How Old Is Too Old

[jtesch]

O.K. everyone, what's the oldest rod or reel you use in the regular rotation and how old is too old to be really usable and be able to keep up with modern equipment. Mine are a couple of team Daiwa X's [close to 15 years old] and 1 or 2 team Daiwa S rods [ 10 years old]

[*Hootie]

I still have my original baitcaster, an Ambassadeur 5000, purchased new in 1969. Still works great, and I use it ocassionally. You want slow. Try 3.5 to 1 gear ratio.

Hootie

[Basswhippa]

That is a good question.   It all depends.  You won't be outgunned with a mid 90's IM6 All Star or that era GLoomis, Castaway or Falcon and I've got 20 year old Calcuttas that work about as good as new.   So my theory is this.  Upgrade when there is a game changer.  Shimano changed the game with "Instant Anti-Reverse" with their use of a one way bearing and weighted spools that are adjustable.   Prior to that Diawa changed the game with magnetics.   I really believe that you can buy a 15 year old Shimano BSF and or Chronarch SF and nobody will have a reel that will outdo yours.   And that is 15 year old technology.  Rods are a bit different, as they are supposedly more and more light and sensitive.   Put a $34   6' 6" inch Berkley Lightning Rod in KVD's hands and he will catch more fish than 99% of us posters on any given day, so rod sensitivity is only moderately important.

[slainempire]

i use my '86(at least im pretty sure its '86) zebco 20/30 and 5'6" bass pro shops mean green stick a few times a year just for nostalgia.  my dad gave it to me in '89 and its seen more than its fair share of fish over the years.

[jtesch]

I agree with the thought that you can use a 15 year old bait caster and it is as good as some today. I'm more of a Diawa guy and I think The first generation of reels that would still be relevant today would be the X's, Z's and maybe the S's. With a bearing change they are still great reals. As far as spinning reels go I think for the most part todays reels are way better than what was around 20 years ago. I've pulled out some old Daiwa, top of the line spinning reels, cleaned and lubed them and I was shocked at how primitive they felt. No way could I use them

[jtesch]

Oh, and by the way. The phrase "twenty year old Calcuttas" makes me feel soooooo old, I swear it was just last year that the TEAM DAIWA concept came out

[Goose52]

The oldest rod that I have in front-line service is a Shimano "Fast-Cast" 5' ultralight spinning rod dating from about 1985. 

 

 

The oldest reel that I regularly fish is a 1977 vintage Abu 1500C.

 

 

The oldest reel that I fish only occasionally is a 1959 vintage Ted Williams spinning reel.

 

 

The oldest rod in the "second string" is a 1965/66 vintage Garcia-Mitchell Conolon 6'6" hollow-glass spinning rod (with a similar vintage Mitchell 408 reel).

 

 

 

 

How old is too old?  When the gear significantly compromises your ability to catch fish, or when you're bored with it, or when something about it bugs you, or when the bait monkey makes you buy new gear...

[flyfisher]

I have fly reels that i bought pre 2000 that i still use when trout fishing.  As far as conventional goes, i just picked up the sport again a few years back so all my stuff is within 3 years old.

[jtesch]

I actually have a couple of 50's Silaflex rods {pre Browning}  and a couple of original brownings {60's} from my dad. I've used them but they wouldn't be high on the list.

[0119]

Only use older reels, all 70's era Ambassadeurs.  Actually went out today with 2 new spinning reels and hated it. Gave them to my future son in law.  Rods are another story, they dont last very long stomping through mangrove jungle so they get tossed and replaced often.

[Jeff H]

I used some of my old Curado CU-200's and Castaic CA-200's last year.  Also used my old Daiwa TD-1's last year but not very much.  With the exception of the CA-200's I have retired those old war horses and will not use them ever again.  I still like the CA-200's for pitchin docks or cover and will continue to use them.

 

Compared to my newer reels, (HSTA's and Gen 1 Revo's) those 20 yr old reels definitely had limitations but nothing major.  It's just time they were retired.  I'll probably sell them soon, along with my Revo's,  as they just no longer hold any appeal to me, nostalgic or otherwise.

