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 ffcol |
fish it or store it? New unused Heddon #10 8.5' 2F |
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Posts: 6 06/15/2009 20:06 |
Mostly, I've surfed the site gathering information, learning and spending money, but now I hope to get some direct input from your experience. I recieved
a new rod with original bag and tube with plastic on the grip. Being just a #10, I was intending to fish it, but when I got it, took the rod out, took a look
at the plastic on the reel seat it caused some doubts. Also, how do you ID the manufacturing date on Heddons?
Thanks Bryan |
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OldCanerods |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 54 06/15/2009 20:28 |
Bryan,
I have a 9' W&M Granger that's unfished and will remain that way. Nine foot rods aren't what most collectors want, but an unfished rod can't be refinished back to new once it's used. Your 8'6" Heddon #10 isn't the most collectible rod, but once you remove the plastic from the grip the value will go down. You can pick up a used 8'6" or even 8'0" Heddon for little money and I'd do that plus collect the unfished one. |
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cwood |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 612 06/16/2009 06:58 |
I say fish it. I dealt with the exact same scenario a couple years ago when I discoverd an unfished #13 in my Grandfather's basement. I thought he would
get a big kick out of it getting used by his grandson and decided to go for it. I must admit that it was a great feeling stripping the plastic off and fishing
a vintage rod that was bransd spankin' new. Mine is a 9 ft. 2.5f so not quite as versitile as yours. In the case of an old Heddon, it's not about how
much less it will be worth since it isn't worth that much in the first place, so fish it and enjoy the fact that you are the only one putting fish scales
and river goo all over the grip.
CWood |
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mac7x |
Would you marry a beautiful woman and not consummate the marriage? | #3 | ||
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Posts: 867 06/16/2009 09:34 |
Fish it.
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FWdB |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 438 06/16/2009 12:43 |
I'd fish it, for the same reasons expressed by CWood. But whatever you decide, an unfished vintage rod surely is a "nice catch"! Wilfred de Bruijn
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ffcol |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 7 06/16/2009 14:55 |
Thanks everyone, I will "consummate the marriage". My bamboo rod apparently is quite a harlet (I think that was the word when the rod was probably
built). She removed the plastic off the handle on her own, so the decision was made for me.
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NorthBranch |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 231 06/16/2009 16:06 |
Unless it's a unused 7' Gillium with a mint ag/tube, any rod that's not fished and just sitting in a closet is just a shame. Just my opinion. Considering this is a lower grade 9' Heddon, I would say the collector value, even with the plastic on the grip, is minimal. By that I mean you're not going to get that much more whether it's fished or un-fished. It should be a nice casting workhorse rod, so take it for a spin on the river. CR |
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Marty |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 193 06/16/2009 16:36 |
I've been fortunate enough to have 2 rods with the plastic on grips unfished and untouched from somebody's closet. One was a 9 foot Granger special
and the other an 8 foot Aristocrat. I made a careful slit in the plastic and have fished the snot out of both for years..... In my opinion the real beauty and
history of these rods is in their intended use and one left under glass untouched is a waste of a great historical rod. And Grangers, Heddons, Montague's
etc were made in large numbers. (an unfished Garrison, Gillum, etc I can see the preservation argument) I think for everyone there is a number that's too
expensive/ valuable to fish..... But for me I say fish it. (I bet Jim Payne, Pinky Gillum, Everett Garrison etc would say the same) The visual beauty of
these rods is only 10% of their true beauty.... the other 90% can only be experienced on the water......... Just my opinion and I can certainly see the
viewpoint of those that disagree with me........go with what ever gives you the most joy
Life is too short for cheap scotch and plastic rods.
