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Fishing Fiberglass


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I "learned" to fly fish on my Dad's 1954 Shakesphere Wonder Rod. It is a white blank. It is old enough to not have a line rating. It is 6'6". I think it would do well with a 4 or 5 wt line.

I loved it and wouldn't mind fishing it EXCEPT that I am afraid of breaking it.

Don't worry about breaking it---it's fiberglass!

Fish it to honor your father. I'm sure he'd be pleased to know his rod is being appreciated and being used for the reason he acquired it. Just whisper "This one's for you Dad" each time you bring a fish to hand.

"You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." ---Charles Austin Beard

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I took a look at it yesterday. It hasn't been babied over the years so its looking a little rough.

It is labeled a Wonderod #922 6'6" IF it was rated for a particular line that info is gone from the blank.

I'll try to goggle it up, but does anyone have a source to help me determine the right line to try on the puppy. I have a 2 wt line, a 5 wt,6 wt,and 8 wt.

I could just try the 5 wt and see how it goes.

I love my Dad. He and I still get to fish together. He is in amazing health for his age and stays very active. He is always learning new areas to fish and is willing to fight a long learning curve fr a anew fish or new technique.

He is NOT sentimental about equipment. He had the first Pfluger Supremes and the solid steel rods with dacron line.

He doesn't ditch what works to buy the latest and greatest, but is happy to point oout that pretty average stuff is much better than the VERY best of his youth.

I'll get a bigger charge out of fishing the Wonderod than e will from hearing me talk about it.

Every Saint has a past, every Sinner has a future. On Instagram @hamneedstofish

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I did find out the that it was made in 1963 (maybe he told me he got it in 1964 not 1954?) form the Shakespeare site, but I'm still searching for line rating info.

Every Saint has a past, every Sinner has a future. On Instagram @hamneedstofish

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I did find out the that it was made in 1963 (maybe he told me he got it in 1964 not 1954?) form the Shakespeare site, but I'm still searching for line rating info.

If it hasn't worn off with other data there should be a 3 capital letter code on the butt just above the handle that will tell those 'in the know' the month and year of production.

Go to the fiberglas rod board at the URL listed in post # 11 on this thread. Click on the 'Collecting Fiberglass Rods' board and run a search for your model #. That oughta do it. If it doesn't then post the question with the subject line of 'Shakespeare question for gaddis' as he is the authority on Shakespeare. Be sure to list the date code if it still exists.

"You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." ---Charles Austin Beard

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Whoops! Forgot. :(

Congratulations on still having your Dad for a fishing partner! Go often, make heavy deposits in your 'memory savings account' while you may. It will make you rich beyond measure later.

And the 7 1/2', 3 wt. you mentioned----is it one of the Dorber E-Rod-2 series by any chance? I have one of them that so delighted me after test-casting that I went back and bought it a few weeks later after I discovered I couldn't get it out of my mind even tho I already had a nice little Cabellas 3 piece of the same size. FWIW< Jeff at Dorber keeps telling me on the phone that I must come over and try out their new 'Ultra Weave' series that he sez casts exactly like bamboo at a third the weight. He knows I like traditional actions but I'm almost afraid to try one for fear I'd hafta have one and they aren't as reasonably priced as their other offerings. :(

"You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." ---Charles Austin Beard

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Ham,

Ditto on what CC said. My dad and I had some good times fishing, but he was never a big hunter or fisherman, so those times were limited. My grandfather and I fished a lot together and we were much closer. Sometimes I wish my dad and I had learned to fly fish when I was a kid. Might have put us closer.

CC,

I have a 9 ft 4 WT built by RebRod in Flippin on a Dorber UltraWeave blank. I LOVE that rod "forever!" I picked it up at Conclave '05 at the auction. I "just wanted" a 4 WT and this one looked and felt pretty good on display.

Then I fished it.... WHOA! I got a REAL BARGAIN as far as I'm concerned! SAAHH-WWWWWEEEEEET rod. Yep, I'd compare it to casting a bamboo as far as feel. But I LOVE nymphing with this rod as well.

If you don't make it down to Dorber before I see you, you can fish mine.... just sign in blood and I'll have to hold your first born for ransom. :lol:

TIGHT LINES, YA'LL

 

"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." - Paul O’Neil

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I have a 9 ft 4 WT built by RebRod in Flippin on a Dorber UltraWeave blank. I -----I got a REAL BARGAIN as far as I'm concerned! SAAHH-WWWWWEEEEEET rod. Yep, I'd compare it to casting a bamboo as far as feel.----If you don't make it down to Dorber before I see you, you can fish mine.... just sign in blood and I'll have to hold your first born for ransom.

How's the PT going? When you gonna be ready to fish the Spring? Could I just swap my firstborn even up? :D

The wife & I had 'breakfast with Lacey' a few weeks ago. When I told her I knew you she promptly registered signs of sympathy. Nice kid! :lol:

"You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." ---Charles Austin Beard

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Going pretty good... At least everyone tells me it is. I'm too impatient I guess. I'm ready to get going again, but can't bend my knee far enough and have a hard time standing for very long. I know I'm getting better by the day, but just seems slower than I thought.

Cindy and Amanda went to Mammoth today and I chose not to go. Started to let you know and come on over, but since I can't fish, just didn't seem worth the effort. They are getting "coiffed" and I didn't want to hang out at the beauty shop. I'm just hangin' out with the Yorkies and getting housework done so Cindy can be a slug tomorrow... :lol:

Yep, Lacee told me she waited on you. She's a pretty good kid, but has her moments... She's gonna be a momma around August, so maybe grandpa will have a fishing bud soon... Well, in a few years.

Russ is wanting to fish the Spring, so before long he and I will hook up and head that way. I'll let you know when and you can show us where you've got those bigguns tied up.

By the way... Any Walleye's coming out?

TIGHT LINES, YA'LL

 

"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." - Paul O’Neil

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<Going pretty good... At least everyone tells me it is.---just seems slower than I thought.>

Hang in there and, above all, keep doing the PT!

<Cindy and Amanda went to Mammoth today and I chose not to go. Started to let you know and come on over, but since I can't fish, just didn't seem worth the effort.>

Shoulda done it anyway----we coulda just sat in the parking lot at Dam 3, kibitzed with the fishers and each other and laughed at the human frailties witnessed.;o)

<She's gonna be a momma around August, so maybe grandpa will have a fishing bud soon... Well, in a few years.>

So how many flyrods has the incipient heir had bought in his name so far?

<Russ is wanting to fish the Spring, so before long he and I will hook up and head that way. I'll let you know when and you can show us where you've got those bigguns tied up.>

I'll keep looking for 'em!

<By the way... Any Walleye's coming out?>

Saw a pic of a 17#+ caught a few months ago but no recent reports.

"You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." ---Charles Austin Beard

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