Stan Bogdan
One of four children, Stanley Edward Bogdan was born in Nashua, New Hampshire on December 16, 1918. Perhaps influenced by his father who was a machinst, Bogdan went to work as an apprentice at the Rollins Engine Company in Nashua after graduating from high school in 1936. He enjoyed fly-fishing and knew where he could catch trout. With his keen eye for detail and committment to perfection, he began to think about making his own fly reel.
For serious reel collectors and devoted fly-fishermen, there is nothing like owning a Bogdan reel (or two, or three ,or more). In this in-depth article, Douglas Marchant, an avid collector of Bogdan reels and close friend of Bogdan's tells why this soft-spoken Yankee with his reel has become a cult figure in the fly-fishing fraternity.
The Bogdan Story
Since 1940 the Bogdan Family has been producing fine handcrafted gamefish reels for sporting anglers the world over. A Bogdan reel is the culmination of several months labor, each carefully machined from a variety of solid bar stock, including tool steel, aluminum, bronze and Delrin. So widely accepted is the design that they have gained international recognition as the epitome of the reel makers art. Reels made by the Bogdans have probably landed more salmon than any other reel. The design is the melding of practical mechanical application with classic styling. Their popularity is due in large part to the careful marriage of these two worlds so important to anglers.
The Salmon reels use a double set of caliper actuated, spring mounted, Delrin brake shoes that bear against a clutch driven steel drum. The drag tension is adjusted via a 10 position lever mounted on the back side of the reel. The Steelhead and Trout reels, which are also direct drive, employ a non-adjustable traditional sprocket and pawl 'clicker' set in a directional oscillator that checks spool overrun. All reels have an audible click in both directions, which can be turned off on most Salmon models. Spare spools are generally not available. When ordering you must specify either right or left hand retrieve as the direction cannot be changed.
Bogdan reels have black anodized side plates with a pale gold anodized frame. Reel foot, handles, adjusting knobs, etc., are clear anodized. All black reels are available as a special order at an extra charge.
Many stories have been written about the long waiting period for purchasing a Bogdan. We wish we could say otherwise but most of the tales are true. While some anglers may get their reels in as little as a few weeks, others can wait several years to take delivery. Since each reel is the product of very intensive hand labor, forecasting delivery is virtually impossible. If you speak with any angler who owns or has used a Bogdan, you will find that they are worth the wait.
| Model | Reel Dia. | Reel Wt. (oz) | Line | Spool Width | Backing Capacity |
| Baby Trout | 2.75" | 4 | 3 | 0.68" | 50#20 |
| W. Baby Trout | 2.75" | 4.25 | 4 | 0.96" | 50#20 |
| Trout | 3.25" | 5 | 5 | 0.68" | 50#20 |
| Large Trout | 3.25" | 5.5 | 7 | 0.96" | 50#20 |
| Steelhead | 3.25" | 6 | 9 | 1.15" | 75#20 |
| L. Steelhead | 3.5" | 6.5 | 9 | 1.15" | 150#20 |
| 00 Grilse/Sea Tr | 3.25" | 10 | 7 | 1.15" | 75#20 |
| 50 Lt. Salmon | 3.5" | 9.25 | 9 | 1.15" | 125#20 |
| 0 Salmon | 3.25" | 11 | 9 | 1.375" | 150#20 |
| 100 Lt. Salmon | 3.5" | 10.5 | 9 | 1.15" | 125#20 |
| 150 Salmon | 3.5" | 11.5 | 10 | 1.375" | 175#20 |
| 1 Lg. Salmon | 3.75" | 12 | 10 | 1.187" | 190#20 |
| 2 Lg. Salmon | 3.75" | 12.5 | 10 | 1.375" | 200#20 |
| 300 Nortic Sal. | 3.75" | 12.5 | 10 | 1.375" | 200#20 |
| 400 Nortic Sal. | 4" | 15.5 | 12 | 1.625" | 125#20 |