Montague Sonora

[CaptainHook]

About 30 years ago I picked up a Montague Sonora rod at a garage sale. It was too cool looking to pass up and I figured I'd put it on a wall if I never used it. It's been in the stocking and tube since then.

I know nothing about the rod or bamboo rods, for that matter. I do wonder if the previous owner worked on it as it is 100 inches or 8.33 feet. It is a 3-piece rod. The tip, as you can see, has green windings while the rest of the rod has red. Is it a second tip or is that how they came with the tip winding color designating something?

Should I find someone who restores bamboo rods and let them see if it is worth putting into fishing condition? If so, recommendations are appreciated?

Does anyone know what weight equivalent it might be? I read that the old rods didn't use the same weight system.

Or should I just hang it on a wall?

 

[Rolf]

Given the different wraps and short tip, I’m inclined to say hang it on your wall and enjoy it. You may wish to post your question here and see what the “Big Kids” have to say.

http://classicflyrodforum.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=69

Good luck!

 

[CaptainHook]

Thanks Rolf! I see what you mean by "big kids."

I did find out on the web that Montague made a 8 1/2 Sonora. This is probably the 8 1/2. The sock looks like it had room for two tips so this might be just one of the tips. I haven't been able to find out if it came with two tips. It was a less expensive model although this particular size is considered more rare as I'm guessing they just made less of them.

 

[tomitrout]

Seeing that the rod is now 8'4" and the tip top wrap is a different color, I'd guess the tip section lost 2" at some point. Are all three sections the same length?

Head out nito the yard, string her up with a 6wt to start and see how she casts....

 

[CaptainHook]

I took Rolf's suggestion and posted this on the Classic Fly Rod forum. Maybe it is more rare than I thought as despite a few hundred views, I've not gotten one forum response. I did get a private email from someone who restores bamboo rods. Not sure I'd want to do that as the rod holds no emotional connection.

Don't we have someone here who restores or works on bamboo?

 

[afishinado]

Found this on the WWW. Older info, but gives you some info and some sort of reference about your rod:

If you ever wondered why there are so many Montague rods available on the used rod market, it is because The Montague Rod Company was the largest volume producer of split bamboo rods from shortly after 1900 when they purchased the Chubb Rod Company and merged the two operations in Montague City, Massachusetts, until they closed down operations in 1955.

The company built everything from casting, spinning, trolling and ocean rods to the many fly rod models listed below. These rods were built and priced for the average fisherman of the era; they were not overly fancy or elegant but they were durable, which is why so many remain on the market. But most were fished hard; nice original examples in excellent condition are becoming scarce and hard to find.

The rods below are listed in decreasing order of their original selling prices, and the quality of hardware, ferrules, cork and bamboo decreases the farther down a model is listed. Some models are quite common; others are quite rare due to limited production. The values shown are current market values.

Powr-Built 50 8½ $325 - 9 - 9½ $250
Powr-Built 35 - 8½ $300 - 9 - 9½ $225
Powr-Built 25 - 8½ $300 - 9 - 9½ $225
Powr-Built 20 - 8½ $275 - 9 - 9½ $200
Manitou - 7½ (2-pc.) $350- 8½ $300- 9 - 9½ $250
Redwing - 8½ $300 - 9 - 9½ $250
Trail - 8½ $250 - 9 - 9½ $175
Flipline - 8½ $250 - 9 - 9½ $175
Fishkill - 7½ (2-pc.) $325- 8½ $225- 9 - 9½ $175
Winthrop - 8½ $250 - 9 - 9½ $200
Bradford - 8½ $250 - 9 - 9½ $200
Webster - 8½ $250 - 9 - 9½ $200
Palmer - 8½ $250 - 9 - 9½ $200
Churchill - 8½ $250 - 9 - 9½ $200
Blue Streak - 8½ $200 - 9 - 9½ $150
Splitswitch - 8½ $200 - 9 - 9½ $150
Broad Brook - 8½ $200 - 9 - 9½ $150
Bluestreak - 8½ $200 - 9 - 9½ $150
Rapidan - 7½(2-pc.) $300 - 8½ $175- 9 - 9½ $150
Flash - 8½ $175 - 9 - 9½ $150
Leaping Brook - 8½ $175 - 9 - 9½ $150
Beaver Run - 8½ $175 - 9 - 9½ $150
Pocono - 7½ (2-pc.) $300
Madison - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Comanche - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Lakeside - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Apache - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Acadian - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Ausable - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Rainy River - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Mountain Lake - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Pelham Brook - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Bear Lake - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Sunbeam - 8'(2-pc.) $275 - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Clipper - 8½ $150 - 9 - 9½ $125
Cold Spring - 8½ $125 - 9 - 9½ $100
Sonora - 8½ $125 - 9 - 9½ $100
Deerfield - 8½ $125 - 9 - 9½ $100
Barton Brook - 8½ $125 - 9 - 9½ $100
Eagle River - 8½ $125 - 9 - 9½ $100
Timberlake - 8½ $125 - 9 - 9½ $100
Lake Pleasant - 8½ $125 - 9 - 9½ $100
Clear Lake - 8½ $125 - 9 - 9½ $100
Mt. Tom - 8½ $125 - 9 - 9½ $100
Highland - 8½ $125 - 9 - 9½ $100
Amateur - 8 (2-pc.) $225

Montague Zephyr Series
Little Smoky - 7½ - 8 $300 - 8½ $225
Sierra - 7½ - 8 $300 - 8½ $225
Classon Brook - 7½ - 8 $300 - 8½ $225
Midge - 7½ - 8 $300 - 8½ $225



You're rod likely has a broken/repaired tip and has little value. Like TT posted above, string it up and fling it around!

I wouldn't put a lot of time or money into it. It would look great on the wall. Good luck.

 

[redietz]

Those aren't the original prices; more likely the estimated value at the time the list was compiled (in fact they're reasonable prices now.)

The 8 1/2' Redwing went for about $25 back in the day, not $300. A Rapidan went for just $10, IIRC.

 

[CaptainHook]

I'm going to have someone who knows what they are doing to check it out and I'll either restore it or try it "as is." Then, it will either become a wall hanger or I'll use it.