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Inherited Cane Rod

mudbug201

mudbug201

loose loops, sink tips
Good morning commie-lovers and running dogs,

What do I have here? This cane rod - a Heddon "Expert" of unknown vintage - was tucked away in a primitive cabin in the pacific northwest in a pile of my Granddad's stuff until my Mom found it recently and gave it to me. Here it is on top of a psychedelic bedspread. (Don't ask)

attachment.php


I know it's not worth much, but it's in fantastic condition. Should I a) put it back on the shelf for another 30 years, b) get it fixed up and put it back on the shelf, c) get it fixed up and fish with it, or d) fish with it next weekend?

attachment.php
 
Is there anything functionally wrong with it. If not I would fish it. Do you know the line weight?
 
MACFLY said:
Is there anything functionally wrong with it. If not I would fish it. Do you know the line weight?
Click to expand...

The ferrules and the guides look great - really solid and smooth. I can't see anything wrong with it at all. It's a 5-weight.

Would I just use a regular 5-weight line and reel on it? Do I need to treat it before using it? Or do anything to limber it up before taking it out on the WB to nymph with?

(and a related point - are you beginning to detect the awe-inspiring level of cluelessness you are dealing with here?)


Is it a full flex or more medium flex. Full flex I would go with a cortland SYLK line DT. Medium I would go with a WF Version
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If it's rated by the manufacturer for five weight, rather than a "letter" designation, it's probably fairly new (1960s or later). It likely has a relatively modern glue... If it's in otherwise good shape, it's fishable.
Use a 5-weight line, and see if you agree with the manufacturer.

If it's rated for a letter designation line, that you converted to "weight", it could be quite old.
Fish it cautiously, and watch out for delamination.
It might be a five weight, but diameter isn't weight, it could be a four or six weight.
 
mudbug201 said:
Good morning commie-lovers and running dogs,

What do I have here? This cane rod - a Heddon "Expert" of unknown vintage - was tucked away in a primitive cabin in the pacific northwest in a pile of my Granddad's stuff until my Mom found it recently and gave it to me. Here it is on top of a psychedelic bedspread. (Don't ask)

attachment.php


I know it's not worth much, but it's in fantastic condition. Should I a) put it back on the shelf for another 30 years, b) get it fixed up and put it back on the shelf, c) get it fixed up and fish with it, or d) fish with it next weekend?

attachment.php
Click to expand...

I cant see the pictures.

I dont know the model you have, but I've always been a fan og the Heddon Black beauty. That rod is beautiful.

Let me advise you on one thing, comrade.

Dont overline it. Try a 4 before you move on to a 5.

You dont want to bow the tips.

Das vadanya.
 
Actually, don't know where I got 5 weight from. Now that I look at it, it just says this:

9' - 2 1/2 F - HC H or D

Any ideas what that means?
 
mudbug201 said:
Actually, don't know where I got 5 weight from. Now that I look at it, it just says this:

9' - 2 1/2 F - HC H or D

Any ideas what that means?
Click to expand...

Yes. Some sense from another good website, but not exactly on target. The text below is from Fishing: Heddon Expert # 125, bamboo fly rod, expert models



The #125-8-1 3/4-F-HDH or E inscription means:


#125 is the model number
8 is the rod length (8 feet)
1 3/4-F is the designation for ferrule size used by Heddon
HDH is the equivalent of a modern 6wt DT line
E is the equivalent of a modern 5wt Level line

Your rod will use either a 6wt Double Taper (DT) or a 6wt Weight Forward (WF) or a 5wt Level fly line in modern terms. The 1 3/4 ferrule size is equivalent to 17/64ths and would be used for a Light Trout rod...the tip section ferrule would be 10.5/64ths on the 8 foot 3-piece model.
 
golden beetle said:
Yes. Some sense from another good website, but not exactly on target. The text below is from Fishing: Heddon Expert # 125, bamboo fly rod, expert models



The #125-8-1 3/4-F-HDH or E inscription means:


#125 is the model number
8 is the rod length (8 feet)
1 3/4-F is the designation for ferrule size used by Heddon
HDH is the equivalent of a modern 6wt DT line
E is the equivalent of a modern 5wt Level line

Your rod will use either a 6wt Double Taper (DT) or a 6wt Weight Forward (WF) or a 5wt Level fly line in modern terms. The 1 3/4 ferrule size is equivalent to 17/64ths and would be used for a Light Trout rod...the tip section ferrule would be 10.5/64ths on the 8 foot 3-piece model.
Click to expand...

Thanks Beetle! This is great info.

Sounds perfect for casting dries next spring on the EB or lower BKill. Dreaming about it already.
 
I have some old Heddon lures and poppers.....I also have an old Heddon Bamboo rod..it was Grandads....I haven't fished it either yet..the tips are bowed due to his fishing worms with it, but it is in sturdy shape and needs to be fished........I haven't yet because I love my other set-ups too much to change!!

stop thinking about it..put a five weight in it, bring a six weight and fish!!!
 
MACFLY said:
You should practice what you preach and give him your copy you commie
Click to expand...

I'm still scratching my head as to how a commie is ok with inheriting ANYTHING....
I believe one plank of communism is to abolish the practice of inheritance.

And how can the OTHER commie not speak out against it, but actually attempt to HELP the transgressor?

Someone call the Shuanggui...
 
Future Fanatic said:
I'm still scratching my head as to how a commie is ok with inheriting ANYTHING....
I believe one plank of communism is to abolish the practice of inheritance.

And how can the OTHER commie not speak out against it, but actually attempt to HELP the transgressor?

Someone call the Shuanggui...
Click to expand...

This is so damn funny....

Thank you for the laugh.

The logic is familiar to me...
 
