
13.5' Sage Spey Rod for
a eight-weight line. Sack, and tube. Ah, this was my favorite rod for
mid-to-late summer on the Wenatchee (now closed to
fishing for steelhead), and it will
cast a variety of lines from the recommended eight
to six or nine. It is a joy to rig up and go
out for a day's casting on a mid-sized summer
stream.
Well-used but not
abused. Classic action.
Price: $375.
New price, $350 or
best offer.
Specialty one-handed steelhead rods,
custom made, each
11-foot, three-inches, two pieces, with cloth sack

Gary Loomis blank. White Creek (Sauk River)
special. 11 feet, 3 inches. Rated for a 10 weight,
at least. Blank made for noodle rod fishing, but
adopted by me for one-handed use on the Sauk when
the river is very high and a long cast is needed
with a line that sinks very fast. Wraps are black
nylon tipped with scarlet. Will accept a fighting
butt extention. Landed lots of
steelhead. Price $220.
Sale price, $165.

Sage blank and expertly finished in the Sage
wrapping style. Eleven feet, three inches again. A
bit lighter and easier to cast with than the
Loomis. Nine- or 10-weight lines probably fish
best, yet stiff enough to deliver a good punch on
a big river. Another in the backside White Creek
Series of mine. Will accommodate a fighting butt
for those that like them, but the rod itself will
butt nicely without an extension added.
My favorite in this series.
Price, $250.
Sale price $180.
Also for sale

