Lesser known rods

[The bad one]

One manufacturer missing from the list is North Western Rods (early 70s through to the mid 2000s) were rods to own if you were a specialist angler. NW were more known really for their blanks and supplied many other named UK popular rod brands.

They also made rods under the name of Rodcraft, late 90s onward, until they closed in 2008. Rod blanks was actually a side line to the core business of the parent company Pimco or Primco and or something like that. Which made composite fibreglass tubing for the aircraft industry.

The parent Co was also at the forefront of the carbon tubing revolution in aircraft manufacturing. Closing NW blanks down due to cheaper far eastern rods coming into the crowed UK mid priced market.
The parent co is still producing carbon tubing for the aircraft industry last time I past (a couple of months ago) the building where the rods were produced.

 

[Philip]

Another pretty significant one I dont think been mentioned is ABU (Garcia). My impression of those has been a bit hit and miss. I had a pair of 2.5 TC Conolon Carp rods that I liked, at the time they must have been some of the slimmest blanks around and so parabolic you could literally touch the tip to the butt. Brilliant to play fish on but awful for casting. I have a ABU spinning rod which is notable for a unusual screw down reel seat that is not actually fixed to the rod. Although its novel its a bit of a silly choice as probably the last rod you want a reel fitting that moves is on a spinning rod. I also have one of their Diplomat travels rods. The jurys still out on that, I like the blank & the action you would not think it was 5 piece but the fixtures seem a bit suspect. Also why manufacturers put high standoff single legged rings on travel rods is beyond me as apart from making it more awkward to put in luggage its also begging to get bent in transit.

 

[The bad one]

Almost forgot about these rods East Anglian Rod Company (EARC) in the Glass world they were the power behind the masses. Some years ago we had the pleasure of the owner of EARC telling us about them. Julian Pardoe was his name and it doesn't get better than coming from the horse's mouth.

He did a great write up post of the company but there seems to be an error 404 on the page now, but I did find this still in the achieves
OLD ROD'S
Enjoy

 

[Richox12]

Sundridge - Kevin Ashurst's with or without a spliced tip. SLV Carbons etc

Plus Conoflex (Carroll McManus) and Fothergill & Harvey

All good rods in the carbon era

 

[xenon]

when the time comes i expect to inherit dad's 4 piece persuader match rod--be interesting to see how it stands up, being state of the art circa 1975

 

[Mark Wintle]

when the time comes i expect to inherit dad's 4 piece persuader match rod--be interesting to see how it stands up, being state of the art circa 1975

The 13ft and 12ft Persuaders were copies of Lees Golden Jubilee rods which came out around 1967 so actually more state of the art 1967. I remember my local shop have a 13ft and 10ft swingtip rod. I bought the swingtip rod and did well with it but much preferred the ABU Mark 6 that I'd bought in 1974 to the 13ft Persuader. I've handled the 12ft Golden Jubilee rod that Ivan owned and it's not a bad rod and similar to a Edgar Sealey Contestant (circa 1969) that I acquired about a year ago.

 

[spenbeck]

My first rod (1976), Intrepid Deluxe 12'. Snapped top section playing a large carp!!!!

 

[JONM14]

ive got a Greys Prodigy 13' specialist float at the moment, probably the best ive used. I remember using a couple of Brownings in my teens but these were hand me downs from my dad. I remember he went through a stage where all he had was Browning rods in the 90s so they must have been decent.

 

[Keith M]

The very first rod that I actually bought myself was Billy Lanes 14.5ft Milbro Match Enterprise Float rod which weighed a ton compared to today’s rods; but the first really good rods that I remember buying myself back in the early 70s were the Shakespeare Match International glass fibre rod designed by Ken Giles and Clive Smith for the England team, plus a couple of Jim Gibbinson Clooper Carp rods which I bought in kit form from Goings Bros of Southend. Plus a split cane B.James & Son MKIV Carp rod which I bought from a mate for just £10.

Keith

 

[mikench]

Thanks to everyone for their comments! To rephrase the question which older rod from any company do you wish you had kept or had now which is as good as contemporary rods. This may be a very old rod or one from say Shakespeare in the last 20 years.

This may be a rod you still have and use to the exclusion of more modern equivalents.

