Treasure hunting

[Ryder]

Hi Raiders,

My continuing hunt for a Sportex rod goes on. The particular model I'm after, 663 is highly sought after and very rarely parted with.

My strategy has been to check online auctions, the tip buy back centre and second hand stores. Today I tried something different, garage sales. Here is a picture of the add. See the rod?

Only 15 minutes from home in Artarmon, it was worth a look. Luckily it was still there. One piece and so long it was jammed up against the roof. Maybe because it was hard to get out nobody bothered to take it.

The light wasn't great, and  me without my glasses but I could see the pattern in the fibreglass I was pretty sure it was a Sportex.

How much, $10. SOLD.

It had a long fish measure sticker on it and when I got it home I noticed the was another sticker underneath.

A little heat from a hairdryer and the top sticker came off to reveal...

The full length of the blank is 10 ft. I has a 12 inch wooden spike added taking it up to 11 ft. I'm not really sure it's a blackfish rod, loaded up the bottom half looks a little stiff and the reel seat is covering the spot where the model number is normally written.

Any ideas on which model it could be would be much appreciated.

 

 

[Blackfish]

Awesome find mate. 👍

[Ryder]

Cheers Gordon,

Ive already been asked to 'donate' it to a good friend's collection. 😂 Which I still might do

There was no mention of fishing gear in the add, but when I saw that honey yellow....... worth a look.

[Blackfish]

Your certainly accumulating a great collection of Rods and Reels.

I can see a Museum soon.

[61 crusher]

Well spotted & good score @Ryder that’s quite a collection of some good quality rods your accumulating, do you happen to us any of them?

[Ryder]

If I keep them I use them, but I also sell them or just rehome them with friends and family.

Recently the Slazenger went to my nephew and the Mitchell Conolon I gave to a mate at work. At $5 each they were an absolute bargain I couldn’t resist and the guys love them. Seems vintage gear is becoming more popular with young people, look how vinyl records have come back.

 

 

[Rah]

Great find mate!

[Ryder]

On 5/27/2019 at 12:05 PM, Rah said:

Great find mate!

Thanks Rah. It’s at the rod builder now for a bit of TLC. New guides and a bit of a cleanup.

He’s calling it for a 526, great light surf/estuary Bream rod but capable of handling bigger fish.

So the 663 blackfish rod still eludes me, the hunt continues, but check out this picture I found of some other guys treasure.

Edited June 2, 2019 by Ryder

[Ryder]

It just spent a week at the rod builder. He put the callipers on it and compared it to others in his collection, and we are calling it a 526.

I kept the original grips and reelseat, replaced all the guides and added a couple more.

Single foot Fuji guides, except for the stripper.

It joins the B4507 I scored at the tip last year.

[61 crusher]

Looks good I like his work, if he doesn’t mind could you PM his number, it was good to meet up with you & hopefully I can find a few more old gems for you    

Cheers Dieter

[kingie chaser]

On ‎6‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 5:54 PM, Ryder said:

So the 663 blackfish rod still eludes me, the hunt continues, but check out this picture I found of some other guys treasure.

I'll check dads rods, I still have most of them.

He was a keen Luderick fisho & he used to build his own rods from blanks so it wouldn't surprise me if he has one knocking around.

I think there are some bamboo/wood ones there to!

He also use to make his own floats.

Here's a couple he made along side a vintage rod I found when cleaning out he house.

[Ryder]

Wow, Kingie Chaser, sorry I missed this post. Nice vintage Alvey and Steelite reels. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the reels and some floats are Aussie Red Cedar.