As new, 9' Sage GFL 490 DS Graphite II, two piece one-handed
flyrod for a 4-weight line, it will cast a line
several sizes heavier without audible
protest. Designed for trout, this rod can be
pressed into service for late summer steelhead,
silver salmon, and searun cutthroat trout.
It is easy to cast and
beautifully finished in dark brown wraps, as are
all the Sages. Smooth, easy rod, and will cast
tirelessly almost all day.
Rod, sack, and tube
still in its paper wrapper. New, about $375.
Price: $200. Shipping,
$25
HARDY LINE OF
STEELHEAD ONE-HANDED BAMBOO AND FIBERGLASS RODS
Back in the
'60s, it was the rage among steelheaders to use
Hardy products, especially their reels. (Some
would say it still is.) Jon Tarintino was world's
distance fly casting champion and the Golden Gate
Fly Club was world-famous for its tournaments,
which Jon usually won.
Jon was a
businessman and wooed Hardy with propositions. One
was to introduce to America a line of both bamboo
and the new fiberglass material rods a line of
products that were specially designed for the West
Coast angler. The would cast long distances in the
wind and on large rivers. Naturally, they would carry Jon's
name on them, along with the famous logo of Hardy
Bros. My friends
and I quickly went over to them, and put aside our
whippy Eastern rods designed for mostly small,
tamed water. For several
decades many of the top ranked steelhead were
caught on the new Hardy tackle.
But bamboo
became semi-obsolete, with the introduction of
graphite and later boron rods, and soon fell into
disfavor, even though there are diehard anglers
even today
who will fish nothing but fiberglass (just as
there are others who still fish exclusively with
bamboo). For these discriminating anglers, I
offer my hard-used steelhead rods manufactured out
of both materials several decades ago. Besides
they are relatively cheap, fun to play around
with, and still perform decently.
They may
amaze the anglers fishing around you with their
beauty and proficiency. And they will still catch
big fish.
BAMBOO
Hardy 9-foot Neocane
flyrod, inscribed "Hardy Bros., Alnwick, England
NE 9627. Jon S. Tarintino 9'" two-piece,
with Hardy green sack and Hardy tube. Red and
white wraps, black and silver reel seat. Slight
set in butt, which can be straightened out for
display purposes, but sadly returns with use, but
doesn't seem to harm performance. Good shape and
handsome to look at.
Price, $600, plus shipping.
South Bend 9-foot cane rod, three-piece, with
extra tip. Has been nicely refinished in olive and
black wraps. New black and silver reel seat.
Original twist-to-lock reel seat, which can be
seen in the photo to the left.
Factory tube and sack. [Reel shown for
perspective purposes and not included in price
below.]
Price: $130, plus shipping.
Another 9-foot South Bend cane flyrod, but with
only one tip. No sack or tube. Refinished in Orvis
colors, that is, maroonish brown. [Reel shown for illustration
purposes and not included in price below.]
Price: $110, plus shipping.
FIBERGLASS
Jon C. Tarintino designed
two-piece fiberglass flyrods manufactured by Hardy Bros. of
Alnwick, England, with spigot ferrule and pale
brown wraps tipped with cream. They come
with brown Hardy sack and Hardy tube. One is
designed to cast a nine or ten weight line, the
other a line or two sizes smaller. A nice pair to
own, one for early season and heavy water, the
other for mid-summer and fall, when rivers drop.
[A Hardy St. Aidan reel is included in the picture
for perspective purposes only. But one
may still be available on our reels pages.]
This pair has landed many
steelhead. Hardy put decals on their rods after
they had varnished their rods, so they may have
worn off or worn thin and be nearly illegible. The reel seats are first-class and in good shape. Guides, including
tiptop, are chrome steel, and stripping guide is
tungsten.
One rod has the factory wraps
intact, while the other has been refinished in
darker brown nylon.
Price: $180, or $300 the pair,
plus shipping costs.
Sale price, $145 each.
Orvis graphite 10.5 foot flyrod for
a nine or a ten line. A real powerhouse for deep,
heavy water fishing. Note nifty reel seat. Factory
rod, with wine colored wraps and black trim. Sack
but no tube. Would be excellent for salt-water
fishing, such as casting big flies for coho.
Price: $250, plus shipping
costs.
New price, $200.
Orvis powerhouse. A nine-footer for, oh, a twelve.
One of the original graphite rods made for Orvis,
with intentionally visible thread wraps just above
the logo as part of the design. Braced
tiptop, just like on trolling rods. Rubber plug in
end of reel seat to accommodate a fighting butt.
[Not supplied. And reel not included.]
Price: $190,plus shipping costs.
New price, $150.
Probably a Winston fiberglass blank with a
Hardy-type reel seat and full Wells grip. Eight
feet, nine inches-- a favorite size for Winston
and a nice compromise between a nine-foot rod and
a eight and one-half foot one. Plenty strong.
Casts an eight, but will accommodate a nine-weight
line nicely. Custom wraps (mine) are orange, with
black tips. Very serviceable rod for all-season
fishing.
Sack but no tube.
Price:
$160, plus shipping costs.
New price, $125.
Fenwick Eagle graphite 8-foot flyrod for a
six-weight line. Comes in a cloth covered metal
case suitable for travel, plus sack. Very handsome
and nearly new. Great for trout fishers.
Price:
$200, plus shipping costs.
New price, $135.
Lamiglas Engineered Graphite 9' GF108 BL Wt.
2-1/4 oz/Line #7 or# 8. Half wells
grip with down locking metal reel seat.
Wraps are black with red trim. Two-piece. Handsome
rod with carbide stripping guide and braced second
guide. Sack but no tube.
Price: $100, plus shipping costs.
New price, $85.
Fenwick HMG graphite, two piece, GFL 120-9F, 10.5
feet. Black blank custom wrapped with black and
white nylon, all guides Fuji single-foot ceramic
centers. (See picture left.) Long full Wells grip.
Black metal reel seat with rubber plug that will
accommodate a fighting butt (not supplied). Green
cloth bag, with black metal tube, lacking screw
cap. No reel included.
A rod custom built for Bob McLaughlin, about 1975.
It will cast a nine or ten-weight line, or heavier
shooting head backed with running line. Lots of
butt for a big fish in deep water.
Price: $100, plus shipping costs.
New price, $80.
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