflueger Medalist 1595 Rc Fly Fishing Reel And Rod

1950s era Pflueger Medalists

*1959, 'Made in Akron O USA' was stamped on the reel body below the foot.

The reel foot is now tapered rather than having straight sides.

The models were as follows:

1958

The 1498 is added. The 1496 ½., 1496, 1392 and 1394 are discontinued.

The models were as follows:

1959

The 1594 and 1595 were discontinued with the availability of a left-hand conversion ratchet, part number 3933. This was supposed to fit any Medalists except for the 1492, which was a click drag.

The reel body now has the stamp, 'Made in Akron O USA,' versus just 'Patented.'

The models were as follows:

1961-62

1960s era (pre-1966) Pflueger Medalists

* 1964

Right or Left Hand Wind/Rectangular Line Guard/Adjustable Drag/Dual Click: 1494, 1495, 1495 ½, 1498
Right Hand/Square Line Guard/No Drag/Dual Click: 1492

1963

Another change in the ratchet occurred; it was made so it could be flipped over and used for right or left hand wind.

The models were as follows:

1966

Pflueger 1492 Fly Reel Specs

The Enterprise Manufacturing Company officially changed its name to Pflueger. Shakespeare Tackle Company acquired Pflueger and manufactured the reels in Akron, Ohio, from 1966-69. The letters DA were added after the model numbers.

1970

Pflueger made the Madison Model 4/5, 6/7, 8, and 9 fly reel under the Orvis label. Medalists were now made in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

1972

The Pflueger name, model# DA, Made in USA was now on the frame. The 1' wide 1494 ½ joins the line up.

The models were as follows:

1973-74

The 1' wide model 1492 ½ joins the line up.

The models were as follows:

1979

Production moved overseas to China, Japan and Hong Kong, Shakespeare Medalists had the reel foot assembly crimped and the contours of the foot were coarser and less refined. The letters CJ (Japan) and AK (Hong Kong, China) appeared after the model numbers. The reel foot had the words Japan, China or Hong Kong inscribed in it. The words 'Pflueger Medalist' and/or 'Shakespeare' appeared on the spool latch cover.

1990s

W. S. Franke Custom Fishing Rods, North Conway, NH, introduced the 1-Pfoot reel foot replacement for older Medalist reel feet with screws which allowed for use on more modern rods. Uses 4 screws for attachment. Reels with riveted feet could accept the 1-Pfoot if the rivets lined up with the holes on the 1-Pfoot and the rivets were removed to accept the screws. After the 1-Pfoot was discontinued, Shakespeare introduced a Chinese reel foot replacement. Current models include the 1492, 1492 1/2, 1494, 1494 1/2, 1495, 1495 1/2 and the 1498, but also include the 1500's with 'Rim-Control.'

References:

Antique Fly Reels

Classic and Antique Fly-Fishing Tackle - A Guide for Collectors & Anglers

~ Richard Komar