 

[sam vimes]

Thanks to everyone for their comments! To rephrase the question which older rod from any company do you wish you had kept or had now which is as good as contemporary rods. This may be a very old rod or one from say Shakespeare in the last 20 years.

This may be a rod you still have and use to the exclusion of more modern equivalents.

I have plenty of older rods that I have no interest in trying to better, but that's because they are for things that I currently do little of (mainly any kind of legering (tip rods, carp rods, barbel rods and Avon rods) or commie rods).

The only older float rods I use with any regularity are Normarks and Shimano Aerocasts. Once in a while I might get nostalgic and take an old Daiwa Matchwinner, but I'm under no illusion that I don't have better. It's not necessarily the case that I don't believe old blanks can be excellent. However, I hate sliding rod bands and older rings often aren't as good as they could be. Unfortunately, the prospect of taking an old rod and updating the reel seat and rings away from the originals borders on criminal for me.

 

[rob48]

I don't think anyone's mentioned Milo rods. I've got four of the 13' float rods, my favourite being the New Era III Superlite. As the name suggests it''s very light and nicely balanced for light line float fishing. Like some other brands their availability and distribution was sketchy, especially after their involvement with Keenets ceased. The only decent stockist that I occasionally visited was Fisherman's Friend on the west side of Birmingham and the top range rods (and poles) were a delight to handle.
The Rive rods, as mentioned above, are very nice. I've got two of the rive-rwaggler "light" models which are forgiving enough to rarely bump dace and roach when they are feeding shallow and hitting the bait hard.

 

[steve2]

Two older rods in my collection by lesser-known makers and are both excellent rods. A Kevlar Avon by Graham Philips signed made by Paul Boote and a Tony Fordham hand made Barbel Trotting rod. Have had them both from new and taken plenty of fish on them.

 

[peterjg]

Twelve years ago I bought secondhand a DAM New Dimension 14ft match rod, the rod I would guess is around 30 years old. I use it for still water roach fishing because it is a bit too heavy for trotting. However; it is a quality blank with a lovely soft action, a superb rod.

 

[spenbeck]

One rod I wish I still had was a Tri-Cast Legacy Extender 13'-15'.
While weighing in at a match, a heard of bullocks knocked over my holdall which was lent against a wall and trampled it!!!
At the next match it came out as a 6 piece rod! Sob!!

 

[nottskev]

Twelve years ago I bought secondhand a DAM New Dimension 14ft match rod, the rod I would guess is around 30 years old. I use it for still water roach fishing because it is a bit too heavy for trotting. However; it is a quality blank with a lovely soft action, a superb rod.

Nice rod - I had a 13' which I bought on the strength of how good my older 12' Quickstick was. As you say, not the lightest but a mellow action. It came to a sticky end under a passer-by's big feet, but the butt section (or at least part of it) lives on as a dolly butt that gives me a 15' option on a Tri-cast 17' Finesse. I hate to waste a good handle.

 

[john step]

I had a rod bought for my 21st (yes I can remember that far back) by my sandwich maker. It was glass and 14 foot and went under the name of something like Blue flash by Sealey I think. It was truly awful and I struggled with it for quite some time as it was that or a heavy old cane rod. It was heavy with the action of a 14 foot piece of rope!
I kept quiet so as not to hurt or offend and it was eventually replaced quietly when funds permitted.

 

[Mark Wintle]

I had a rod bought for my 21st (yes I can remember that far back) by my sandwich maker. It was glass and 14 foot and went under the name of something like Blue flash by Sealey I think. It was truly awful and I struggled with it for quite some time as it was that or a heavy old cane rod. It was heavy with the action of a 14 foot piece of rope!
I kept quiet so as not to hurt or offend and it was eventually replaced quietly when funds permitted.

Edgar Sealey Blue Match was the name and £13/5s in 1968, an expensive rod for the time.

 

[john step]

Edgar Sealey Blue Match was the name and £13/5s in 1968, an expensive rod for the time.

Looking back its funny to remember how most of us managed with just one rod and one reel. Eventually I made a pike rod from a kit of which available widely.

 

[mikench]

With all those butties and delicious meals she has made for you Pete, I reckon she has more than made up for it!

I dread to think what my wife would buy me. Do Chanel make rods?