You don’t know what you have got until it’s gone

[valetudoguy]

Years ago I was given a Shimano XMA 13’ float rod, at the time it was my only 13ft carbon rod and I was very thankful for it as it was for many uses a massive upgrade to the overly soft 13’ glass fiber rod it replaced.

Over those years I have picked up technically better and lighter 13’ float rods, but I always kept going back to the XMA.... It just had something about it to me.

Well today it died, I’m not really sure what happened other than a couple hours into my session casting a light waggler for the umpteenth time today It gave a strange noise and on closer inspection a number of straight (butt to tip) cracks have opened up almost exactly in the middle of the middle section on the side opposite the rings.

I have absolutely no need to replace this rod as I currently have 3 other “better” 13’ float rods and the old glass fiber rod it replaced, but something inside me knows that if I ever get a chance to pick up another I will.

This rod is now going to get butchered and will likely be cut down into a micro fishing rod, keeping the tip and as much of the middle section as possible for a hopefuly 6’+ rod for catching micro species in the local brook on 8oz line and size 26 hooks.

So, what piece of tackle do you lament the passing of? Or do you have something that to you is just better than it probably should be and sometimes you choose to use it over technically “better” kit?

 

[lambert1]

I have a landing net pole that my Dad let me have the Green Shield stamps for (after I wore him down) when I was a kid. A two part metal one with a thinner metal inner sleeve which slid out and was secured by a brass screw fitting. A few years ago I managed to bend the inner metal tube and it will not now go back in. There is no way I will throw it away though, particularly as I lost my Dad at the beginning of this year. The modern poles are much lighter, but that one went on so many trips tied to the frame of my push bike and landed some nice fish.

 

[mikench]

I know this thread is aimed at fishing tackle and I haven't lost or disposed of any. Indeed I am still acquiring. It's tenor applies to many things in life though particularly loved ones and items of little value or even use but priceless nontheless. Keep it whatever it is because one day you will be glad you did.

 

[theartist]

Not technically tackle but I'll miss my car when it goes, without it I couldn't get to any of the wonderful places I fish, its slow,cheap,uncool and old having recently turned 20. Because it's been so reliable and cheap to run the funds saved have gone on long fishing trips. I'm dreading the day the old girl packs up.

 

[bracket]

Way back in the mid to late 1960s (I think) I bought a Shakespeare Sigma Supra 040 fixed spool reel. Got it from Jan Porter, not sure what I paid for it but £30 seems to ring a bell. I was well pleased with it, loaded it with 4lb maxima. Used it for all my feeder fishing the next 15 years and it won me a raft of coin. After about 10 year the bail arm spring broke so I took it down to Terry Dormans to see if I could get a replacement. Drinking coffee with his bum parked on the counter was Wayne Swinscoe, who at that time was fishing for Shakespeare. "What you got there Pete" he says, so I showed him. "Ain't used a metal reel in ages, what's up we it?" So I told him "Well you just leave that with me, I will get one of the lads at Shakespeare to sort it" which I did. The following week I got back what appeared to be a brand new reel. They'd do a complete O/H of it, respray, the works. Wayne would take nothing for it but did ask my to tie him some spade end hooks, which I did. Anyway I still have the reel and it functions a treat. What I no longer have, and this is the gist of this post, is the ability to use it as effectively as I used to do. That's my lamentation. Pete

 

[103841]

I know this thread is aimed at fishing tackle and I haven't lost or disposed of any. Indeed I am still acquiring. It's tenor applies to many things in life though particularly loved ones and items of little value or even use but priceless nontheless. Keep it whatever it is because one day you will be glad you did.

It’s called hording Mike.

 

[mikench]

But it can pay dividends John if you hoard the right things.

 

[Mark Wintle]

Way back in the mid to late 1960s (I think) I bought a Shakespeare Sigma Supra 040 fixed spool reel. Got it from Jan Porter, not sure what I paid for it but £30 seems to ring a bell. I was well pleased with it, loaded it with 4lb maxima. Used it for all my feeder fishing the next 15 years and it won me a raft of coin. After about 10 year the bail arm spring broke so I took it down to Terry Dormans to see if I could get a replacement. Drinking coffee with his bum parked on the counter was Wayne Swinscoe, who at that time was fishing for Shakespeare. "What you got there Pete" he says, so I showed him. "Ain't used a metal reel in ages, what's up we it?" So I told him "Well you just leave that with me, I will get one of the lads at Shakespeare to sort it" which I did. The following week I got back what appeared to be a brand new reel. They'd do a complete O/H of it, respray, the works. Wayne would take nothing for it but did ask my to tie him some spade end hooks, which I did. Anyway I still have the reel and it functions a treat. What I no longer have, and this is the gist of this post, is the ability to use it as effectively as I used to do. That's my lamentation. Pete

Is your memory going, Pete? I'd have thought the Sigma Supra reels more like late 70s into the 80s.

 

[bracket]

Is your memory going, Pete? I'd have thought the Sigma Supra reels more like late 70s into the 80s.

