If I remember right, this whole thing started out with a rod/reel combo to be used for warmwater species in a farm pond. This is where gaudy outfits shine, so be sure to treasure that red reel. When you consider that Abel now makes high dollar reels that look like somebody spilled paint on them, you can see that it's not far out anymore; why, a man could even take one trout fishing, although I'd stay off classic eastern waters, which are haunted by the tastes of Englishman. You know, I have a 1969 Old Town Casco Bay fiberglass canoe--a design that won several awards for materials innovation back then. They came in a few colors, but mine is red (with the wide, rolled white gunwales that make it so strong and stable as a platform, a great fishing canoe). I used it in an Adirondack trout pond or two, and NY being the kind of progressive state that later was to elect Hilary Clinton, it went undetected. I started fishing with it on Maine waters in 1975, and I doubt back then that Maine had even repealed the law that required canoes to be dark green. In less cosmopolitan venues, like the West Branch Penobscot, it got long looks and people moved away, which gave me more fishing room, but nobody called the warden. I dasn't take it on the Allagash, though. We went in a dark green Mad River with ash gunwales. I refinished the Old Town after being half smashed (the canoe) on the upper Hudson in NY. I could have changed the color, but kept it red. Today, I have an game warden hunting friend who would hop right in that red canoe. I could drift it down any Maine river without drawing a second glance, but since it's too heavy for me to lug anymore, I use the classic green Mad River. So you can see that there is going to be a fly rod and fishing situation entirely fitting and proper for a red reel, but keep a traditional color handy.
|