Fly Rods

[QUOTE=Bruce Day;10801]Here's a vintage Heddon #14 with a newer reel, circa maybe 1940. Like to find a Heddon Imperial to match the rod. My grandfather fished for steelhead in upper Michigan with it.

I have a new, non vintage Jenkins 7'9" 4/5wt, 2/2. I'm guessing that Heddon is either a 8 & 1/2 foot 3/2 or possibly a 9 foot 3/2- 6/7 wt- back then they used the three Alpha Code for the line wts. I'll keep my eyes peeled for that reel, but I am no longer fly fishing or a "player" in the vintage tackle game-but I still "get around" a bit- on the reel, you might try Bob Corsetti- up in Stan Bogdan's "digs" of Nashua, NH- besides the fine Peerless (Vom Hofe) pattern reels, he also buys, sells and trades tackle and fly reels- Also Carmine Lisella and Hoagy Bix Carmichael in Upstate New York areas and even Michigan rod maker Bob Sommers gets a few reels.

I had one Heddon in my career- a 8 & 1/2 ft. 3/2 No. 35 in 6 wt. Mint with original bag with label and tube. Is your fine Heddon wearing its "first suit of clothes"? or has it been refinished-

Those are fine pre-fire Leonards. Interesting is the automatic reels displayed, along with the older Leonard raised pillar reel. I bought a Walker trout reel many years ago at a yard sale- RH wind, no drag adjustment, but a Classic from the late Archie Walker and Sons in Long island- back 'in the era' when they sold for $65.00 retail and a Pflueger Medalist for $5.50--

Nice older reel, but it had the older silk line and was loaded with floatant, which had 'welded' the line to the arbor- had to soak it (the arbor- after I dis-assembled the reel that is) to free it up--