In my ~50 years in the tackle business I had hundreds of folks bring in old split cane fly rods.

They had inherited them or bought them at a flea market or garage sale and wanted to know more about them.

90% were cheap junk, beat up, broken or just worn out.

Some came in a wooden box from Japan after World War II.

Other were common brands that came in 9' and 3 pieces with an extra tip.

Many had the tip sections, both, broken off shorter than original, less than 36".

Once and a while someone brought in a nice clean EC Powel split cane fly rod that was really something.

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Jack Parker, fine guy, is a local (Roseville?) expert on split cane fly rods.

Jim Victorine has been working on split cane rods for decades up in Loomis, CA. 916/652-0408


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Here is the sad part of the story:

Before Spey fishing became popular on the West Coast, over my 50 years, people brought in huge split cane Spey rods.

Some had inherited them from a relative in Europe or got them from grand parents?

They were very heavy and long and we told them that they could use them for "tomato stakes".

Most had huge old Hardy fly reels with old lines on them so we told them to use them for a "boat anchor".



This was a huge mistake on our part..........$$$$$$$$$