Nostalgia

[WBDluver]

Im taking this rod on am upcoming backpacking trip. It was given to me by the wife of a late friend of mine who died of ALS. He was twice my age when we met and I cant trace this rod but it looks like its from the 1960's. Its a Wright McGill Trailmaker for 6wt. I just thought how funny it was that i have a fine 4 piece sage one, but how nostalgia can overide technology.

 

[Pete]

Im taking this rod on am upcoming backpacking trip. It was given to me by the wife of a late friend of mine who died of ALS. He was twice my age when we met and I cant trace this rod but it looks like its from the 1960's. Its a Wright McGill Trailmaker for 6wt. I just thought how funny it was that i have a fine 4 piece sage one, but how nostalgia can overide technology.

Different model but similar:
Wright & McGill Trailmaster - 7 1/2 FT
No.4TMU
Line 7

It has a reversible handle for either a spinning or a fly reel.
"Ring" guides with an oversize gathering guide, to accommodate the spin function.
Purchased in 1967 at the Neu-Ulm Rod & Gun Club.

I usually used it with a HDH line (roughly DT 6 wt).
Extremely slow action.
In an era when most fiberglass rods were two piece, it's main virtue was it's portability as a pack rod.

 

[JeffK]

I say 60's. Those rods were some of the first 4 piece fiberglass pack rods and the 6 wt was the light weight version. Times have changed since a 6 wt rod was considered light weight.

BTW, yours has the better nickel silver hardware, including the classic Goodwin Granger reel seat (Wright and McGill purchased Granger after WW II). Many of those glass rods have been stripped of their reel seats to restore Granger cane rods.

 

[WBDluver]

Wow did not know that. Now im wondering if i should pack it or just save it. The action is slow but i got used to it as i was weened on a Fenwick fiberglass rod. The ones with the triangle plactic tubes. (which is still have two of)

 

[Pete]

Wow did not know that. Now im wondering if i should pack it or just save it. The action is slow but i got used to it as i was weened on a Fenwick fiberglass rod. The ones with the triangle plactic tubes. (which is still have two of)

If you find it fishable, go ahead and fish with it.
Your old Fenwick is probably newer, but it will become a "collectable" long before this one does.

 

[JeffK]

I agree - use it if you like. It's appeal is personal for you to remember someone, they don't fetch that much. That also feeds into the old question of whether or not to clean the grime off the grip (or the rod). The answer depends largely on whether that grime is the sweat of a lost friend or relative or a stranger. Is it patina or dirt? Few people will clean off their grandfather's hand prints from a rod for example. However, be sure ferrules are clean so the seat well. Push old metal ferrules straight in without twisting.