So today at a garage sale, my GF picked up 5 really cool vintage rods. There are a couple that are 30lb class, matched, a couple of 40lb class rods, and a 50lb class rod with roller guides. They all appear to be custom builds. I am told that the deceased owner lived in Florida. There was also a Penn 9/0, a very nice electric reel, and a Penn International 30. All of this came home with me, sans the International 30, as it was not one that I have immediate plans on fishing. The other 2 reels I am super pleased to have found for next to nothing.

Most rods that I see at garage sales are not worth a second glance. These are all fiberglass blanks, and the glass is really pretty on 3 of them. These feel like nice rods, like they could be built into beautiful rods.

With vintage rods like this.... They feel solid. They look great, but could use re-wrapped. The guides are all present, but vintage. Undamaged, and in great shape. They have a feel of being quality rods.. One of them has a 2 piece Aftco 2 piece aluminum butt, and Aftco rollers... I think these rods should be re-wrapped. Should it be with the original guides? Are these collectors rods?


They are fiberglass.. should they be sound for fishing? For pulling hard? Are they better for collectors?


I think they can fish, but, I would like to hear some experienced opinions. I personally would fish them...

I see similar rods listed on @#$%& for decent money. Who is buying them

If they were to be re-wrapped... should it be with the same guides? What about the grips, and reel seats? The reel seats look strong, and okay, but in a vintage sort of way. The guides are good looking, but obviously vintage.

Cheers All!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/2016 11:21PM by Chris Harban.

Unless they were made by a well known and respected builder, they are not necessarily collectable nor worth much money. This has little to do with their quality, but more to do with the maker and his reputation as a builder.

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Wrap them and take them fishing. Your choice on using the same guides or not. If the guides are not damaged use them. "Dated" doesn't mean "bad". In many ways heavy trolling rods IMHO work baits better than high concentrate graphite blanks and are more forgiving at the rail if a large fish makes a final run as they will absorb the shock.

Chris,
Rather than make any changes to the rod, why don't you take the rods fishing and see how they fish?

If one or all of the rods work well for fishing, then consider doing some changes or rewrapping. No need to use different guides if the current ones work and are all right for your uses.

It doesn't make sense to spend a lot of time, effort and money on a rod that ends up being a dud in the fishing department.

Good luck

Thanks for the replies.

No, there is no value to these rods based on whoever built them, it is the blanks that seem decent, not necessarily the build quality. The wraps are old, not all in good shape.

These are Kencor Magnaglass blanks.. I see they have a little bit of a following. Looking forward to re-wrapping and fishing these.