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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?
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Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
Stupid 19-year-old me shut the trunk of my car with the tip of the rod sticking out and destroyed it.
The loss of that rod still haunts me now, some 50 years later.
I’m guessing it is a bait-casting rod, but it works fine as a medium duty spin-cast rod. I do not detect any bias in its flexure. Action seems medium (for an older rod.)
(I’ve done deflection tests on many rods, and almost none have the claimed bias for spinning vs. bait-cast, etc. Maybe high end stuff I can’t afford has it. So, that leaves mainly guide design / size and orientation.)
Thanks!
.
The “L” could be the action (light). Ending in “ell” could be Mitchell?
You need to be asking rodguy911. He possibly has an answer for you.
Heh, well, based off that, I did find a J.C. Higgins Model 151C bolt-action .22 caliber rifle manufactured by Marlin (specifically the Marlin Model 39A or similar variant) and sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co.
:-)
Oh, bummer!!
That’s like my Dad telling me many years ago about his prized fly rod, given to him by a semi-wealthy Dr. friend of my grandpa’s. (They were all fishing pals.) Dad claimed it was worth almost $200 back then, 40+ years ago. After Dad died, I could NOT find it, tho’ I did end up with some other more medium price gear. Maybe he sold it - I just don’t know... :-(
No, the first letter is definitely not a “M”. A Mitchell would be cool to have tho’, even though I’m not really a collector.
The “L” is in large cursive, and I’m pretty sure it is definitely part of some sort of company or series name. The other lettering / numbering is in a smaller, simple font, similar to Arial Bold.
Rodguy, Rodguy - calling Rodguy!!!
——————-
Should have got your dad a top of the line RONCO pocket fisher.
Ask your Uncle Reddit. Be prepared to upload some pics.
Lots of web links such as,
https://antiquesknowhow.com/antique-fishing-rods/
https://theantiqueangler.com/
https://marks4antiques.com/price-guides/old-fishing-rods
Many more.
Take a photo and send it to each website and ask if they can identify it.
Lamiglass
Take the closest, sharpest photo you can of the identifying characteristic - then upload the photo in a Grok query, asking if it can identify the model of fishing rod with this labeling. No guarantees, but you never know.
“Should have got your dad a top of the line RONCO pocket fisher.”
Yeah, like I had THAT kind of money!
——————
You may be too young to know about RONCO products.
Always fun trying to figure out what stuff is. I have a rod i fished with since I was a young un. It was my dads when he was a kid. Its a short metal rod looks like a CB antenna with a spring at the base. all it says is “Sturde rod” on the cork handle. never seen any more like it.
https://postimages.org/
Diana Suggested it to me a long time ago. (Thanks Diana!)
:-)
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