A Bamboo Switch Rod from 1969?

[BrownBear]

Oops! Posted in the wrong spot. Moderators move as you see fit!


I recently bought a barely used 1969 Hardy #7 Wye Palakona, and it arrived this week. Billed as Hardy's dry fly salmon rod and 11' long, it's more of a 1969 switch rod than a true spey. But instinct said it would be ideal for my needs. Nothing would do, but to wet it today. First trip to the water, sight fishing in a lake, third cast of the day, it proved its merit. Yeoman service and fresh coho for dinner guests tonight.


My wife got in on the act, too, but with her usual graphite. Who can resist spotting fish in the calm between wind riffles, then watching the hit?


And the payoff, first of her six caught and released in a couple of hours.

[NorcalBob]

[darrin terry]

Moved it.

Looks like a great way to break in a rod to me. Well done.

[BrownBear]

Thanks Darrin! Clearly my brain was still on the water.

[Ants]

I would be grinning from ear to ear if I could put a new Rod into use in a condition with fish like that. The local options are limited, but it is nice to learn there are other options around the globe.

So, all these posts and prior posts and comments about wild fish give a new (and financially limited) perspective on what fishing can be if the local conditions are not looking good. The local conditions aren't the most favorable.

How far can I afford to travel? It is a interesting decision to ponder.

As for Hank and Jan, I wonder if there is any question about leaving the home grown conditions?

Ants

[BrownBear]

As for Hank and Jan, I wonder if there is any question about leaving the home grown conditions?

We vote with our feet! For 5 months per year there's no place on earth we'd rather be. But the other 7 months up here are fishless, with 32-degree horizontal rain in the dark. We fished Florida in February last year, visiting the friends who are visiting and fishing with us up here now in Alaska. We can't afford luxury travel, but we have time on our hands and an active visitor exchange program!

For us the upper Kern was a little rough last year, but we found fish and had a ball in Isabella. It's more about the opportunity to fish than the size and species of fish. Kayaks are on the slate for purchase this fall, and those will give us better access to lots more lake fishing around Bakersfield. Can't wait!

[Jimbo Roberts]

More pictures of the rod please.

Jimbo

[Packer]

More pictures of the rod please.

Jimbo

And maybe a couple of the dinner?

[BrownBear]

More pictures of the rod please.

Jimbo

And maybe a couple of the dinner?

I'll try to get to it later today. I hear the cohos calling my name at the moment!

[Ants]

The lakes in the Bakersfield area may be fewer when you arrive. There was talk of meeting a water deficit by draining Lake Ming. I haven't been in that area to check on the current water level.

There is plenty of other kayak water, of course.

Ants

[BrownBear]

I've heard that. If needed we'll just slap the kayaks on top of the truck and hitch the travel trailer and go looking for water. Traveling and staying in a trailer isn't any more expensive than staying home when you get right down to it!