Name Stanley Bogdan | ||
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Stanley E. Bogdan (December 16, 1918 – March 27, 2011) was the founder of S.E. Custom Built, a company dedicated to the handmade construction of fly reels. Bogdan was born in Nashua, NH 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 He became interested in fly fishing at an early age when he began receiving outdated copies of a hunting and fishing magazine from a local sports retailer.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. Stanley Bogdan died on March 27, 2011 and is survived by his son Stephen, and his daughter Cheryl Doughty. His wife Phyllis died in 1995. While standing on the shore of one of his favorite rivers; The Grand Cascapedia, Mr Bogdan smiled and said: "I'd die if I could not fish anymore" shortly after Mr. Bogdan could no longer fish he succombed to pancreatic cancer. 2009
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S.E. Custom Built
S.E. Custom Built 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
It 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, S.E. Custom Built 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 S.E. Custom Built 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 S.E. Custom Built 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 it. 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. Avid reel collector and friend of Bogdan's, Douglas Marchant says, "Since each reel is the product of very intensive hand labor, forecasting delivery is virtually impossible."
Bogdan's reels are owned and praised by some of fly fishing's most notable figures, such as: