Hi,

Sorry Idecided to delete my post, plans changing.


Jason



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2023 12:07PM by Jason Vormbaum.

Jason,
WHAT HAPPENED???

I was all ready to say that I have mentored many new fly rod builders - to walk you through the important phases of flyrod building.

Also, If your son is geting serious about fly fishing - dont hinder him wit an inferior rod.
As far as starting with an inferior blank - and any blank from the 80's will most likely be that - best to start with a good blank - if you screw it up - easy to redo.

Herb
CTS

Herb, Don't give up, try a little garden hackle. Their spooky today.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)

Dennis Danku Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Herb, Don't give up, try a little garden hackle.
> Their spooky today.


:-))))

Thanks guys. Almost had a buyer for it all but it’s still mine.

So I have a ton of blanks from 54” to 96” in all manner of power. I need to practice a build but don’t know what to make. Seems like people usually have an idea or a rod they are duplicating or working from, I’m just looking for a stab in the dark. I guess I need to know what I can build into something useful with what I have. I don’t want to go right to my end goal because the first ones might not be good for much…

What’s a good rod setup for lake/reservoir fishing? Or salmon trolling, or California whit seabass. That what I could probably use or give away around here.

I need any starting point…

Thanks
Jason

Jason, Need more info. Are these branded blanks with labels and numbers on the butts? When you say "all manner of power", do you mean blanks that could range form UL (trout) to rail rod (tuna)? Are these painted blanks (Color),graphite and or Eglass? You may want to list them on the Buy / Sell page.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/2023 10:29PM by Dennis Danku.

They are all unlabeled except 2 and those are Lamiglas. All from the mid 80s. Pictures look more difficult to post here but I’ll see what I can do.

Maybe you can see photos here?

[photos.app.goo.gl]

The photos show quite a time capsule. The fiberglass blanks seem to have a lot of handling and storage wear. This doesn’t necessarily mean they have integrity issues. I think many are in the 1970’s range more than the 1980’s. The early 1980’s was a very transitional period so they could extend into that time. I bought a couple of their rods in the mid-80’s that I still have. Your blanks appear to be older. There are probably a few collectors who would treasure these more than what they are worth as practice building fodder. I’m thinking it’s a limited number of people, but it seems like it’s worth trying to find out if anyone is appreciative of antique blanks that are more than 40 years old. I’m not one, but there has to be a few vintage Lamiglas fan out there. Some interest has returned for the late pre-graphite fly rods. I’ve looked a bit more and will add that the Fenwicks might be worth you collecting some additional knowledge.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/06/2023 02:23AM by Kendall Cikanek.

Huh, older….wow. The little 4 piece fenwicks have drawn some interest but not much else. I’m keeping at least one to make a backpacking rod. Otherwise as much as people say, “cool” when they see it apparently it’s not really worth anything.

Which is good, I have lots to practice on but I don’t know what I can make…? I can throw handles and guides on blanks but what would it be good for?

Jason Vormbaum Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I can throw handles and guides on blanks but what would it be good for?

People still use glass rods for: Swimbait, crankbait, catfish, slow jig...and on and on.

Jason Vormbaum Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Huh, older….wow. The little 4 piece fenwicks
> have drawn some interest but not much else. I’m
> keeping at least one to make a backpacking rod.
> Otherwise as much as people say, “cool” when
> they see it apparently it’s not really worth
> anything.
>
> Which is good, I have lots to practice on but I
> don’t know what I can make…? I can throw
> handles and guides on blanks but what would it be
> good for?

The Fenwick’s are likely the most desirable blanks in the photos. It’s likely that there is someone who would love to have them, but finding that person may be difficult if they aren’t hanging out here. A few years ago there were many more people who fondly revered that time period with Fenwick. The company came out with graphite in 1973 and was sold in 1979. I remember when imports carrying the name started in 1984. This was quite the major controversy at the time. There was media coverage that extended well beyond sporting goods related outlets. It became a poster case for the cultural costs of out-sourcing. The premium rod market increased its pace of shifting towards the names we all know today. This created our contemporary reality that the anglers who care about Fenwick’s heyday have aged about 50 years since it’s waning.

All good info. It certainly points me in the right direction, I’ll start thinking about some practice rods, I have a lot to work with.

Related story my son is in college and a project was to transcribe oral angling histories. He’s been laughing because the tapes he’s been listening to reference all the stuff and brands that I picked up. So I guess it’s officially historically old….

It also makes him want to build some up because they are classics and some people will know.

I think somewhere along the way you had asked about what different CCS values equate to fishing application. Below is a listing of former factory rods and rods I'm working on with some ideas on uses. This is sorted by power from low to high. Note, different fisherman have different ideas on ideal rods so take with grain of salt. I'm a midwest freshwater guy (Bass, Panfish, Walleye mostly).

Custom or Factory Type of Rod (Spinning, Casting, Fly) Length Ft Length In Total Length (Inches) Intrinsic Power (Grams) ERN Active Angle (AA) Notes (i.e what do you use rod for?)
Custom Not Built 7 2 86 268 11.81 76 Light open hook spinning panfish
Custom Not Built 6 10 82 300 12.65 78 Light open hook spinning panfish
Custom Casting 7 2 86 343 13.51 76 Light Cranks and Squarebills
Factory Casting 7 1 85 345.0 13.58 75 light crankbait
Factory Spinning 6 9 81 370.0 14.27 75 Freshwater Spinning. Vertical DropShot, Panfish.
Factory Spinning 7 2 86 380.0 14.55 73 All around freshwater open hook spinning setup. Dropshot, Wacky rig, etc…
Factory Spinning 7 0 84 387.5 14.76 73 Dropshot and other light spinning
Factory Casting 7 2 86 430.0 15.93 70 MH crankbait, spinnerbait, etc….
Factory Spinning 7 6 90 432.5 16 76 Spybait, HairJig, Swimbaits, Dropshot exposed hook
Custom Not Built 7 3 87 438 16.14 78 Open hook spinning
Custom Not Built 7 6 90 502 17.86 77 Heavier spinning applications or maybe cut down for Jerkbait
Custom Spinning 6 9 81 512 18.14 77 All around spinning, Dropshot, Wacky,etc… Light crisp
Factory Casting 7 0 84 550.0 19.24 71 Topwater
Factory Spinning 6 11 83 550.0 19.24 77 Dropshot and other light spinning including swimbaits
Factory Spinning 6 10 82 550.0 19.24 78 Shaky head, Wacky, Tubes
Custom Spinning 7 0 84 553.05 19.31 76 All around spinning bass
Custom Spinning 7 3 87 599 20 73 Dropshot and other spinning
Custom Not Built 7 10 94 599.26 20 63 Not Built Yet. Will probably cut down to 7'-3 ish and use for Spinner baits, cranks and chatterbaits
Factory Casting 7 10 94 600.0 20.62 75 Deep Cranking
Custom Casting 6 9 81 603 20.62 76 Jerkbait, Topwater, small swimbaits 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz
Custom Casting 7 6 90 612.5 20.96 74 Bought to use for Chatterbait and rattle traps. A bit light power for ripping thru heavy grass but keeps fish pinned well
Factory Spinning 7 0 84 625.0 21.31 74 Shaky head, fluke, Wacky, Single Hook Texas Rig Bait
Custom Casting 8 0 96 632 21.31 76 Deep Cranking, C-Rig, Swimbaits
Factory Casting 6 8 80 650.0 22 80 Jerkbait, Topwater
Factory Casting 7 10 94 655.0 22 71 Deep Cranking Glass
Custom Not Built 7 3 87 668 22.34 71 Heavier topwater (ploppers, spooks)
Factory Casting 7 0 84 687.5 23.03 74 All around Bass. Light Jigs, T-rigs, etc
Custom Not Built 7 0 84 693.53 23.03 73
Custom Casting 6 11 83 709.65 23.38 73 All around Bass. Light Jigs, T-rigs, etc
Custom Casting 6 11 83 712.3 23.38 74 All around Bass. Light Jigs, T-rigs, etc
Custom Casting 7 3 87 750.0 24.76 73 Light pithcing, Jigs, Rattletraps, others… Pretty versatile
Custom Casting 7 6 90 753 24.76 70 Light pithcing, Jigs, small/mid swimbaits Pretty versatile
Factory Casting 7 0 84 787.5 25.55 71 5" spoon
Factory Casting 7 6 90 812.5 26.03 76 Carolina Rig, Swimbait, dragging jigs
Factory Casting 7 0 84 827.5 26.27 69 dragging heavier weights bait
Custom Not Built 7 6 90 865 26.99 77 Deep crankbaits, Chatterbaits, Traps, other moving baits
Factory Casting 7 4 88 875.0 27.23 76 Bottom contact baits
Factory Casting 7 6 90 905.0 27.7 62 Bought for Pitching/Flipping but would rather have lighter power. Use for dragging Jig. Decent for 6" spoon
Factory Casting 7 11 95 930.0 28.18 65 Punching heavy vegetation, Arig
Factory Casting 7 4 88 937.5 28.42 73 Frog
Factory Casting 7 2 86 975.0 29.14 77 Football Jig
Factory Casting 7 9 93 1187.5 30.15 75 A-rig, Big Flutter Spoon

Thanks Kevin! That great info.