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 didn't know that either! I gave a Zebco rod and reel combo to my daughter back in the '90s!
Thanks - that looks useful. At least I won’t have to (at least this time) be uploading pics of a destroyed garden.
(The big hail missed us.)
I still have about a dozen big pots to cart back outside, though. Only 3 to go in the bathroom, at least.
“You may be too young to know about RONCO products.”
I’m 66. That was a joke.
I’ll try just the link 1st:
https://i.postimg.cc/0QfQmVjC/Mystery-Rod-2026-04-16-pic1a.jpg
Ah, “preview” says it works!
I prolly should have cut that size down a bit...
You’re welcome.
An old friend of mine was showing off his antique coat rack. (He had no dates or anything, just how good it looked.) It was a coat rack.
“Yeah, a friend dropped by, and his friend owns the antique store in town. I had just moved in, and had a bunch of bamboo fishing rods jammed in the corner just making a mess. Most were my grandfathers. So anyways, he said if I wanted to get rid of them come down to his store and we could make a trade. So I got a nice coat rack and he got a pile of old fishing rods!”
I’m guessing the rods must have been from the late 1800’s to perhaps early 1900’s. But my friend was born in the late 20’s, so they could have been even older.
I cringed, but just said what a nice coat rack it was. And he was happy so that’s fine.
We had some slight storm (wind) damage too. One branch partially blocking the road, another good size one and plenty smaller stuff in the driveway. I was so tired after round 2 of cleanup that I just made some light supper and hit the sack very early. So, naturally I woke up a bit ago and was hungry again, accentuated by my daughter’s cat wants something and dug her claws into my leg!
“What sleep schedule?”
Sorry, I left a few commenters out (of further reply) — it got very busy around here. (See some of my above posts.) Just getting all the potted garden plants I’d brought in to the bathroom, back to the garden areas, was a chore, and I think I’d already expended all of my adrenalin. I’m not 25 any more! Or even 65!
At least the 2” hail missed us! :-)
I DID get hooked up with a photo-hosting site, got a pic posted here, and noted it to the people who’d commented on this thread who seemed like perhaps they’d recognize this rod off the top of their heads. That was about as far as I got B4 I crashed.
Tomorrow or this weekend I’ll try Google Lens (I’ll have to install Chrome, apparently) or maybe see what’s involved with Grok. Then there are the various sites you list - thanks - I suppose most of those will require getting registered on, so those may be my last option. I tried “ORCA”, as I once was registered there, but I guess my “membership” expired. :-(
I always try to remind myself that other FReepers may be extremely busy at times, or, like me, most of the time, actually. That’s why I try to remember to do a “thanks in advance” when I post these inquiry threads. :-)
Anyway, thanks again!
We need a photo of the entire rod, from the butt to the tip including reel seat,foregrip if it has one,guides etc.
I did not know that about Zebco. I have a number of Zebco reels. My father in law was a big fisherman. He had several hundred rods. He also collected the older Johnson reels, Century and Citation. He had near 100 of them.
Was it a long rod with little flex? Because my first guess would be a Flippin Stick. But they came out I think in the 90’s. I had one.
The only other one I can think of from the 70’s is a Fiji Stick. I found one in some store like K Mart marked $5.95 and it was a $50 rod so I snatched it up and felt like a criminal all the way through checkout. Had that rod for years.
My primary fishing reels are Mitchell 300 from the late 1960s early 1970s when they were still made in France and had metal gears. I’ve opted to use more modern carbon fiber rods over the old fiberglass. My grandkids are using the venerable Zebco 202 Combo kits, though the quality isn’t what they used to be back in the day.
Hi, thanks!
I should be able to provide pics now that I’m set up with a photo hosting site. Maybe tomorrow - a good part of today got shot down by me helping out a neighbor. (Long story. I’m “recuperating” now & having “breakfast”, then have to catch up here.)
Thanks again!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.