Assessing Value

[dave]

I came into possession of an original Berkley Lightning Rod.

Model LR16. It is 5' 6" with a pistol grip. From what the

wonderful internet tells me, it is from the early/mid 80's.

Orange and yellow wraps. Berkley HEART logo. Everything about

this rod is almost perfect for having been made almost 30 years

ago. There aren't even scratches on the reel seat label. I don't

know if I'm going to keep it or not.

[roadwarrior]

If you have a man cave it might make for an interesting wall hanging.

Otherwsie, I doubt there is much value or collector demand for the rod.

I recently inherited a few similar pieces that I gave to a couple of guys

with young kids. One I kept to use with a lure retriever.

[John G]

It all depends on how much someone wants it. Put it on eBay and you will either be surprised or disappointed. I still remember the old adds for the Lightning Rod. Does yours have a foam grip? I bought one in the early nineties with a foam pistol grip and the blank ran through the grip and the grip had a cut a way so you could feel the blank.

[baluga]

yeah..antique rods are only good for sentimental value otherwise it's just good for Gaff handle, bait net handle and lure retriever pole.

[smalljaw67]

I haven't seen anyone looking for that one but I have seen request from anglers looking for the old Berkley Series One. If you never laid eyes on one check ebay for it, they were made in the 80's and one of the first production rods with a split grip.

[John G]

An antique graphite fishing rod with no damage is just as fishable as it was the day it was made.

[flippin and pitchin]

I bought one of those for my son in about 1986. It's a great piece of history. They sold a zillion of them.

[dave]

It all depends on how much someone wants it. Put it on eBay and you will either be surprised or disappointed. I still remember the old adds for the Lightning Rod. Does yours have a foam grip? I bought one in the early nineties with a foam pistol grip and the blank ran through the grip and the grip had a cut a way so you could feel the blank.

I know it is not a collectible of any sort. Heck, I still have the same rod in an ultra light spinning model from the same era. I use it all the time. I'll either let my son use it or take it to one of the many fishing flea markets we have in this area during this time of year. It's a much better deal when there is no shipping involved when your buying rods.

[Bluebasser86]

They were and still are very good rods for the money, I'd fish with it.