I can’t help it …

[StreamBottom]

I have one Fenwick glass rod in my rotation, an 8'6" 6wt Fenwick FF85-3 that I have paired with a fully pimped Medalist 1494 from the 1950's:

View attachment 1641253011

😍 That’s clean looking!

 

[Bamboozle]

😍 That’s clean looking!

It was awhile ago, but I got two 1950's vintage 1494's (that's one of them) from two different sellers on eBay in pristine/immaculate condition, possibly NOS or unused for around $30 each with boxes & papers.

One I left as is. It is on display in a spare bedroom my wife calls the "fishing room." The other I tricked out with OnePfoot parts to use on a vintage rod I didn't yet own..

When I sent the tricked out reel to Bill Franke (the creator of OnePfoot) to have the round line guard installed, he called me and said, "Where the hell did you get that reel?" 🙂

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

I have one Fenwick glass rod in my rotation, an 8'6" 6wt Fenwick FF85-3 that I have paired with a fully pimped Medalist 1494 from the 1950's:

View attachment 1641253011

My biggest regret is not hounding Heritage Angler to sell me his before he passed on, tbh. And since that reads awful and self centered I don't mean because "now I don't have it" and more becuase frankly he loved to lord it over me and I would love to have the reminder.

I have a pair of the earliest versions, all but the inner pillars, and I love them both. A 1494 and a 1496.

 

[Bamboozle]

My biggest regret is not hounding Heritage Angler to sell me his before he passed on, tbh. And since that reads awful and self centered I don't mean because "now I don't have it" and more becuase frankly he loved to lord it over me and I would love to have the reminder.

I have a pair of the earliest versions, all but the inner pillars, and I love them both. A 1494 and a 1496.

If we are talking about a 1494, there isn't any chance Ed's reel was the 1494 that sat in the Little Lehigh Fly Shop, later the Heritage Fly Shop for a long time??

If so, I bought it from Dave Bittner when he had the Heritage Fly Shop...

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

If we are talking about a 1494, there isn't any chance Ed's reel was the 1494 that sat in the Little Lehigh Fly Shop, later the Heritage Fly Shop for a long time??

If so, I bought it from Dave Bittner when he had the Heritage Fly Shop...

It was a newer1494 that was gussied up with the full One Pfoot suite but unless one of his family member's sold it on commission there or something I highly doubt it.

I never saw him use it, but he loved to hold it over my head because he knew I favoured them. Your picture actually reminded me of it.

 

[Bamboozle]

It was a newer1494 that was gussied up with the full One Pfoot suite but unless one of his family member's sold it on commission there or something I highly doubt it.

I never saw him use it, but he loved to hold it over my head because he knew I favoured them. Your picture actually reminded me of it.

The one I bought from Dave was an older 1950's 1494 in original used condition, meaning no upgrades so obviously a different reel.

 

[brookiefan]

Reference to # 17 above, I also have an FF756 , but (4 piece). It's a great rod, will cast a 5,6 or7 wt line nicely.

 

[JG63]

boeshield t9 is the best thing i've ever used for cleaning old reels. i remember ron's method, and frankly, the boeshield is easier than the vinegar bath and red sauce.

as for fenwicks, the ff756 is one of two rods i own a exact duplicate of. i've tried many times to replace it and i have yet to do better.

everyone loves the 806, but i think the 756 is superior.

but thjat's jsut me.

Got my FF 756 uplocking original and the FF 756 backup - the only difference is the original (first rod I ever bought $35 paperboy money) has a WF6F 444 SL and the backup has a DT5F 444 peach - the very essence of my casting style (not that it’s that good …) was learned on this model Fenwick - THOUSANDS of fish logged on the original rod - I’m blessed with so many good memories with it!