Quote Originally Posted by GeoFisher View Post
Years ago, I had Bruce's custom rods from The Lilly Pad fix a split bamboo rod I have. I actually have two from the turn of the century. Bruce did a FANTASTIC job.

Unfortunately, he's no longer in business, I think.

Funny Story.........

When I brought them in, he offered me gigantic money on the spot for one of them, and said it was worth some money. I told him the story, they were handed down to my Great Great Uncle then to my Great Uncle then to My dad, and finally to me.....so I'd ever sell them.

He then went on to tell me history of one of the rods, and that they were made England by a rod maker in 1910 or 1912. He hand made about 20 or 30 rods a year, and only made them for 2 years. He was killed in WW1, I guess, so there were less than 100 of these ever made. They were HIGH dollar back then, and extremely sought after. Bruce said he'd never seen one, and only recognized it from the "label" that partially existed.

They are now insured, and proudly displayed in my fishing room.

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Those older fly rods are valuable and heirlooms so treasure them. Especially when they are given to you from your father. My dad is gone now. He died in 2001 a week before 911. But I have all his fishing stuff still. Tackle boxes full of old fishing lures and over 40 rods and reels now plus all the one's I purchased ovcer the years. And I'm not fishing much anymore these days due to health concerns.