 

My oldest rods in use are Team Daiwa Power Mesh Crankin' rods. (mid 90's)  They are telescoping 7' rods and they work just fine for little bit of crankin' I do.  I have not decided yet if I will continue to use these or not.   

[kickerfish1]

Nice post Goose! And I couldn't agree more with what you said.

[ColdSVT]

The oldest rod in my rotation is my first ever baitcasting set up

G Loomis GL2 7' mh with a calcutta 201b

Both were purchased new in 2002

[Raul]

O.K. everyone, what's the oldest rod or reel you use in the regular rotation and how old is too old to be really usable and be able to keep up with modern equipment. Mine are a couple of team Daiwa X's [close to 15 years old] and 1 or 2 team Daiwa S rods [ 10 years old]

 

15 years ? that´s practically new.

 

Here´s some of my gear still in regular use:

 

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur XLT Plus

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur XLT 521 XLT Plus

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur XLT Plus Scynchro

Abu Garcia Cardinal UltraCast 62

Shimano Bantam B-Mag 1000

Several Berkley Lightning, Bionix and Series One rods

 

All of the above is well over 20 years old.

 

As long as your gear is in good shape and well maintained it´s still useable. Btw, I also have cranks, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, in-line spinners that are as old as the rods and reels.

[J Francho]

My oldest rod in my starting lineup is one of my favorites, a pre IPC prototype Avid, 6'2" M/XF that's gotta be close to 15 years old.  It's been rebuilt by the factory, with better guides, and a new rel seat and rear cork.

[Goose52]

15 years ? that´s practically new.

 

Here´s some of my gear still in regular use:

 

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur XLT Plus

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur XLT 521 XLT Plus

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur XLT Plus Scynchro

Abu Garcia Cardinal UltraCast 62

Shimano Bantam B-Mag 1000

Several Berkley Lightning, Bionix and Series One rods

 

All of the above is well over 20 years old.

 

As long as your gear is in good shape and well maintained it´s still useable. Btw, I also have cranks, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, in-line spinners that are as old as the rods and reels.

 

Finally eBay'ed my B-Mag in 2012 - caught fish with it up until 2011.  One of the eBay sale photos:

 

[Raul]

Your is a lot newer than mine Goose, mine has the letters printed in white.

 

Look at the claim: EXTRA HIGH SPEED 5:1 , boy, a real "burner" ! 

[Uncle Leo]

That B Mag was my first new baitcaster, was pinched on me, still wish I had it.

[0119]

Yeah my first baitcaster was a little graphite Shimano Speedmaster if I recall its name correctly.  3.8:1 ratio. Wish I still had it too.

[MCS]

I use my Abu cardinal 563s ocasionaly now on their 6' m/f conolon rods had them since i was probably 8 yrs old so they are going on 25 years and I learned bait casting reels just this past year on my buddies Abu ambasseduer ultra mag I. It is a tank, built solid with the funny little button to release the spool.

[jtesch]

I still break out a couple of Loomis composite rods that I built from kits from Cabelas over 25 years ago and they are o.k. Just don't have the crispness of todays rods. They have the extra tall frame single foot guides that were the marketing rage for a couple of years. I hated those guides from the first day I used them, talk about line wrap

[slonezp]

No old rods but I do have some 20+ year old Abu 5500's I still use regularly. I also have some 30 year old Shakespeare and 40 year old Mitchell spinning reels I use for walleye fishing.

[Grantman83]

Ummmmmm a zillion which came out in 2007. I just bought a tdz type r that's from 2002.

Rod wise, a dobyns champ extreme.

Lol as you can see I got into fishing abit later than most.

[Goose52]

No old rods but I do have some 20+ year old Abu 5500's I still use regularly. I also have some 30 year old Shakespeare and 40 year old Mitchell spinning reels I use for walleye fishing.

 

Are any of your Shakespeare spinning reels the Sigma 2200 model?  I finally retired my last one in January 2012.

 

[WRB]

I have several 80's vintage rods and reels that are in the boat that get used regularly, the oldest rod would my 70' Fenwick popping rod I use for cranking.

We do a 50's vintage day on the lake trip each year and use my Langley Target or Lure Cast bait casting reel on a pre Garcia Connolin rod with Ashaway Dacron line, 50's era lures, lot of fun and brings back good memories.