Vintage Monday at BS

[tjm]

Every  fly rod that I saw back in the '50s, as far as I recall all bamboo but one that was telescoping  steel,  had an automatic reel,  braided line and live bait. They had a lot more reach than short casting rods of the day and were great at leading a  worm or crawdad through a run or reaching over boulders in the riffles. Of course I only saw fly rods in SW Mo., eastern Or. and central Id. in other places I'm sure they used fly rods for fly fishing.

Your 8 1/2' Fenwick only weighed about 3 3/4 ounces, most of that in the cork,  I've fished them with 4 1/2 oz. reels,.

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, tjm said:

 

Your 8 1/2' Fenwick only weighed about 3 3/4 ounces, most of that in the cork,  I've fished them with 4 1/2 oz. reels,.

Mine had a cheap Martin reel that was a knockoff of the more popular Pfluger Medalist.   And I haven't a clue what the line was.....but it floated, and it was brown.  You could see brown braid beneath a clear coating.  It was supple, floated fine, lasted for years even after being tangled in rocks, stepped on, and never cleaned.      

I traded it for a Browning graphite rig because I thought I needed a 9 footer.   Stupid move.  

[Hawg]

Those martins are great. Bought two last year of the counter for $11 apiece.

 

[tjm]

Since the Fenwicks of the "60s were extremely high production/high sales rods they are always on eBay, often in near new condition. $50-150 should find a nice one. Shipping went up though so that can run as high as the rod. The shorter <8' 'glass rods are usually higher priced now than the >8'.