post your vintage surf rod / reel pics!

[T_i_G_e_R]

Hi, newbe here, but I wanted to see what vintage stuff other ppl are using... here are a few pics of my beloved 1959 garcia conolon 10 foot heavy action surf rod and mitchell 486! (ahem... disregard the ugly bluefish... caught a short that night - a few wks ago, but wanted to take pic of the blue instead of a tiny striper I just let go back to the wild blue) Plz post your pics of your vintage rods reels.

[MasterBaiter]

I dont think the pics were uploaded correctly....

[Sudsy]

I'm with you, I love the classics! Built like tanks so you never have that fear of the reel breaking down at the end of a long walk. The rods are so tough you know they're never going to explode in the middle of a big cast or fight with a big fish.

My first setup was an 11' 6" yellow Fenwick/Grizzly cut to 10' with a Penn 200 Surfmaster. I've rebuilt the rod as a spinner and still use it occasionally. Now one of my go to Montauk and jetty setups is a Kennedy Fisher 8720 with either a Penn 706 Greenie or Mitchel 396 PUM or 496 PUM.
My favorite heavy bait combo is a 10' Harnell (I forget the model #) with an Abu 8600 or tweaked out Penn 146. On the rare occasion I throw bait with a spinner I use an old 12' Honey Lami with a Mitchel 498 PUM.
My favorite eeling setup is a custom Lami SMB1143f with a Penn 704 Greenie.
I've got a few other setups using newer rods with older reels, Crack 300, 200, and 100, Penn 710 Greenie, Dam Quick 500........................

I still have 3 Harnell blanks to build, all boat - one of the blanks is a new in package never built 504 blank (I really have to get on this)

I don't have any pictures in action but somewhere around here are a few shots of em all hanging out in their winter storage spots.

[T_i_G_e_R]

Sudsy,

I love the penn 704 "greenie" as well, and it is actually the smoothest cranking reel I currently own.. so nice .. I will list my current setups - Please let me know if you have ever heard of them.

12' rac-rite surf rod with mitchell 302
11' 4" conolon surf rod with mitchell 488
10' conolon surf rod with mitchell 402
10' conolon surf rod with mitchell 486
8' 6" conolon rod with penn 704
7' lamiglass rod with mitchell 406
6' 6" pfeulger rod with garcia 3800 reel
6' med action conolon rod with penn 712 reel

all have cork handles
except for the lamiglass rod, all have stainless guides

I am totally into garcia rods as you can tell, but I have found that my favorite rod is actually the cheapo RAC-RITE SUPERROD! Has anyone heard of a rac-rite rod? How old are they?? mine looks to be 50's at least.

I hope you can dig up a few pics.. I will post some more pics of the collection

-T_i_G_e_R

[T_i_G_e_R]

Also, Sudsy, what is "PUM"
I have seen the 496, 396, 498, 398's and they look awesome... how does that giant bail help??

[Sudsy]

Originally Posted by T_i_G_e_R

Also, Sudsy, what is "PUM"

Pick
Up
Manual

No bail wire just a big roller.
The skirted spool PUM reels are also Fireline friendly and are waterproof when you pack em with grease.
Problem is the smaller PUM reels were mainly distributed in Europe. They did sell a few 396's and quite a few 498's up in the Cape area but the 496's were Europe only. I got my 496 from a guy in Holland.

396 and 496


498

[zimno1]

suds, i like those [email protected]! i have to say, the toys you aquired over the years are just insane.

[T_i_G_e_R]

Sudz... question.. does the roller automatically flip, grab the line? How do you use the reel?? This manual pickup thing really has my interest now... is it better??? I have lost SOOOO MANY expensive plugs from my bail flipping during violent casts...!

Also, when I try to view pics, I get... "you are not authorized" msg.. .etc...

BTW... anyone on the north shore of Long Island (near cedar beach) want to go casting?? I need someone to show me a good spot down here (I am used to fish Quonochontaug - dad's beach house)... cant beat Quonnie man... COWS everywhere ... its insane.. seems like shorts here

-Rich

[Sudsy]

Originally Posted by T_i_G_e_R

Sudz... question.. does the roller automatically flip, grab the line? How do you use the reel?? This manual pickup thing really has my interest now... is it better??? I have lost SOOOO MANY expensive plugs from my bail flipping during violent casts...!

No they don't flip over although they did make a later model, the 498 "Africa", that did. However that was a very limited release and mainly went to overseas collectors for big bucks, I've never seen one.

The line pick up system is effectively the same as the system on a Penn 706. You catch the line with your index finger and put it on the roller as you begin reeling. Sounds a lot more difficult then it is. Most guys catch on within an hour or two.

And as a bonus PUM reels (also called MP for manual pickup, or sometimes manual bail, which technically isn't correct) by their nature rarely get wind knots with braid. There's no bail wire to trap the line on the top of the spool.

[T_i_G_e_R]

WOW the pics of sudsy's reels ! I just was able to see that... nice collection Sudsy. I will be looking for a 498 with manual pickup now.

Just finished re wrapping 7 of the 9 stainless guides on my conolon 11'4"
Just saw the same rod in so so shape on ebay $114 so far... 16 hrs left if anyone wants one of the best production vintage heavy action surf rods!

Hope to see more pics soon.

[scone]

tiger, what kind of dry top is that you're wearing? does it come in vertical stripes?

[T_i_G_e_R]

I was wearing my work clothes. I am pretty much addicted to surf-casting with vintage plugs for striped bass in my neighborhood, so I was wearing a tie that day fishing! which gives me an idea ... hmmmm.. Would wearing vertical stripes attract more fish? I will have to check out my local Dick's sporting goods store later for striped spandex!

[scone]

attract the fish? don't know i'm thinking vertical stripes may have a slimming
affect. (does this dry top make me look fat?)

[scone]

old rod i found sirca 1890
not a great photographer

[zimno1]

i am not gonna blow up this thread! no no no!