Quartermaster #003

A delightful click-and-pawl Abel X-Stream, a classic Guide Vest from Filson, and minty Ross Flystart 3 with a spare spool.

If you’re anything like us, you’re still in holiday recovery mode. The email inbox is still stuffed with flagged emails waiting for your response, calls from the credit card company are being sent straight to voicemail. You can’t get the sound of your in-laws voices out of your head and somehow you’ve been suckered into another dry January.

Lucky for you, new super scientific research has determined that not only is Quartermaster good for your mental well-being, it actually stimulates circulation and rebuilds damaged neurons.* So go ahead and don your favorite lounge pants, dim that screen brightness, and get comfortable.

Self care starts now.

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Ross Reels Flystart 3 with Extra Spool and Original Box

The Flystart reel series came out in 2007 in four configurations for line weights from 3- to 8-weight. Cut from cast aluminum, machine finished, and sealed with an electrostatic ‘aerospace’ polyurethane coating, the Flystart was meant to offer a lower entry point for anglers looking to get into the popular Montrose, CO-based reel maker.

But one would be forgiven for seeing more vintage Bauer DNA in the Flystart than that of Ross. The bold circular porting, cylindrical counterweight, deep central spindle well, and overall ratio feel eerily similar to a classic Bauer Mackenzie and reminds one that while “good artists borrow, great artists steal.”

Looking closer we find that Ross equipped the Flystart with an offset adjustable disc drag system and central push-button spool release. The guts are made from Delrin—no doubt a cost-savings measure—as is the handle.

The Flystart 3 is designed to pair with 5- to 7-weight rods, but given the design it’s likely better equipped for the upper end of that spectrum or 10-foot 5-weights that benefit from a little more counterbalance, putting it in the sweet spot for a streamer outfit. This Flystart 3 comes with a second spool which has been rigged up with what appears to be a sinking line, corroborating the notion that this reel is well suited for a rod that’s flinging heavier flies.

This example is in excellent condition bearing only a few light hallmarks of having been fished. And coming with the original box and papers, it’s easy to get past the ‘homage’ to Bauer’s design language, especially considering the BIN price of a mere $140.

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Vintage CC Filson Guide Vest Style 136S

Sooner or later, every angler develops their go-to gear setup. Decisions about where to put your fly boxes or how to secure your net are as personal as your preferred underwear brand. The gear we start with can define our taste and lay the foundation for muscle memory that, over time, becomes second nature when you’re on the water. And as we grow as anglers, it's natural to refine our setups, dialing in the little annoyances that are idiosyncratic to our personalities, our bodies and our fishing style.

For those of a certain era, the Style 136S Guide Vest — and its variants — defined the practice as much or more than rods, reels and flies did.

The most obvious (and beloved) feature of this era of Filson is the gorgeous loam green cotton twill that was used. The color of the fabric is reminiscent of Vietnam War-era U.S. Army field uniforms (think: M65 Field Jacket) lending a rugged, timeless look. The material ages extremely well and is more robust than its relatively light weight might suggest.

This era of Filson is also thoughtfully designed. Pockets are gusseted with accordion fronts for expansion. Brass snap closures hide looped backing which can serve as handy places to clip a small carabiner.

Side and front closure snaps offer two positions, which grant the user a simple way to adjust the fitment when layers change. Large front pockets with unfailing brass zipper closures hold way more than you’d think while staying out of the way when not in use. Hidden inside are several flat pockets with snap closures that are excellent for stowing sink-tips, leaders, ID, or cash for run-ins with the warden.

This Guide Vest model sports the classic steel d-ring for attaching a magnetic net release, as well as large back pockets for stowing a light rain jacket, extra layer, or lunch. It appears to be in extremely good shape, considering the devoted use that many of these received, and still has its original detachable shearling drying patch, a hard-to-find add-on that often gets separated from its host.

It should be mentioned that Filson sells an updated version of this exact model with ripstop nylon and plastic zippers — as well as a modernized design — that can be had for less than $300. But pound for pound, these vintage Filson pieces have so much more character than the modern remakes, and will last you a lifetime. Just ask us how we know.

This one is an X-Large and currently listed at $450.99 OBO from a highly-rated eBay seller.

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Abel X-Stream TR2 with Original Pouch

Any brand that’s been around for decades will have epochs of design and manufacturing, each with their own cult following. For some Rolex collectors, it’s the matte dial, tritium lume, and click bezel of an early 16800. Certain vintage Porsche lovers have secret soft spots for pop-up headlights. Anglers fall for such specifics too, and one such example might be the Abel TR series reels that were manufactured under Steve Abel’s watchful eye. Their fine porting, almost delicate dimensions and bright click-and-pawl clickers make the USA-made TRs an era that’s fueled many obsessive late-night eBay hunts. That is unless you’re searching for a the rare trout-sized X-Stream.

The X-Stream series was released by Steve Abel in December of 2003 and came in four configurations. The first three were cork drag models in 5wt, 7-9-weight, and 10-11-weight classifications—reels with Abel’s supreme stopping power for beefy fish. The fourth, the one on display here, was a 5wt click-and-pawl version.

In an interview with Midcurrent, Steve Abel explained that he designed the X-Stream lineup to be a bit more affordable than his other offerings by replacing the Rosewood accents with a simple black Delrin, and opting for a shorter polishing process. Additionally, Abel made it possible to produce the model without a counterweight through a unique porting pattern while still using the same high-quality aluminum stock.

Given the vogue at the time of its release, it stands to reason that these click-and-pawl versions were less popular than the cork disk drag models, though actual production numbers are impossible to find. But in the eyes of the modern angler, this stealthy outfit suited for a 5-weight feels like a cult classic in the making; the 180-degree teardrop porting and retro logo engraving hallmarks of those in-between models that keep collectors up at night.

This example looks to be in very fine condition with minimal wear. According to the eBay seller it also comes with the original Abel reel pouch, a lovely perk on a sleeper that has zero bids on a classic auction starting at $275 at the time of publishing.