Scored an old Fenwick

[avidangler]

Hey all. I just scored a Fenwick FF858 8 wt fly rod. I wanna use this thing for stripers in shallow estuary type environs and maybe steelhead. I have no clue what kind of line I would put on it,some sort of floating I suppose. Anyone ever use one? Seems like it has a lot of bend to it but some power in the butt section as well. It was free so I'm pretty happy I scored one.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

That was a very popular Steelhead rod, especially in Oregon and Washington.

The 857 and 858 were both really nice casting as were most Fenwick fiberglass fly rods.

Fiberglass fly rods were mostly 2 piece.


I would use a longer belly WF8F and some Poly/Versi short sinking leaders.


I would be nice on the Trinity River with a WF8F Wulff Ambush line for single hand Spey casting (roll casting).

______________________________________________

The fiberglass fly rods were not very good in longer lengths.

In the 1960s and 1970s Fenwick was the top fishing rod manufacturer.

[hwchubb]

Welcome to the Classic Fenwick Cult - jealous about how low your entry cost was.

The Fenwick glass rods were definitely full flex - it’s why most of us love them - but you can underline it and bring it closer to a “modern” action. Try throwing a WF7 on it as well. You might be surprised at how well it throws a big streamer or popper once you get used to it.

Oh, and they only cast correctly if you pair them with a Pfleuger Medalist (pre-Shakespeare models), probably a 1495 or 1495 1/2.

OK, it will cast with other reels, but it just don’t look right.

[avidangler]

I think I have a 1495 laying around!!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Good stuff Wayne.....

Under lining old fiberglass rods is a great idea.


In the 1970s I would have sold you a Pflueger Medalist 1495 1/2 reel with that rod....all new and cutting edge stuff.

Most would put a Cortland 444 SL (long belly) green WF8F on it.

Probably a spool with a sinktip and maybe another spool with a selection of sinking shooting heads (ST9S).



Back then, 1960s and 70s, when shooting heads were King we weighed every shooting head and put that weight on the end of the box.

Getting the exact weight heads on a rod was very important.

Fly casting master Watt Bennett had a set of 30' shooting heads in 10 or 20 grain graduations and if you were lucky he would take you out with your new rod and try some on it until he got the right weight.

[JohnSciacca]

I have an 8 wt 8 1/2’ fenwick glass rod I built from a blank in the mid 1970’s. Paired with a Diawa 254 reel and lead core shooting head I caught my first and several other bonito on it at Redondo Harbor. I remember another fellow was fly fishing with an early generation graphite rod and it blew up on him when he had a fish on.....sounded like a rifle shot. I still have the 254 reel too and it works fine.

The lead core had the old fabric, not plastic, coating and was 13 grains per foot. I think it’s still around in a box too.

[avidangler]

That's awesome guys! I personally always felt that it was more fun fighting fish on those old fiberglass fenwicks for some reason.

[Kurtrs]

First post here, but I have an FF85 as well, a “D” serial number 3 3/4 oz that I believe puts it a 1963’ or 64’. It was my dad’s and I remember him casting it with great joy. I messed around with it some, back in the late 80s when I was in college, but it’s been in its aluminum tube for the past 30 yrs. Now, however, I seem to have gotten the bug to try fly fishing for real and so am trying to soak up all the online knowledge I can find. And boy is there a lot!

Of course, as a previous poster stated, this rod would not look right without the proper Pflueger Medalist, and of those I have a few. In the collection is a 1938 1496, an Akron 1495, a late 60s 1495DA, a late 50s 1498, and a 90s era 1492. The 1495 Akron is freshly spoiled with a WF6F line and is waiting to take to the water on the FF85. I also, just because, picked up a newer Fenglass 6’6” 3wt for the 1492.

Do I know how to use these yet? Nope! But half the fun will be learning. Thanks for letting me make my first post. Cheers!

Kurt

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Welcome to our little fly fishing forum......




The 1495 is what I put on my FF85 but I have a WF7F on mine?

Maybe some time in the spring we can meet and cast them both?


Take it by Kine's Fly Shop on the weekend when Andy is working.

He can cast it with a WF6F and a WF7F to determine which is best.

[Kurtrs]

Thanks Bill, that would be educational, let’s do that. And I’ll see if I can’t take it to the shop to get Andy’s opinion.

Kurt

[mogaru]

With all the respect and history that the old Fenwick deserve, if you want a fiberglass with a modern touch, look no further than the Echo glass quick shot. Glass with a 21s century action.

[RDS]

This summer I bought a Fenwick FF85-3 six weight from craigslist for $50.00. It came with the original aluminum rod tube and appears to be in great shape. The serial number starts with an F so I think it might be from the late sixties. The guy I bought it from said he buys storage lockers ala storage wars and it was in one of the lockers he bought. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet and I needed another rod like I need a hole in my head but I couldn’t pass up buying a little fly fishing history. It should be fun to give it a shot.

[Jay Murakoshi]

I fish a lot with the Fenwick fiber glass rods. My favorite is the 705 and the 75 but I just sold the 75 to a board member. I have a pretty good collection of rods. Sometimes I throw my 605 which is a sweet rod. I use the 1494 on most of them. I'm always searching for those rods. The last batch I bought from someone who has a bunch of rods and reels from the 60's, 70's and a few 80's. A lot of fiber glass rods, boron rods and a few more fly reels. They also have a collection of old bait casting reels. Much different from today's modern technology. Her father in law passed away at 89 and has all this equipment and they don't even fish. One of the things I most interested in are the wooden plugs she said she has. Some in boxes.
Kinda like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

In the 1970s our 'go to' Fenwick fiberglass fly rod for trout was the FF805.

8 foot for 5 line in 2 piece.

We used a Cortland Peach 444 WF6F on it with a Pflueger Medalist 1494 fly reel.

Today I use a WF5F on it which seems to work well.

_____________________________________________

The average, most popular trout line size for the Greatest Generation was a weight forward 7 floater.

For us Baby Boomers it was at first the WF6F on fiberglass rods.

Today the WF5F is the top choice for trout, on average, on a 9 foot 4 piece graphite rod.

_______________________________________