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nwdlj |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 40 06/18/2009 11:51 |
I recently bought an unused, mint Granger GS8030...for $1600 (we won't go into that series of events)....now to fish it brings it down into the $400-$900
range for arguments sake...that means that to fish it will cost me from $500 to $1200 (again, just for arguments sake and I would have to sell it to make any
money at all)...and to fish it as a mint, new rod just like it was bought back before the 1950's, just like my granddad and dad have done, is, to me at
least, priceless....as my mother has said to me before, "if it just costs money, its cheap" so I fished it...glad to see that you did the same...dj
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BlackHillsBill |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 2856 06/18/2009 12:17 |
______________________________________________
Boy, am I glad you brought that up. We're celebrating our
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gearboy.fiberglassflyro... |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 76 06/18/2009 15:28 |
I'd park it. I have the exact same rod and it's a dog. I rarely use mine anymore since I got a SB359. The South Bend is much lighter and is far more
enjoyable to fish. I also got a SB346 which is nicer than the Heddon but I like the 359 better.
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BlackHillsBill |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 2863 06/18/2009 21:54 |
Bryan, you asked about how to find out the manufacturing date.
Last Edited By: BlackHillsBill 06/18/2009 22:49.
Edited 2 times.
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ffcol |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 8 06/18/2009 22:38 |
Thanks for the info. Bill. I think it is a 49-52 rod with Black/Gold jasper wraps. All writing is straight along the blank. It feels nice in the hand with an
Abel BG1. I paired it with a 6wt Windcutter II. Hopefully I will get to toss some Salmonfly patterns this weekend with it and will give my impressions.
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gearboy.fiberglassflyro... |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 77 06/19/2009 06:37 |
BHB, Exact as in the 8'6" #2 ferrule. Mine has been used, but I rarely fish it anymore. I did have a #17 BB years ago, also in the 8'6"
version. It's a good bluegill rod, as it broke too often at the mid-section on smallmouths.
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BlackHillsBill |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 2865 06/19/2009 07:40 |
Even so, it's comforting to think you've parked it correctly
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tedgolden |
Resolution | #15 | ||
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Posts: 2888 06/19/2009 09:19 Moderator |
How to have your cake and eat it too? Try this. If you have one of the few rods that still have the acetate wrapper on the grip, want to use it, but are in
a quandary about what it will do to the value, here is an exercise you might find helpful: Instead of ripping the plastic, take a couple of Benjamins out of
your wallet. Crumple them up a bit and place side by side. Douse liberally with gasolione. Ignite. Poof. Go fishing with that good old South Bend 359 you
have always used and trusted. Repeat this every time you get an urge to take that plastic off the grip. The urge to use that rod will soon fade.
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oneculm |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 575 06/19/2009 09:35 |
I will try and keep this brief. I think they have always been called "fishing rods". dave
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Ed Pirie |
#17 | |||
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Posts: 88 06/19/2009 09:40 |
Good Lord, it's a fly rod - fish it. Unless you are running your own personal museum go out and have fun with it. Like Dave said, "I think they have
always been called 'fishing rods.'" Get on a brook and fish it. When you are too old to do this, you will wish you had.
Ed Pirie West Topsham, Vermont |
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tedgolden |
#18 | |||
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Posts: 2890 06/19/2009 09:44 Moderator |
So true Dave, but an unspoiled grip wrapper is combined in some sort of carnal potlatch thing and is somehow transformed into a phallic symbol to those that
believe in the power of the package rather than it's contents.
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BlackHillsBill |
#19 | |||
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Posts: 2867 06/19/2009 09:53 |
Geez, guys, Bryan intends to fish it,
may even be fishing it as we write and preach to the choir. We should be with him, fishing too. No, on second thought, maybe he would appreciate a little solitude. On the other hand, I'm glad Drew explained the significance of grip wrappers to us. |
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ffcol |
#20 | |||
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Posts: 9 06/19/2009 11:19 |
The plastic was really brittle and cracked off with just light handling. The rod will be getting fished. I don't really care about the value decreasing. I
didn't pay what I would consider a large sum for the rod to begin with (lets say between $200-$300). I cared more about potential value increasing or
whether a Heddon collector might appreciate it more than me, which being a #10 probably neither is likley. In the past I have gotten rid of almost every
fishing item I have if I notice it seems to sit around more than it gets used. It would have been tough for me to let this sit around, unless there was a very
compelling reason to.
On another note- one thing I want to do is fish some tailwaters for big fish with a bamboo. I really do think the bamboo will give me an advantage protecting tippet. Did the 2F Heddons breakages occur for a specific reason, i.e. highsticking? |
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