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All salt water fly fishermen know Billy Pate. He gave his name to the famous anti-reverse reels made by Ted Juracsik and manufactured by Tibor. They changed everything in salt water sport fly fishing. From bonefish to marlin they became a “must have” and for some, they are still considered to be the “Rolls Royce” of reels. For more than two decades, they were about the only reels able to slow down a crazy tarpon or a furious marlin… Today, only a handful of aficionados and pumping iron fans are still using them (they are heavy… but if you want tough gear…). I have several of them, I look at them with love, they were my first “serious” reels… with them I caught my first permit, my first tarpon… like many fly fishermen, they are part of my own history and I will never get rid of them. Billy Pate was a real fly fishing junkie, running after records (check the IGFA film below). He died last year in April , some say at 80 others claim he was 81… who cares ? He was one of a kind, probably one of the most important fly fisherman of the modern era. For all of you who would like a iece of that history, there is an auction of Billy Pate’s collection. You can bid on paintings, reels (several famous “Marlin” reels that are discontinued…), rods, stuffed record fish, flies, guns…his famous hats…all Billy fishing gear and other personal items …it’s all in the 51 pages
If you can’t make it to Islamorada (like me) I’m sure you can bid on the phone or internet…
I’m flying off to Cuba, this week end, as a tribute to Billy Pate I’ll take my Tarpon reel. I hope he’s going to sing …loud !!! [youtube=http://youtu.be/EbVjA-9NHYA]