Posted on 04/16/2026 2:53:46 PM PDT by Paul R.
I tried to post this and it seems to have disappeared for no reason, nothing about it being deleted, etc., so, I'll try again!
Here’s the mystery:
I have tried asking web searches (Brave and Google) to identify a one piece fiberglass fishing rod I picked up at a yard sale a couple years ago. The model appears to be “151C”, followed by “5” and then illegible (likely refers to the rod’s length of 5’ 4-1/2”), then the brand (I assume) is “L” “illegible”, a tall letter, possibly a “d”, then(I think) an “e”, then “ll” (lower case “LL”), then on “o” or a “u”, then either a “u”* or a wide “n”. The reel seat / handle is detachable, with a cork grip @ the end.
This is just a fishing rod, not a combo rod ‘n reel.
No dice on the searches. MAYBE Picture It or Google Lens might have a chance? The "Fishing Talks" Forum I was a member of, “Fishing Talks”, is defunct, so, that’s out. (It had a lot of great old-timers on it.) Possibly I could try joining another forum. I do not have a good way to post my own pics on FR. What’s a good, no ads, non-intrusive & privacy oriented photo host these days? (FR is about the only place I’d ever need it — about once a year, maybe, outside of perhaps the Garden Threads!)
Best way to proceed?
I’m not really a collector, but I might have 50 reels including those I need parts for. I have more Johnsons than anything else, including a near mint Sabra 130B. Then it’s Zebcos, then Abu Garcia, then Shakespeare, and after that a smattering of Pflugers and several other brands. I even have an Olympic “Dolphin 635” bait-cast reel, which is so big, I think you could catch a real dolphin with it. I got it after losing a huge but unknown fish over on the Ohio River. It goes mostly unused, but I keep thinking that I should take it to a busy trout pond or similar, someday, just to freak people out. ;-)
No. it’s only 5’ 4-1/2” long. Medium action, I’d guess. I’ve not used it to fish with, yet, but the flex seems “moderate”. I’m guessing its over 40 years old, but I could be wrong.
Nice! Somehow I’ve just not come across any Mitchells at yard sales, etc.
I’m probably about 60/40, fiberglass to carbon fiber rods, with some being hybrids. Most of the old fiberglass rods were my Dad’s. I have a couple old metal rods, too - one is a telescoping rod.
If any of the grandkids get into it somewhat, the Zebco 33 Platimums are still a nice reel that holds up well and rarely misbehaves, at least as of several years ago. Or if you want to divest of a Mitchell that works well but is kinda beat up externally, if it has a good story behind it, and you think “the kid” would like that sort of thing, that might a thought, too. :-)
Yeh, it could be anything.
Those images above are a bit wide so, you may have to scroll right, or, “unzoom” them a bit. I did crop them and resize, to be smaller. :-)
I can take more pics if useful, or retake a pic with a little different lighting, etc.
Thanks!
No worries Paul,the only time I get to freep is in-between building rods!
The white butt cap has a Short recessed cork tang underneath it and the short cork butt is glued to a metal piece forming a butt grip. The bottom of the metal reel seat has what we call a trigger which helps in holding the rod and in casting since the rod is known as a “plug” rod designed for casting artificial lures or using bait.
The screw at the top of the reel seat is designed to hold the reel on to the rod. The top part of the reel seat/fore grip is screwed on the to reel seat and makes it detachable.
The rod is solid fiberglass. There were several vendors back then some made solid all white solid glass and others made see-thru green glass like the one in your picture. Both blanks were near indestructible they were just heavy compared to today's feather light blanks of IM6,7,8,10 and experimental 12 grinds.
We use a lot of IM 6,7,8, and are experimenting with IM 10.We have not gotten into IM12 yet but likely will.
It looks like your white ceramic guides were wrapped with varieagated thread and the top is ceramic as well.
Most all guides with inserts are ceramic. It's just a matter of what grade they are, alum.oxide,several grades,hardaloy(now discontinued)alconite,variations of SIC and so many it boggles the mind.
