Background
Bogdan was born in Nashua, New Hampshire and lived there throughout his entire life.
Bogdan was born in Nashua, New Hampshire and lived there throughout his entire life.
He became interested in fly fishing at an early age when he began receiving outdated copies of a hunting and fishing magazine from a local sports retailer. At age 13, Bogdan was tying his own flies and would then become immersed in the sport. Upon graduating high school, Bogdan began work at Rollins Engine Company, a local engines manufacturer in Nashua.
Later on, while working as a machinist, he began constructing some of the first prototypes for his reels.
Fly reels are primarily known for their ability to greatly reduce drag. This is mostly attributed to Bogdan"s unique concept of the double-break shoe, known as the hallmark of any Bogdan reel.
The company is mostly focused on the production of salmon reels, however there have been a few trout reel models made. Company History
lieutenant wasn"t until 1955 that Bogdan sold his first set of reels.
At the New England Sportsmen"s Show, he received $150 from Julian Crandall for a set of 10 reels (one of which Crandall gave to professional baseball player, Ted Williams).
That same year Bogdan would make a deal with Abercrombie & Fitch, one of the day"s leading marketers of sport"s goods, for a set of 40 reels. The deal provided that:
Three different models were to be made: 100M, 200M, 300M
An identification code was to be stamped on each reel foot
Anodized gloss black for the reel feet and handles to be used instead of the aluminum serpentine
The reels would sell at $100 retail price granting Bogdan 60% of all sales
At this time, Bogdan would retire work at the factories and begin working entirely on his reel making company. From 1957 to 1977, would have a relationship with Orvis including a deal similar to the one with Abercrombie & Fitch.
The Orvis reels differed slightly because they decided to use Bogdan"s original aluminum serpentine colors.
Bogdan reels have since been marketed by many of the industry"s major tackle merchants. Eventually demands came for a trout reel in the Bogdan style, so released a 5-weight single-action, non-adjustable, pawl-drag reel in 1976.
Demands would come for similar 3-, 4-, and 6-weight reels as well. Stephen Bogdan, Stanley"s son, would join in September 1973.
Stephen purchased the company and became the sole owner in 1996.
Reels
Two qualities of Bogdan reels that they are most known for are Bogdan"s signature double-brake shoe and the 10 position lever provided that is used to regulate drag. They also have black anodized side plates with a pale gold anodized frame. The prices of a Bogdan reel range from $1,500 to $2,400, depending on the type of fish one plans to catch with lieutenant
Each Bogdan reel was handcrafted by either Stanley or Stephen.
These reels are in very high demand and it is not uncommon for one to wait several years to receive their order. Bogdan"s reels are owned and praised by some of fly fishing"s most notable figures, such as:
John Olin
Lee Wulff
Julian Crandall
Ted Bates
R.L. Haig Brown
Sergey Shakirtov.