Ted Juracsik, the creator of Tibor Reels, has one of the most interesting and inspiring stories I know. As a young Hungarian in Budapest, he was the smartest of his friends. At age 17, he was the youngest Hungarian ever to be awarded Master Papers and went to work in a bicycle factory. Not long after the Hungarian revolution began and was in full swing against the Russians and Soviet Union, Ted escaped to Austria. Leaving his family and his sister behind, the big world of the unknown was before him.

Eventually, he immigrated to the the United States and started a successful tool and dye business. One day in the World Wide Sportsman store, he met Billy Pate who needed a better fly reel to fight the monster Tarpon he was chasing in Homosassa. Ted told him he could design a better reel for him and the rest is history. The Tibor Reel company became the salt water fly reel of choice for all the world record chasers for the next few decades.

On todays podcast, we travel with Ted through his legendary life and the hardships along the way.

Photo: Joe Pugliese