How the world’s best known saltwater reel perfecter chased down the American dream.
If you’ve ever heard of Tibor Reels, you probably know of the hundreds of world records that it claims (808 to be exact) or maybe you’ve seen its patented anti-reverse feature in action. Maybe you’ve been a fan of Tibor Reels for years or perhaps you’ve never been fishing. Either way, its creator, Tibor “Ted” Juracsik, is an incredible example of resiliency, bravery, and excellence in American manufacturing.
Juracsik was born and raised in Hungary where, at the age of 17, he became the youngest Hungarian ever to earn his Masterpapers in the tool and die trade. He spent his time fishing and working.
In the 1950’s, after joining the Hungarian Freedom Fighters to combat the Soviet Union’s control, he was forced to flee his native country. After making it to Austria, Juracsik eventually ended up in the Northeastern United States and worked until he started his own tool and die business off Long Island.
He married a fellow Hungarian refugee whose brothers were big fishing fans. This reignited his love for fishing which paved the way for the next stage of his life, in which he would invent the most popular fly fishing real of all time.
About 10 years after starting his tool and die business, he met Billy Pate who soon became his close friend and fishing buddy. Pate told Juracsik about the problems that came along with the saltwater reels of the day including uneven action, corrosion, and the reel’s simply being too weak to take on the large saltwater fish.
Juracsik began testing several prototypes and finally created a reel so perfect, that nothing about the design has changed since its inception.
Juracsik made the reel when he was 26 and now – nearly 40 years later – the first reel he made for Billy Pate still works! This first reel was named after Billy Pate and is still manufactured in the Juracsik Facilities. Since then, three other salt water fly reels have been manufactured by Tibor Reels for fishers of all skill level: the Tibor, Tibor Lite and the Tibor Signature.
“The old masters always told me the most beautiful machines have the least moving parts.” –Tibor “Ted” Juracsik, Founder of Tibor Reels
Every single reel sold by Tibor Reel is made entirely in the Ted Juracsik Tool and Die (JT&D) facility in Delray Beach, Florida.
JT&D is a family owned business with over 45 years of experience in manufacturing precision metal products. Marianne Papa, Vice President of Tibor Reels, explains that no matter how much money you can spend on equipment, industrious Americans give Tibor Reels the quality edge they have over any competitors. “No matter how grand the investment in equipment, real excellence in production and service comes from the people handling the processes,” said Papa.
Tibor Reels are known for being virtually maintenance free. The anti-reverse feature revolutionized the salt-water fly-fishing industry and gave Tibor Reels the incredible reputation they continue to uphold today.