Really enjoyed this thread! When I was a kid, my uncle used an auto fly reel and regular reels. We tended to fish creeks in deep woods for the biggest fish. His auto reel really helped keep the line managed. Mine was always wrapping around stuff if I didn't coil in my hand, and then it would tangle at times, especially when a big fish made a run!

It was a very effective took for heavy brush. You could rarely cast, it was stick your rod through a hole in the brush and roll cast if you could. Often, just dap the fly on the surface next to an undercut bank. BOY dud we catch some big fish, but the biggest usually broke you off on brush or logs. My uncle usually out fished me with his auto. I really miss him.

i've got to find one of those, now.

Thanks for this thread.

-TH