martin 65, circa early 80s. still have it.

Pflueger Medalist, don't recall the model and likely wasn't aware that different models existed. Left it at home when I joined the service. I hope it's being fished by someone back in Maine.

In 1968 at the age of 17 I bought a Berkley 540. I still have it, and it's in really nice condition. Now my wife is going to use it this year, as she wants to start fly fishing.

Ho Hum , another Medalist. Bought it 25 years before I got into fly fishing. Still have it, I just wish now that I knew which one it is, because I have added several more of the same vintage to the fleet!

I don't have my first reel...similar to the red South Bend 1122 but black, and prone to screws falling out and being lost. I do have my second reel, a medium Cortland Rimfly that I bought at the same time as my second rod, a 7' 6" Cortland FR-2000 5/6. I still have it. I don't fish it often, but I love the simplicity of the Rimfly.

Yes indeed, an Orvis Madison from the early 90s. A hand-me-down from my dad, who had purchased it together with a Rocky Mountain graphite 6wt right around the time that a river ran through it. He didn't use them much, so I assumed ownership. It was my only reel for 4-5 years.

I still use it. It is what it is. A functional, bang-around clicker, British made. Loud as heck. I have a Peach DT6 on it and usually fish it with a Steffen 8'6" 5/6. It's good to look down and see my dad's old reel when I'm fishing.

OMG, I thought I was bad!

First used a handed down Shakespeare Russell 1895 from my dad.
First purchased reel was a Sage 504L. Still have them both and fish the 504L but not the Russell.

Sadly no. I learned to fly fish in the mid 90's - I don't have any of my early equipment. My first rod was nothing special. Eagle Claw 6/7 weight 8'6" Black Eagle (I think that was the name) and a Medalist 1495 that I took up as a hand-me-down. I was 14 at the time, and didn't know beans. Taught myself to fly cast out of a 60's era Popular Mechanics Encyclopedia. The reel had a level line - probably as cheap as the rod or reel were - and there was no backing. It was wound straight onto the spool, and thus was tightly coiled. My leaders of the day weren't great either - a section of 10lb test line knotted to the line, with a 4lb test tippet.

The first new rod I was given was an equally cheap Shakespeare 3 piece fiberglass rod, with EVA foam handle. It had this junky plastic reel, and came with a cheap level fly line, backing, and 6 poorly tied flies in a bubble pack. By the time I got that rod, I was already developing stupid thoughts that a proper fly rod was made of graphite (except for the super expensive bamboo rods in the catalogs I was now receiving) and had cork grips. I fished my Shakespeare rod, but didn't really gel with it. I tossed that cheap plastic junk reel it came with in favor of another Medalist.

I wish I still had that old Shakespeare rod, because it was 8' long, slow, but powerful - I think it'd make a decent bass bugging rod.

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Well, I don't know how many times I've posted this Olympic reel here on FFR !
Another time I hope will not bore you all guys !

Yes it was my first fly reel !

Greetings from an icy Italy.

Uncle Ben

You bet!
Hardy Viscount 130, bought for me by my father in around 1974, to go on a Hardy Fibalite 8ft #6. Alas, I no longer have that rod, but still have a near-identical late-80s Fibalite Perfection. The reel has caught plenty of trout and grayling.

Also in the same picture (but in far less good condition) my father's first reel from the early-70s: no idea what is is, since all the paint on the back has rubbed off. And the check has completely gone, too, but I keep it purely for sentimental reasons.

Yup, still have mine...and still fish it (on occasion). A green LL Bean Guide 5/6 reel that came with a 9' 2 piece 6 weight rod of the same name. I rarely fish the rod but recently replaced the pawl spring in the reel (thanks to the wonderful customer service at Bean) and it works great :-)