Are Vintage Fishing Rods a Worthwhile Investment

You love to fish. There’s nothing better than standing in a stream or sitting in a boat and hooking and landing a fish. You also love to collect antiques. Is it worthwhile to collect antique fishing gear, particularly old fishing rods? The answer is . . . maybe.

There’s no doubt that vintage fishing rods are becoming more and more valuable every year. With all the nostalgia for “retro” and “old school” items, vintage fishing rods are gaining a definite following in the collecting world. To be worthy of investing time and money, however, vintage rods must be of a certain type and condition.

The Right Vintage Stuff

Over the years fishing rods have been made from a variety of materials, including the modern carbon fiber (CF) composites and the previous fiberglass rods. Obviously, the CF rods aren’t antique or vintage. Fiberglass rods have been around for a while, but they’re worth is negligible. So, what type of vintage rod should you collect?

You should be searching for a good old bamboo rod. If you can find a vintage split cane fishing rod, you just might have a valuable asset in your rods collection. Not any vintage bamboo rod will do, though. The rod has to be in perfect condition. Check for water stains, cracks, splits, discolorations and dents, and be sure the cork is in good shape. To be truly collectible, split cane rods must also have all of their original accessories. Some split cane rods were sold with additional tips. Other bore engravings and transfers. Find a pristine rod with all its original extras and you’ve found a valuable rod.

Are Vintage Rods Suitable for Fishing?

You don’t want to collect, you want to fish. Is a vintage bamboo rod suitable for fishing? It depends on the type of fishing. Carbon fiber rods revolutionized the fishing industry, yet many experienced anglers insist that vintage split cane rods have better action and cast more accurately than their modern counterparts.

Good action and accurate casting are well suited for fly fishing and spinning. If you like to fish for Marlin or other big game fish, a bamboo rod probably isn’t right for you. If you’re into long casting in rivers, streams and estuaries, or you enjoy spinning in lakes, ponds and along coastal shorelines, a split cane rod could be the perfect addition to your fishing tackle.

What to Look For

Finding a vintage bamboo fishing rod for actually fishing is a little easier than finding one to collect. You still have to examine the rod to make sure it’s in good shape, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. If is has a few loose fittings, it is still worth considering. Fittings can be restored without too much trouble and without too much cost. So, if you find a good rod at a good price, buy it.

When you use it for fly fishing or spinning, you’ll be using a piece of history. Plus, you’ll look cool while you’re doing it. Bamboo rods look more like a work of art than a fishing tool.