Vintage solid glass rods

The other day I was over at a buddies place and I spotted these old ice rods in a corner. He said they were his grandfathers and he said “Take them!” So I did and they are both 47″ solid glass rods. The backbone starts about where the wooden handle begins. Lol!

Anyway I was quickly realized that being the heavier solid glass they are easy to hold dead steady. I compared them to my long modern rods and they are noticeably steadier.

Then I thought, why not clean them up and use them for shallow water hole hopping? The guides and tips are pretty tarnished, so another thought was to have someone replace them with a set of modern guides and new tips. A set of heavier guides would probably make them even steadier. I’d replace the old line wrap reels with something like rattle reels.

Dumb idea? I’m a tinkerer by nature, so this really appeals to me. Maybe keep one and give the other back to my buddy.

Nah, I’d keep both of them.

Anyone in the LaCrosse/Winona area up for replacing these guides?

I can’t help with the restoration process, but I too have a few of these old vintage rods. I got 3 ice rods that were my Great Grandpa’s at some point in time. I also have 2 longer rods, about 5 footers, from my grandpa on the other side of the family. Only one ice rod is missing a reel. I’ve kept them in a safe place. Maybe a little more sentimental for me, I don’t plan on using them.. They will just be decoration pieces for me to look at whenever I get my garage in order and heated. Very neat!

I collect vintage fishing – I would keep them “as is”. Once you modify them, they will be worth next to nothing.

I’ll pay you twice what you paid for them.

Ya, you’re right. They are best kept as is.

The guides are cleaning up nicely with emery cloth.

The “reel” on the one is pretty neat. The little spring-loaded ring must be a hook keeper.

No! Don’t “Restore” them. lol.
DT

I’m glad you came to your senses while I was typing my post.
DT

Any idea how much they are worth? I’m not a collector, so I’d either attach a fly reel and use them for hole-hopping shallow water or just sell them. My buddy was going to throw them away.

KwickStick wrote:

Any idea how much they are worth? I’m not a collector, so I’d either attach a fly reel and use them for hole-hopping shallow water or just sell them. My buddy was going to throw them away.

Does sentimental have a price? they were your grandfathers. priceless in my book.

trytoofish wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>KwickStick wrote:</div>
Any idea how much they are worth? I’m not a collector, so I’d either attach a fly reel and use them for hole-hopping shallow water or just sell them. My buddy was going to throw them away.

Does sentimental have a price? they were your grandfathers. priceless in my book.

Like I said in my original post they were my friend’s grandfather’s rods. My friend didn’t want them. I have too much of my own tackle, so I really don’t want them either despite getting a little interested in trying one.

Maybe now that I’ve cleaned them up a little I’ll see if he wants them back. I doubt it though. He’s just not into the sentimental thing.

I just chatted with another buddy who really likes vintage sporting goods and he’s going to take them. It’s a win/win. The rods will be in good hands and he’ll appreciate them just the way they are.

Awesome. Don’t start collecting vintage fishing – started with my Dad and Grandpas lures and ice fishing gear. I now have ~ 3k lures, 10 or so minnow buckets, 8 metal tackle boxes and an assortment of rods/reels/tip-ups.

Snake ii’s wrote:

Awesome. Don’t start collecting vintage fishing – started with my Dad and Grandpas lures and ice fishing gear. I now have ~ 3k lures, 10 or so minnow buckets, 8 metal tackle boxes and an assortment of rods/reels/tip-ups.

Started with a green box… Now I cant seem to walk by one in good shape. I now have a couple minnow buckets, old hand auger, hole warmer…
Will go in the man cave once built.

I already have too many obsessions.

I have had multiple people contact me about redoing old rods. I can’t bring myself to do it. I would keep it how it is and put it up on the wall. Yes it would be fun to have them redone and make new memories with them but you can get a new rod built with a similar blank and action.