Precision and Passion: A Conversation with Ted Juracsik, Founder of Tibor Reels
No matter how technologically advanced the fishing industry becomes, it’s reassuring to know that it still holds space for timeless values like integrity, simplicity, and craftsmanship. In the world of fly fishing, those values have been shaped and preserved by legends—names like Billy Pate, Lefty Kreh, and Tibor “Ted” Juracsik, a Hungarian tool-and-die master with a gift for designing reels that last a lifetime.
As IGFA President Jason Schratwieser puts it, “Ted has left an indelible mark on the world of saltwater fly fishing. His innovations in reel making set the bar for how all other reels are measured.”
As Tibor Reel Corporation celebrates its 50th anniversary, we sat down with Ted at his shop in Chokoloskee, Florida. His voice may be modest, but his story and his legacy are anything but. The reels he created have helped anglers around the world achieve their dreams—from once-in-a-lifetime personal bests to hundreds of IGFA world records.
You were born in Budapest, Hungary, and spent your youth fishing the Danube River. What was life like in Hungary before you came to the U.S.?
I grew up fishing for carp in the Danube. I was good with my hands, and by 17, I became the youngest Hungarian to earn my master papers in the tool and die trade. But then came the revolution. I fought against the Soviet occupation. When it failed, I had to flee. They were hunting people like me. I escaped to Austria and eventually made it to America as a refugee in the late 1950s.
Where did you first land in the U.S.?
I arrived at a refugee camp in New Jersey, then a Catholic home for boys in Brooklyn. I didn’t speak English, but I found work, played soccer, and eventually got a job at a plastics factory on Long Island. In 1959, I started my own tool and die business, and later fished the waters off Long Island. That was the beginning of getting back to the sport I loved.
When did you first get into fly fishing?
Not until later, in the early ’70s. I met Billy Pate down in the Keys around 1970. He was losing tarpon on bad reels—reels that corroded, had poor drags, or just couldn’t stand up to the fish. A mutual friend introduced us. I told Billy I’d try to build something better if he taught me how to fly fish. We shook hands, and that was it.
Tibor Reel Co., born out of a handshake and a chance meeting with Billy Pate.
That handshake led to the creation of the Billy Pate Reel, right?
That’s right. I went back to my shop and started working. No CNC machines, just manual tools. It took time, but I built two reels—one for him and one for me. When the manager at World Wide Sportsman saw them, he asked me to build 100. I didn’t have the money, but he wrote me a check on the spot. No contract. Just trust. That first reel set the standard—anti-reverse drag, durability, and beautiful simplicity. That same design is still in production today. We haven’t had to change it.
Tell us about your design philosophy, "the fewest moving parts."
That came from my training. The old masters always said, “The most beautiful machines have the fewest moving parts.” That stuck with me. You don’t want to complicate things. Fewer parts mean fewer problems. That’s why our reels last. We’ve had them fished commercially for decades, and they’re still running.
The world record tally on Tibor reels is staggering—now over 950 IGFA world records. What does that mean to you?
I’m proud, of course. It tells me we did it right. When you’re spending thousands chasing a world record, your gear has to perform. You don’t get second chances. Lefty Kreh called Tibor Reels "the finest saltwater reels he ever used." That means more to me than any sales figure.
What role did your family play in the business?
Everything. We’re a family business. My son runs it now along with a great team. We’ve always been 100% made in the USA—except for the ball bearings, everything is machined and assembled right in our Delray Beach facility. My family kept that commitment. Our motto is still: “By fishermen, for fishermen.”
What does a perfect day of fishing look like to you?
Light breeze, clear light, moving water. I go out alone a lot in a small aluminum Jon boat. I fish for snook or redfish in the Everglades. I’m 88 now, but I still get out there when I can. My doctor says, “Keep doing what you’re doing,” so I do.
You've said the industry has changed. What concerns you most?
People want things fast and cheap. But quality doesn’t work that way. I see reels sold online for $35, made overseas. Just the raw material in my reels costs five times that. I understand capitalism, but you get what you pay for. When you’re in the Bahamas and your drag locks up, it’s too late. That’s why we build reels that last a lifetime—and back them with lifetime service.
What advice would you give to new reel makers, or young anglers?
Stick to quality. Don’t overpromise. Deliver on time. Use the best materials you can. Be disciplined. That’s it. If you do that, you’ll earn people’s trust—and that’s worth more than anything.
Are you still involved with Tibor day to day?
Not really. I’ve passed it on to the team. I give advice when they’re buying new machines or if there’s a tough engineering question, but they handle the rest. They recently released 300 reels in special wooden boxes for their 50th anniversary. Sold out in an hour. I didn’t do anything. That was their win, and I’m proud of them.
What do you hope your legacy is?
That we treated customers right, that we built something that worked better and lasted longer than anything else, and that we kept it simple. My reels were never about fashion—they were about function. That’s how we got to 950 world records, and that’s how you keep customers for life.
What keeps you going?