Great story GG!!
Those old knuckle busting Supremes were the top of the line baitcasters in their day. My Dad also had a one of them and I can remember more than once as a kid when using it a big pike seemed smash a lure when I didn't have a good hold of the handle and a strong thumb on the spool. The spool would spin and my knuckles would take the brunt of the pain inflicted by the spinning handle!
You are 100 percent right on releasing fish in those days. My Dad was not one to release fish either.
