Hey, I know several guys on here use the pflueger medalist, and I want to start a small collection of them. I was curious about what weight line the reels can handle. I know you can go to the Cabelas website and get a run down but to me it seems the ratings are a little higher than you might want if you desire any significant amount of backing. Also, many of the older models are no longer made so I was just curious about what you guys think, especially for the 1495, 1495 1/2, 1496, 1496 1/2, and the 1498. I have an 8 weight and was kind of curious if a 1495 could match it well or not. Thanks for your input!
Provided that your 8 wt line is not 150 ft long, a 1495 should hold your line and 100 yds of backing nicely.
I think you're probably going to break your knuckles. Not that that's a bad thing. :rofl: I prefer a 1594 1/2 on my 8 wt. I think the rim control feature is worth a couple extra bucks when you're getting into fish that require an 8wt to catch. Of course guys have been landing big fish with the 1400s for years. :beer2:
The old pfluegers can't be beat. They are the Timex of fly reels. They aren't sexy, they just work. For your 8 weight, I'd grab a 1495 1/2 and fish it for everything from river pinks, coho everywhere, smallmouth and carp. I like the extra wide spool 'cuz there are some really big carp in the Columbia system that will dust off 100 yards of backing in a heartbeat.
I think McGuane wrote something like, "Anyone not man enough to stick a couple fingers between the arbors is fighting a fish too big for him anyway." Yep, I've landed and lost plenty of big fish on my old Medalist. But I know that with fancier reels, fiddling with my reel mid-fight (as in adjusting drag) is a real good way to lose a fish.
A 1495 1/2, and therefore a 1595 1/2 too, will hold a WF10 and approx. 175 yards of 20# dacron. I think this size has the best capacity/weight ratio of the Medalist series. Pflueger persists in listing reel capacities in terms of DT lines, even though weight-forwards are far more popular, especially in larger line sizes.
i use the 1594rc for 4 5 6 wt trout and smaller fish but i feel you need the 1595.5rc for steelhead and salmon line wts 8 9 10.
They can all handle more line than you think.1498/ 1598 and 1496 1/2 can be used for most spey rods, at least skagit lines. Palming is overated go with the 1400's. Good luck. They are good reels. cds
One more question, I just got a 1498 and was wondering if any of the 1500 series spools fit on it...I read an article online that said the 1400 series are interchangable with the 1500, but this might be bad info. The problem I think I am going to find is that the spools are harder to come by. Not that I need a ton of them or anything
I've only had the 1500 (RC) series reels. But since the 1500 series are rim control spools... I'm going to have to say no, they will not fit in a 1400 series frame. But not 100% sure. Gary
Just buy a few more reels, not spools. At this price point, spools don't really offer you much in my opinion...
Hi Guys, Just picked up a Medalist 1938 with the line guard etc. Want to match it to a rod form the era- any ideas?
OK wrong detail! The Medallist is a 1496 - a 1938 model- and I want to fish it on an appropriate rod- perhaps bamboo from the era 1938
I've picked up a few interestng Medalists over the years. Here are pictures of a couple; one is a pre-1937 (when the drag was introduced) model and the other is apparently an example of using up the old stocks of frame castings before the lug to house the drag control was added. The reel showing the most wear is actually the newer one. I use them frequently, particularly the spring-and-pawl model. Fishing sea-run cutthroat with an old Pflueger, on a cane rod, gives me a real feeling of connection with the history and traditions of Northwest fly fishing.
I just got out my 1498 medalist box for the reel I purchased in the mid-70's. The paper work lists the maximum line sizes for Medalsit fly reels. It lists line weights for level, double taper and weight forward lines as follows, 1494 1/2, L-9, DT-7, WF-10. 1495, L-9, DT8, WF-11. 1495 1/2, L-9, DT-9, WF-11. 1498, L-9, DT-10, WF-11. A new spool for a 1498 is Medalist NO. 499X. In the parts diagram the spool assembly is Key No. 24, #75-66-0012-01. SS
By the way, I don't know if I would recommend the Medalist to anyone. The warranty card for my 1498 says "For one year from the date of purchase Pflueger will repair or replace defects in material and workmanship in their reels." You'd think they should last longer than that. SS
