Here's a Bluegrass 33 with a Chubb Henshall rod (8'3"). This is the easiest-casting rig you could ever imagine, and will gently lob 3/8 oz beyond 150'. Anti-backlash in the Bluegrass comes from intentional imbalance in the spool. People often used to glue a dime or nickle inside their spool to create imbalance for anti-backlash.Chad S wrote:That is a great picture of your set up with a fish to boot the water is not that clear up here in Illinois ever!
I have never fished with old reels or lures it looks like fun. Thank You for sharing your pictures!
(cheap re-wrap on the rod, original was claret with intermediates)
On the subject of anti-backlash, South Bend ABL works - 1131a on a SB/Cross Doublebilt. When the bail drops, a wool pad rubs the inside of the spool.
When you have the spool tension and bail-brake set properly, you only use your thumb to load the rod for casting - from there forward it's backlash-free, and you honestly don't have to thumb the spool again.
My pride and joy, Talbot Niangua on Thomas Mahogany-grade bait rod.
I also fish a Meek No. 3 and Heddon 3-15 on this rod.
original taffeta sock and hang-tag
If you've ever tried casting a Meek No. 3, it's frightening because the reel is so perfectly balanced. What most people haven't figured out is that Meek and Talbot both used oil reservoir in the bearings to create oil-whirl on the spindle and give anti-backlash. Here's the oil reservoir on my Niangua (little hole under the bearing cap)
On the Jack Welch Heddon, the oil reservoir is under the sliding clips on each side
But if you fill those oil reservoirs each morning with your sewing-machine-weight oil, you have anti-backlash. It works so hard you can hear the oil whirl, and the oil slowly evaporates from the heat.
1st model Pflueger Supreme on Thomas Bangor bait rod
I also cast my s/n 127 Shakespeare B on this rod
my 2nd favorite cane rod to cast, a lowly Montague Flash, here with a nice prewar Marhoff.
This is the rod I prefer with my small Shakespeare NLWs.
Supreme direct-drive on square-section steel True Temper (American Fork and Hoe).
I know others on the forum love this rod, and they cast and fish really well.
copper-wire-wrapped agate guides
Last example is a Pflueger Skilkast on a Heddon Pal Standard glass rod - this is a really sweet combo.
In support of Bad Bob, and maybe risking a fisticuffs with another, postwar Shakespeare LW can't hold a candle to Pflueger. The nickel on this reel is too shiny to be photogenic.
I would love it if others want to play on this thread...