Fishing Dreams -- Ren'e Palmer sent this perfect picture
to me in the 90's. This exquisite Norwegian Salmon fell to a spey rod and an early Godfrey Reel. Note the aluminum frame used on early reel;
the solid drag design is working just fine . . . to this day!
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The first Godfrey Salmon and Steelhead Reels were introduced back in the early 1980's and featured great line control and power to handle Grande Cascapedia Salmon. The Drum Drag System in Godfrey Custom Reels is like that of Arthur Kovalovsky, the great salt water reel maker and patent holder. The drum is braked by a circular external brake pad or pads - the Kovalosky grand design.
Originally, reels were of the standard aluminum frame type, but by 1999 it was time to improve the frame with addition of beautiful "wedding band" style nickel silver bands. Other modifications included nickel silver fitting throughout and inclusion of super hard aluminum bronze main bearings - last perhaps forever!
Starting in 2021 the drag system is upgraded to work with application of oil and grease including 100% Neatsfoot oil. Dunking the reel may be done, but avoid introduction of sand! This has been a long and uncompromising quest for design improvement yielding a full-function, elegant, and modern interpretation of the traditional Atlantic salmon reel with a rare sense of scale reminiscent of vom Hofe.
Classic Motif & Nickel Silver Appointments
35 year Proven Reel Design
Lighter Weight for Modern Rods
Powerful 10 Position Drag System
Convenient Single Screw Takedown
The Steelhead Models: Rio Grande, Deschutes, and Babine have all the features of the Custom Salmon Reels including the super-smooth drum drag, but are lighter weight.
The Salmon and Spey Models: For over 30 years the Godfrey Salmon Reels have caught thousands of Atlantic salmon around the world. The Custom Salmon Reels are designed to provide more than adequate backing capacity, simply choose a Custom Reel Model to match your favorite salmon or spey rod. These larger model reels are special order only and may take a couple months longer to build and ship.
The original Paladin design goes back to the 1980's and the Custom Salmon Reels. As the largest of the trout size reels, the geared Paladin has served me very well fishing for large small mouth of the Susquehanna River. I fish it with a heavy SAGE rod, but the "modern" angler would put it on a switch rod where it belongs equally well.
As a geared retrieve in-between Trout and Stealhead size reel, it's a "sleeper" looking for the big fish and big water. With the improved, "dunkable" drag system I feel it really matches well to a Switch Rod and is so listed below. Fast retrieve gearing and the super smooth drum drag system completes the design.
Salmon & Steelhead Reel Models & Specifications |
Model | Line Capacity | Width | Weight | Price | |
3 1/4 inch Switch Rod Models * | |||||
Paladin - 70 | WF-6 Wt.150 yds | 1.4 inch | 7.7 oz. | $3,255.00 | |
Paladin - 75 | WF-7 Wt.150 yds | 1.5 inch | 8.0 oz. | $3,255.00 | |
3 1/2 inch Steelhead Models * | |||||
Rio Grande | WF-7 Wt.150 yds | 1.46 inch | 9.4 oz. | $3,455.00 | |
Deschutes | WF-8 Wt.150 yds | 1.56 inch | 9.9 oz. | $3,455.00 | |
Babine | WF-9 Wt.150 yds | 1.66 inch | 10.4 oz. | $3,455.00 | |
3 1/2 inch Salmon Models ** | |||||
Light Salmon | WF-8 Wt. 200 yds. | 1.85 inch | 10.6 oz. | $3,555.00 | |
Salmon | WF-9 Wt. 200 yds. | 1.95 inch | 10.8 oz. | $3,555.00 | |
Heavy Salmon | WF-9 Wt. 200 yds. | 2.05 inch | 11 oz. | $3,555.00 | |
4 inch Spey Models *** | |||||
Salmon II | Spey-9 Wt. 300 yds | 1.95 inch | 12.5 oz. | $3,855.00 | |
Salmon III | Spey-10 Wt. 300 yds | 2.05 inch | 13 oz. | $3,855.00 | |
* Synthetic line with 20 lb. Micron backing
** Synthetic line with 30 lb. Micron backing *** The Spey reels will take a Full size synthetic Spey type line plus 30 lb. Micron backing |
"Floating over the sandbar drop offs of Tuckernuck and Nantucket islands. I really appreciated the easy drag adjustment when the False Albacore Tuna had me deep in my backing. With two clicks I could slow them way down. The geared retrieve came in handy as well when a 10 lbs Blue Fish ran back at the boat" A. I. NY. The reel is the HV Salmon model with modified cork drag system designed to be very smooth and "dunkable".
Salmon & Steelhead Reel Models & Specifications |
Model | Line Capacity | Frame Width | Reel Weight | Price | |
3 1/4 inch Switch Rod Models * | |||||
Paladin - 70 | WF-6 Wt. 150 yds backing | 1.4 inch | 7.7 ounce | $3,255.00 | |
Paladin - 75 | WF-7 Wt. 150 yds backing | 1.5 inch | 8.0 ounce | $3,255.00 | |
3 1/2 inch Steelhead Models * | |||||
Rio Grande | WF-7 Wt. 150 yds backing | 1.46 inch | 9.4 ounce | $3,455.00 | |
Deschutes | WF-8 Wt. 150 yds backing | 1.56 inch | 9.9 ounce | $3,455.00 | |
Babine | WF-9 Wt. 150 yds backing | 1.66 inch | 10.4 ounce | $3.455.00 | |
3 1/2 inch Salmon Models ** | |||||
Light Salmon | WF-8 Wt. 200 yds backing | 1.85 inch | 10.6 ounce | $3,555.00 | |
Salmon | WF-9 Wt. 200 yds backing | 1.95 inch | 10.8 ounce | $3,555.00 | |
Heavy Salmon | WF-9 Wt. 200 yds backing | 2.05 inch | 11 ounce | $3,555.00 | |
4 inch Spey Models*** | |||||
Salmon II | Spey-9 Wt. 300 yards backing | 1.95 inch | 12.5 ounce | $3,850.00 | |
Salmon III | Spey-10 Wt. 300yards backing | 2.05 inch | 13 ounce | $3,850.00 | |
* Synthetic line with 20 lb. Micron backing
** Synthetic line with 30 lb. Micron backing   *** The Spey reels will take a Full size synthetic Spey type line plus 30 lb. Micron backing |
"Floating over the sandbar drop offs of Tuckernuck and Nantucket islands. I really appreciated the easy drag adjustment when the False Albacore Tuna had me deep in my backing. With two clicks I could slow them way down. The geared retrieve came in handy as well when a 10 lbs Blue Fish ran back at the boat" A. I. NY. The reel is the HV Salmon model with modified cork drag system designed to be very smooth and "dunkable".
SALMON & STEELHEAD REEL OPTIONS
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Specify Retrive: Handle Knob: vom Hofe Case: |
left hand or right hand wind Black or Ivory White $525.00 - choose suede color: Accessories |
All Godfrey Salmon & Steelhaed Reels are come with a traditional draw sting bag. Also included is the warranty and maintenance paper with recorded Reel Serial Number.
Spools are hand fitted so consider extra spools in your initial order. Call Ted for information and Order: VIEWS |
The Godfrey NewsBrief Simply email us at "tedgodfreys@comcast.net"Subject: "NewsBrief Please" The NewsBrief is sent out every month or so and provides information about new products and updates |