The white ceramic on your rod is one of the first introduced and is considered the bottom of the grades.
Hard to say how old this is although the first ceramic guides came out in the 70’s my guess is your rod is older than that and may have been re -wrapped somewhere along the line.
Is it better than Popeil Pocket Fisherman?
Why, yes. Because... Ronco!
I’m surprised you didn’t work “Spatula City” in, somehow!
(Just kidding!)
;-)
Hi Paul I saw your pics and put the top one through google lens, this is what it said:
This image shows a vintage True Temper 54” steel casting rod, featuring a Speedlock mechanism and cork handle.
Material: Steel rod with a cork grip.
Mechanism: Equipped with a Speedlock reel seat for secure reel attachment.
Style: Vintage fishing tackle, likely produced in the mid-20th century.
Size: 54 inches (4.5 feet) in length.
Google also brought up some images of ones for sale here is one - https://www.ebay.com/itm/255635562514
You could also use your search engine to search the brand name to get more info - I got too much to post!
Thanks! Much of that I knew / deduced, but several things in the terminology I didn’t know so well, or had heard called a variety of things, mostly by non-pros. :-)
I have literally never heard anyone refer to a rod “tang”, even on fishing forums. Maybe I’m hanging around the wrong people... (Joke!)
The grip I have heard referred to as a “trigger grip”.
The recessed reel seat - this is part of the “tang”?
The fiberglass is very translucent (some might call it “clear”; the greenish tint is the background showing through it.)
The guides are not white - that’s an artifact of the photo. I think they are just steel - I’ll try to get a “macro” pic for you. No inserts.
I suppose the latter is not critical, since, as you say, these fiberglass rods are pretty tough.* I tend to like that, as they are less easily damaged in transport, particularly - like getting caught on something when hiking in through woods or brush. OTOH, I have enough rods now, mostly 2 piece more in the middle of the rod, that go in my carry cases, that snagging them on a branch or tall grass or “whatever” is less of a concern. THIS rod’s “op” section is too long for any of my rod carry cases, so, use will be confined to easier hike / walk-ins. I’m trending toward more of those these days anyway... :-(
That said, I actually do have a SOMEWHAT similar fiberglass rod that has a 5+ inch long “split” starting about 7” down from the tip. When I pointed this out to the seller at a yard sale, he gave me the whole combo, which includes an old Zebco 202 that looks to be, with a cleanup / relube / new line, quite serviceable, for free. :-)
Back to THIS rod — I guess the printing on the rod including the script has not “rung a bell”? My main goal here is to try to find out who made this, and any specs, such as recommended line weight.
Thanks again!
Thanks so much! Unfortunately, that just shows how far an app like Lens can go astray. :-(
The rod is not quite 65" long.
Nothing on the rod indicates anything (printing) looking anything close to "True Temper". Granted that True Temper might have manufactured for other brands, as very common practice in the fishing gear industry.
The rod is fiberglass (except for the metal seat area and cork grip).
That is not a Speedlock reel attachment. (At least not according to Brave - but I suspect Google is picking up bad info. from eBay listings, etc.)
the Speedlock relies on friction and spring tension to hold the reel in place, making it a "snap-on" style connector rather than a threaded fastener.
And the mystery deepens!!! :-)
I am sorry, just shows you I don’t know much about fishing rods.
Had to make one last dich effort, I put the image with the writing into google lens. This is what came up, a different manufacturer. Good luck.
The item in the image is a vintage fishing rod, likely manufactured by Heddon, featuring a water rub decal with model and sizing information.
Model Number: 1510.
Size Rating: 5.
Decal Style: Water rub decal, common on vintage rods from the mid-1950s onward.
I’m going with “Longfellow” as the name on the rod. I search for “longfellow fishing rod” leads to a listing on Ebay for a “Vintage Longfellow 2-Piece 66” Fiberglass Casting Rod”, not quite like your picture, but probably a newer model. I spent some time deciphering cursive writing in the archives...
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