Gildex test run.
Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 10:03 pm
I recently stripped and serviced a Gildex No.1 for my mate DWW on here and today could not resist taking it along with me fishing to give it a few test casts before I hand it back to him.
Bearing in mind these little reels are over 50 years old and have a direct drive (no free spool) I was amazed how well it cast , and how easy it was to use. A six inch shad lure with a 1/4oz lead head was sent a very respectable distance with not the slightest hint of a bird's nest and a 2oz lead almost made it to the next county.
In practical fishing terms I found its performance not that far behind to a 'modern' Ambassadeur and it would make an excellent pike tool both for lures and bait.
My only criticism, which actually applies to virtually all multipliers-why on earth did they only make 'em right hand wind back then?
All my regularly used multipliers are left hand wind from tiny bait casters to shark 'winches' so It did feel strangely awkward to keep swapping hands to cast and I even tried to master casting with my left hand which would make more sense of the right hand wind reel.
Guess its just one of those 'odd' things.
Whatever, the Gildex is a bit of a 'gem' and its going to be hard to give it back to its rightful owner.
Is there anyone else on here who regularly uses one of these reels or something similar?
Bearing in mind these little reels are over 50 years old and have a direct drive (no free spool) I was amazed how well it cast , and how easy it was to use. A six inch shad lure with a 1/4oz lead head was sent a very respectable distance with not the slightest hint of a bird's nest and a 2oz lead almost made it to the next county.
In practical fishing terms I found its performance not that far behind to a 'modern' Ambassadeur and it would make an excellent pike tool both for lures and bait.
My only criticism, which actually applies to virtually all multipliers-why on earth did they only make 'em right hand wind back then?
All my regularly used multipliers are left hand wind from tiny bait casters to shark 'winches' so It did feel strangely awkward to keep swapping hands to cast and I even tried to master casting with my left hand which would make more sense of the right hand wind reel.
Guess its just one of those 'odd' things.
Whatever, the Gildex is a bit of a 'gem' and its going to be hard to give it back to its rightful owner.
Is there anyone else on here who regularly uses one of these reels or something similar?