ANTIQUE FISHING REELS

Joe Janciuras, originally from Lithuania, was happily retired in Rochester, New York when he got his first look at a very scarce antique, all aluminum Edward vom Hofe "Perfection" model fly reel that belonged to antique reel collector Fred Balling.  Janciuras's contacted Balling and asked if he could borrow the reel so he could make one like it.

Balling was skeptical at first, but after Janciuras sent him a copy of a 95-year-old Hardy fly reel that he had previously made Balling was won over.  Balling sent Janciuras the vom Hofe reel in early 2005 and within a year and a half Janciuras had produced about two dozen copies, the Perfection Fly Reel Co. was born.  Janciuras's reels sold for $2750.00 each and he they soon had a waiting list of folks all clamoring to pay the price for one.

Besides the original, all aluminum "Perfection" style reel, Jancuiuras also made a raised pillar hard rubber and German silver version and a non-raised pillar version with hard rubber side-plates.  Later he made his own versions of Edward vom Hofe's "Peerless" trout reel and "Restigouche" salmon reel.  He also made a batch of 150th anniversary Orvis reels.

Joe Janciuras passed away in 2011 and although his reels are considered contemporary and not antiques, they are of the highest quality and have a strong following of both collectors and fly fishermen.

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