I debated about replacing the bail spring in my old reel.Ê I purchased the reel in 1975, the same year my wife married me.Ê We're still together, I mean my wife and me, and I still have that old reel.Ê Thirty-three years ain't bad, for either a marriage or a fishing reel I'd say.Ê But, my marriage is still working and the old reel is not.Ê Ê

Last year, while towing in a small walleye from a Canadian lake, I felt the old reel's bail spring break.Ê It surely wasn't the size of the fish that busted my reel, just old age I guess.ÊI tried to keep using the reel, but it became too cumbersome and I retired the reel to the bottom of my tackle box and began using a shiny new reel.Ê Ê

I used the new reel for the rest of the trip, but it just didn't have the "feel" of that old Cardinal 752.Ê The balance on the end of the rod didn't feel right to my hand and the new reel didn't bring in the line to my finger like the old reel did.Ê I decided right there in the boat that I'd have to look up a new spring when I got home.Ê I ventured to my favorite fishing reel fix-it shop two weeks ago and was told by the kind lady that the spring for my old reel was no longer available in her store.Ê The owner was apologetic, but there wasn't much else she could do.Ê It sounded like my old reel was a part of my history.Ê

Surfing through the Internet that night, I came upon a Web site that claimed to have parts for any old fishing reel.Ê Just for the fun of it, I typed in my reel's model number and within about six seconds, the part popped up on the screen with a price tag of 75 cents plus shipping and handling.Ê Yes, the drawing of the bail spring did look like mine and I proceeded to place the order.Ê Ê

I just received the first of many spring fishing catalogs.Ê Someone out there must think I might buy something from a fishing catalog, because I'll get a bunch of them in the upcoming weeks.Ê The amount of rods, reels and tackle is astonishing to say the least.Ê I was pondering whether to purchase a shiny new reel from the catalog before I found out IÊmight actually be able to purchase a new spring for my old reel.Ê Somehow my old reel looks rather tawdry compared to the new models.ÊÊThe old reel is stained with nightcrawler juice, minnow spit, has lost most of the fancy decals that once adorned it and shows signs of wear onÊits face, where the color hasÊfaded over time.Ê I guess the old reel kind of reflects its owner, come to think of it.Ê Ê

The amount of fish the little reel has brought to the boat would no doubt fill a cavern.Ê Walleyes, northern pike, bass, crappie, sunfish and perch have all been pulled to the net by my old reel.Ê It has been to far off Canadian lakes and local ponds and other than the broken bail spring, has always kept its parts together.Ê More than I can say for myself.ÊÊÊA personÊshould probably not become attached to a little piece of plastic and steel, but I have.Ê Ê

I'm hoping the bail spring I ordered last week will work in the old reel.ÊIt just wouldn't be right to retire my favorite old friend from bouncing across the lake in my boat, and I'd hate to think that my old reel has pulled in its last fish.Ê An old friend deserves better than that.Ê Ê

I'll be waiting at the mailbox this week and I'm eager to see if the old reel will come to life againÊwhen the ice melts off the lake.Ê It isn't far to spring crappie fishing and the old reel would appreciate another cast or two.Ê Just like its owner.Ê Ê

See you next time.Ê Okay?Ê