Last year I was lucky enough to get a nice Stutz fly reel on an ebay auction from a guy in Soldotna. I tracked down the reel's inventor, Bill Stutz who used to work for the company that produced them. They do mostly microabrasive work now, but were able to steer me to Bill who now works for another company, very obvious he left on good terms.
I started an email dialogue with Bill, who filled me in on the history of the reels. I had been told there were only a couple of hundred made. Not quite true, but Bill places the number overall at maybe 1500. Some were marketed under the Orvis label. Mine is serial #116, and it is a darn fine reel. Machined aluminum with a neat drag setup that is perfect for fast-running silver salmon, which I love to fish for near my home.
I asked Bill if he would autograph the reel box for me. He said he would gladly do so. Got an email from him recently, he wants to replace the old paper exploded view of the reel which is pasted to the inside top of the reel box with an aluminum silkscreened version. How about this for going the extra mile? I have extended an invitation to Bill to join me next summer on a junket for some salmon up here, hope he takes me up on it. Junt wanted to pass along a story about someone who really cares about flyfishing and I guess you would say customer service, since these reels have been out of production now for over 20 years. I could not be happier with the reel or with making a new fishing pal. Kid <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
