Hello,

Can someone provide some information about this rod?

I just bought it on ebay, the description was:

8 FT HOLLOW GLASS FLY ROD
MANUFACTURED BY J.S.SHARP OF ABERDEEN
ONLY 90 GRAMS
IDEAL FOR SMALL RIVER OR STREAM
NO 4 /5 LINE
BRAND NEW

There is no text/information on the rod:



Downlocking metal reel seat



hook keeper



handle



no reinforcement of upper joint



all wrappings are done in combination of black and yellow thread



stripping guide, some transluscent material:



white spigot



and tip top



finish on blank is a bit rough

Serial production rod, home made rod, Hardy blank?

Just by swinging it in hands i guess it would be somewhere in #4 or #5 range. Should try it with diffrent lines, to see what fits it best.

Any ideas on what it might be?

Thank you,

BlueOne

Looks like a (Hardy) Fibertube blank. I've got a similar 7ft Farlow. (Farlows and Sharpes were the same company at the time).

regards,

Doc

__________________
www.doctor-fly.com

Is Fibertube blank a blank from Jet rods era? Jet rods had white spigot, while later Hardy glass rods like Fibalite and Fibalite perfection had brown spigot.

Is the end whipping on upper section also missing on your rod? I am still considering if i should make it myself as i am a bit affraid that blank might split (saw it happen with graphite blank once).

Regards,

BlueOne

Hardy "Fibretube" blanks were certaintly like that at one time . I made a 9ft fibreglass on one just like that in the late 70s. Later I think but open to correction they were a dark brown (Jet) & after that black.
As you sure is is a Sharpes rod, I do not see any logo which it would certainly have if it was factory produced. If not I would hazard a guess that it is a hand built rod. Surprized the female section it not reinforced with whipping. The whippings just do not look right for a Sharpes. Rod looks fine though. As a matter of interest what did you pay for it.
Tight Lines

__________________
"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"

I don't think that is a Fibatube blank - you can see the weave of the glass cloth through the resin, which you can't on any of the Fibutube blanks I've seen. It looks a bit like a Sportex blank. The reel seat and handle are typical of 1970's kit rods from the likes of Olivers of Knebworth, and the choice of whipping colour is typically Olivers.

Not very helpful I know. Maybe someone else will be able to identify it?

Hello,

Thank you all for all information, much appreciated. The rod was 48.12GBP + shipping.

I was also suspecting this might be a home built rod, so i would like to know what exactly it is. Oterwise i am happy with it, action seems nice, i love the handle, it just sits right in my hand, finish is somewhat rough, but all in all a nice rod, which i shall definetly take out and see how it fishes. There is enough room on spigot, etc. Not sure if it would not be better with #5. Should cast it and then see.

Thanks again and if someone has some additional information, please share it.

Regards,

BlueOne

You pipped me on that one, sorry I guess for running you up!! Hope you enjoy it. I have just found consolation with a 1960s Fenwick FF75 (7'6 #5) for £17.

If not a hardy's blank it could be a (US) fisher blank, they provided hardy with their early glass blanks and helped set up the alnwick production facility.

If the seller cannot shed any light you may get more info posting the same question here, there are a number of hardy's afficionados on the site and others who seem to recognise glass manufacturers by finish and fabric weave: http://www.fiberglassflyrodders.info/

And I'd definitely whip and varnish/epoxy at least the bottom inch of the female ferrule before casting or wiggling in earnest, and probably ditto for the top of the male ferrule.

Mark

I've just remembered I've got a Fosters' of Ashbourne eight foot glass rod in the shed, and that is built on a brown blank with a visible glass weave and has a white solid glass spigot. The handle is different, but otherwise I imagine it's very similar.

Hello Taniwha,

No problem, it is part of the game. Plus i think it was reasonably cheap, payed more for most of my glass rods (over 100 for one just yesterday). That sounds like a great (and cheap) buy you got on that Fenwick. 7`6`` #5 is IMHO a very good combination for a glass rod. Please let us know about the rod, i am thinking of getting a few old glass Fenwicks myself. They have some very nice models. Btw. i saw the same seller that was selling this one also listed some similar rods, don't know if the auction has already ended.

Thank you Threerivers for that info, even if the rod was not made by them i guess we can assume it might be a same blank.

Interesting idea that it migh be a Fisher blank. Don't know much about those will have to check. Thank you.

Regards,

BlueOne

You can see the weave on all fibatube blanks as they are not painted unlike Hardy's Fibalite or Jet blanks which are painted.
Most glass blanks are the same colour as that one so it could be from any manufacturer.

B.R.