Pete said:
If it's rated by the manufacturer for five weight, rather than a "letter" designation, it's probably fairly new (1960s or later). It likely has a relatively modern glue... If it's in otherwise good shape, it's fishable.
Use a 5-weight line, and see if you agree with the manufacturer.

If it's rated for a letter designation line, that you converted to "weight", it could be quite old.
Fish it cautiously, and watch out for delamination.
It might be a five weight, but diameter isn't weight, it could be a four or six weight.
Click to expand...


Good info from a vampire.
 
The 1 3/4 ferrule rated for an HDH line is more a 6 wt or 5 wt, but the 2 1/2 ferrule rated HCH is more like a 7 wt IMHO.

The 125 is the model number. The 125 is on the higher end of things. The number 17, or Black Beauty, was a mid level rod in the Heddon lineup. However, the banks are the same; the cosmetics and hardware are upgraded on the more expensive rods so they fish pretty much the same. The Black Beauty was popular because it was a solid performer at a mid level price point. The 8 is 8 ft long. The next number is the ferrule size and the 2 1/2 ferrule is larger and fits a larger diameter/heavier rod than the 1 3/4 ferrule. The line ratings in the bamboo era were based on line diameter, not weight, so conversion to modern lines is approximate. Many modern fishermen also underline them so the rod acts a little faster, which people raised with graphite rods are more used to. The HCH is a double taper line and the D is a level line that mostly relate to a 7 wt, or maybe a 6 wt for many modern casters.

The rod should be good to fish. The most likely issue is that the glue for the ferrules has degraded and the ferrule rocks on the rod creating a ticking feeling. This allows the edge of the ferrule to cut into the rod. If you feel a ticking, then the ferrules need to be reset. Otherwise it is likely good to go. Also check that the guides are smooth and haven't rusted over time. If the guide surface is rough it will chew up a line in no time.
 
JeffK said:
The 1 3/4 ferrule rated for an HDH line is more a 6 wt or 5 wt, but the 2 1/2 ferrule rated HCH is more like a 7 wt IMHO.

The 125 is the model number. The 125 is on the higher end of things. The number 17, or Black Beauty, was a mid level rod in the Heddon lineup. However, the banks are the same; the cosmetics and hardware are upgraded on the more expensive rods so they fish pretty much the same. The Black Beauty was popular because it was a solid performer at a mid level price point. The 8 is 8 ft long. The next number is the ferrule size and the 2 1/2 ferrule is larger and fits a larger diameter/heavier rod than the 1 3/4 ferrule. The line ratings in the bamboo era were based on line diameter, not weight, so conversion to modern lines is approximate. Many modern fishermen also underline them so the rod acts a little faster, which people raised with graphite rods are more used to. The HCH is a double taper line and the D is a level line that mostly relate to a 7 wt, or maybe a 6 wt for many modern casters.

The rod should be good to fish. The most likely issue is that the glue for the ferrules has degraded and the ferrule rocks on the rod creating a ticking feeling. This allows the edge of the ferrule to cut into the rod. If you feel a ticking, then the ferrules need to be reset. Otherwise it is likely good to go. Also check that the guides are smooth and haven't rusted over time. If the guide surface is rough it will chew up a line in no time.
Click to expand...

Great stuff. Ferrule size must be a function of taper. Is it a diameter measurement for the ferrules?

HCH? Where does that designation come from? Was that the system back in the day for rating lines?
 
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The numbered ferrules are the way Heddon sized the ferrules on the butt, they aren't an industry standard. They relate to diameter, but I didn't look what actual diameters the sizes relate to. Generally, the size 2 ferrules are "trout" rods and the 2 1/2 ferrules are "trout/bass" sized. They went up to a 3 ferrule for saltwater and salmon etc and went down to a 1/2 ferrule for a featherweight fly rod, which is a rare and valuable stick.

Line size was once determined by diameter. The sizes were as follows:
I 0.022"
H 0.025"
G 0.030"
F 0.035"
E 0.040"
D 0.045"
C 0.050"

So a double tapered HCH line is 0.025" diameter at the ends and tapers up to 0.050" in the center. An E line is 0.040" along the whole length. The old lines were braided silk impregnated with linseed oil, enamel, or some other curing material to make them waterproof. The weight of the line varied by how tightly it was braided and how it was filled and so it was difficult to match a line to a rod. Later, silk was replaced with nylon for some lines further complicating the weight situation. Therefore, in the 1960's the current way of rating lines by the weight of the last 30 ft of line was developed to more consistently match a line to a rod.
 
JeffK said:
The numbered ferrules are the way Heddon sized the ferrules on the butt, they aren't an industry standard. They relate to diameter, but I didn't look what actual diameters the sizes relate to. Generally, the size 2 ferrules are "trout" rods and the 2 1/2 ferrules are "trout/bass" sized. They went up to a 3 ferrule for saltwater and salmon etc and went down to a 1/2 ferrule for a featherweight fly rod, which is a rare and valuable stick.

Line size was once determined by diameter. The sizes were as follows:
I 0.022"
H 0.025"
G 0.030"
F 0.035"
E 0.040"
D 0.045"
C 0.050"

So a double tapered HCH line is 0.025" diameter at the ends and tapers up to 0.050" in the center. An E line is 0.040" along the whole length. The old lines were braided silk impregnated with linseed oil, enamel, or some other curing material to make them waterproof. The weight of the line varied by how tightly it was braided and how it was filled and so it was difficult to match a line to a rod. Later, silk was replaced with nylon for some lines further complicating the weight situation. Therefore, in the 1960's the current way of rating lines by the weight of the last 30 ft of line was developed to more consistently match a line to a rod.
Click to expand...

Your knowledge is priceless.
 
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