Mark. Thanks for that you've nailed it. I was wracking my brain for a reference point but nothing came so I just took a guess. Pete.

 

[108831]

Certain rods have been sorely missed,not because of their failure,more me de-cluttering and selling them on,one being my old Normark Norboron 12ft,the second a Shimano triple XXX 12ft which I bought a spliced tip to marry up with the solid tip,this made the rod doubly useful and lastly my old Drennan medium feeder,I got shot because of the sliding reel fittingsmg:,if only i'd have paid to have a screw fitting fitted,those things are all out down to experience I'm afraid...

 

[S-Kippy]

Not technically tackle but I'll miss my car when it goes, without it I couldn't get to any of the wonderful places I fish, its slow,cheap,uncool and old having recently turned 20. Because it's been so reliable and cheap to run the funds saved have gone on long fishing trips. I'm dreading the day the old girl packs up.

I let my old girl go ( Mk1 Focus Estate zetec engine) and really regret doing so. I should have kept her to use exclusively for fishing. My new car is 10 times the motor the old " Burgundy Bullet " was but the BB had an absolutley cavernous cargo space....so much so that we called it "The Tardis". 185,000 miles on the clock and rarely let me down.

Tackle wise I miss my Shaky "Team Feeder" which was one of the most versatile rods I've ever owned. Ruined it trying a "modification" that didnt work. Like The Bullet it owed me nothing.

 

[sam vimes]

In this consumer driven world we live in, many people automatically assume that new means better. Marketing whizzes have spent decades trying to convince us all that it is the case. However, it really isn't always the case. When it comes to rods, there are plenty of old models, especially the premium rods of yesteryear, that knock spots off many current models. The biggest downsides of many old premium rods are the rings and the sliding ring reel seats. For those used to Fuji type screw fit reel seats, the latter can verge on being insufferable, especially when handles compress with use or metal rings deform and wear.

I'm fortunate that I've never broken an old rod or reel that I really valued. I've also managed to avoid selling any rod that I had a real liking for, though it might be a good idea if I did!

 

[Keith M]

I totally agree with Sam. I have three rods that are old but will still compare favourably with similar rods of today if not surpass them.

My 13ft Diawa Amorphous Whisker light float rod (AMW13L) which is a superb float rod which can handle hooklengths down to 8oz and is very light, and my 12ft 2lb tc Power mesh carp rod which is the perfect tool for surface fishing for carp and makes a great flood water barbel rod too.

I also have a 12ft Drennan Specialist rod (IM6) which I bought in the late 80s and apart from its sliding reel fittings is still a superb rod with a lovely compound taper which I've often used on the river for Carp and when fishing for large tench at long range.

Keith

 

[maggot_dangler]

The thing i miss the most .

Is a ElCheapo Wollies fibreglass rod with a wooden handle that seemed to be a piece of broom handle with a hole in it glued in place it was just over 6 feet and it was a great little rod that rod had some serious abuse but alas in all the moving over the last years it has gone AWOL somewhere i would love to find it again but alas not much chance of that ..


PG ...

 

[mikench]

Is modifying a rod by replacing the sliding reel seats with a Fuji variant worthwhile and will it improve a rod or detract from its originality?

 

[sam vimes]

Is modifying a rod by replacing the sliding reel seats with a Fuji variant worthwhile and will it improve a rod or detract from its originality?

It can be both. Much depends on the individual concerned as to which way they view it. Personally, I view it as the latter, but I also accept that it can be worthwhile on the right rod, provided it is done well.

 

[108831]

I've done it three or four times and it's improved them all immensly,the hel l with originality...

 

[S-Kippy]

I've done it three or four times and it's improved them all immensly,the hel l with originality...

I agree. I've done it a few times too and however much I liked the rod before I liked it a whole lot better when the reel couldnt slip or fall off.

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

I too had a Shimano XMA, but the 14ft model. It's only problems were it was quite heavy to hold all day and when I was given it the handle was all caked in stale dried on groundbait. I soaked it and wrapped an old dog drying towel around it and poured water over that. 1 day later the groundbait fell off, I washed the corks and polished the carbon and it looked great. I used it a few times then gave it away to a chap that was wheelchair bound after breaking his back on a building site, but I don't miss it.

What I do miss is an old Daiwa 11ft Powermesh 1¼lb TC rod that came in three pieces, two plus separate handle. WHY, WHY, WHY, did I sell that! I'd even changed the reel seat from the two sliding rings to a top class Fuji seat and it was lovely! I shall never find a rod like that ever again.

Thanks for reminding me of it, I'm all tearful now!

 

[sam vimes]

What I do miss is an old Daiwa 11ft Powermesh 1¼lb TC rod that came in three pieces, two plus separate handle. WHY, WHY, WHY, did I sell that! I'd even changed the reel seat from the two sliding rings to a top class Fuji seat and it was lovely! I shall never find a rod like that ever again.

Don't be so sure. I have two original 12' Powermesh Avons that are only a few uses past mint. If the cork hadn't aged as much, they'd pass for being a few years old.