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Post 22 May 2022, 13:53 • #1 
Sport
Joined: 05/01/22
Posts: 39
Location: Padre Island
I found this forum while researching a fly reel that I found in my Grandfather’s shop many years ago. I could say it was my first fly reel (because it was) and I fished for panfish/bass with an early 80’s Walmart Berkley rod that has long since gone away. I know from research it is just a cheap old reel, but I’d like to get it fishing again with an appropriate vintage rod. I will admit that I’m a bit overwhelmed in researching which rod would be appropriate so I thought I’d ask the question here on the fishing forum. I expect that I’d use this rod/reel in warm freshwater only and be targeting the usual suspects in the Texas Hill Country. Thanks for y’all’s insight on this.





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Post 22 May 2022, 14:18 • #2 
Guide
Joined: 07/07/19
Posts: 221
Location: US-WI
Fenwick FF75 or FF756 (either 2pc or 4 pc).
Natural pairings with that reel IMHO.


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Post 22 May 2022, 15:43 • #3 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/20/07
Posts: 8920
Location: US-ME
Made by Bronson for Sears, a "classic" basic reel to fill with a level or DT line--6,7, or 8 weight by today's numerical system. Panfishing or bassbugging where fish don't run far, the on-off click being a check against spinning/backlashing the reel when line is stripped before casting. A 7 12' to 8' medium action fiberglass rod would be the "classic" match of the day if that's your intention. It wouldn't be hard to find a Sears rod of that description, but these basic utility rods are available in many brands (or other house labels, such as Montgomery Wards or some regional sporting goods store) like South Bend, Heddon, and so on. Many Fenwicks would be just as good. If period authenticity is important to you, they became popular as the simple Sears/Bronson utility reels (and others of the type) became less common.


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Post 22 May 2022, 15:47 • #4 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 03/30/09
Posts: 1525
Location: Hamilton,Ontario,Canada
That reel is in fine condition for its age.Have fun with it!


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Post 22 May 2022, 17:41 • #5 
Guide
Joined: 02/15/15
Posts: 141
Location: US-LA
I have that reel in pristine condition. I use it on a tobacco colored fiberglass 8' 2 pc. Phillipson Trade Rod. It's wrapped deep green tipped red and has a green and red aluminum reel seat. It's sort of like Christmas when it's on the rod.


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Post 22 May 2022, 17:42 • #6 
Administrator
Joined: 01/10/06
Posts: 7811
Location: Holly Springs, NC
After a few decades of use and storage, your reel probably needs a good cleaning and fresh lubricant. See this forum topic (https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1385) for more details.


Tom


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Post 22 May 2022, 18:06 • #7 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 04/20/07
Posts: 8920
Location: US-ME
Jgestar's link prompted me to mention that we have a great search function (upper right of the frame) to a great body of info and pics here. If you combine some terms like Sears-Bronson, Bronson JC Higgins, Montgomery Wards, and so on, you will find lots of pics and discussion of this reel and its variant forms--often with suitable rods mentioned or pictured. Here's one with the JC Higgins (Sears outdoor gear label) name. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=59449&p=293657&hilit=Sears#p293657


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Post 22 May 2022, 18:37 • #8 
New Member
Joined: 05/12/22
Posts: 16
Location: MA----FL
I had a J C Higgins bike, my parents bought it at Sears. That reel would fit a Heddon #70 DeLuxe glass rod just fine!


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Post 22 May 2022, 20:07 • #9 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 02/27/16
Posts: 2327
Location: US-IL
I have a similar JC Higgins reel ,red like that and a red Sears fly rod hanging on the wall.My old man CFD and the firefighters got 10% off everything at sears .So most everything we had was from Sears,still have my dad's Ted Williams Winchester 12ga auto.A Ted Williams wonderod from sears might make a nice pairing with the reel.


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Post 24 May 2022, 09:27 • #10 
Sport
Joined: 05/01/22
Posts: 39
Location: Padre Island
Thanks all. I appreciate the comments.


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Post 29 May 2022, 11:22 • #11 
Guide
Joined: 10/19/17
Posts: 127
Location: West of the east and east of the west
I used mine for many years. It's marked J.C. Higgins; it's now relegated to display on an old steel rod...

Image


Last edited by Prairieschooner on 30 May 2022, 10:58, edited 1 time in total.

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Post 30 May 2022, 09:27 • #12 
Sport
Joined: 05/01/22
Posts: 39
Location: Padre Island
So I asked my dad about this reel to establish a timeline and learned a bit more. My question spurred some story telling to my brother that we are going to get him to write down, but thought this was interesting enough to share.

“I remember the reel, but details are not coming to me. Here are some thoughts. I started fly fishing with two kits dad sent me from Japan in 1954. No reel was included. I have the original reel I bought at the time and a reel from Alaska. It is possible it was bought in Waco for the second kit, and it is possible I bought it somewhat later for an upgrade to the original reel that was really bottom-of-the line. But I do remember such a reel being around. It would be interesting to research a manufacturing date.”

“ …they were bamboo (split?) but probably before Japan learned about the passion for fly fishing and the nuances for rods. And I am sure dad didn’t even know what fly fishing was. In any case, the kit was universal. The handles were reversible and different rod sections used to make casting, spinning, or fly rods. I only used the fly configuration and caught numerous, some nice, bass in the tank at Weimar with various colorful lures that came with the kit. I even made some flies/poppers myself.”


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Post 30 May 2022, 09:52 • #13 
Guide
Joined: 08/11/21
Posts: 208
Location: Tucson, AZ
JC Higgins was the proprietary name of Sears-Roebuck back in the day, so to match rod&reel maybe a JC Higgins, along with the Sears brand would feel right.
I suggest a rod no longer than 8'..a 6,7 probably the easiest to find

You might tell by my Fiberglass Flyrod name, but Phillipson and Silaflex rods are good middle-of-the-road production rods that I am partial to


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Post 30 May 2022, 10:02 • #14 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/23/05
Posts: 4966
Location: US-MT
If you want a Berkley rod 8.5ft 7wt I can send you one for the shipping.


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Post 30 May 2022, 10:11 • #15 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/23/19
Posts: 371
Location: North Central Oregon
jimwright wrote:
I have that reel in pristine condition. I use it on a tobacco colored fiberglass 8' 2 pc. Phillipson Trade Rod. It's wrapped deep green tipped red and has a green and red aluminum reel seat. It's sort of like Christmas when it's on the rod.


Like Christmas! JC Higgins and Phillipson 76R. Surffshr have fun with that reel.


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Post 30 May 2022, 18:02 • #16 
Master Guide
Joined: 01/04/18
Posts: 397
Location: Belair Maryland/Swanton Maryland
Very cool story .
A Jc Higgens rod would be appropriate for sure ..
Back in the mid/late 50s Heddon made some Glass and Bamboo trade rods or Sears called the Premier series #125 and #115

Heres the 8ft #125 the #115 was 8.5ft I think..





Even has the red rubber butt cap like the Heddon Thoroughbred rods that match your reel ..

Hope you find some worthy of your Granfathers special reel .


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Post 30 May 2022, 19:27 • #17 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/23/05
Posts: 4966
Location: US-MT


Gold one is Garcia, brown is Berkley Parametric

You choose


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Post 30 May 2022, 20:30 • #18 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/05
Posts: 1008
Location: US-NY
The reel reminds me of a Pflueger Trump. There is a matching rod - a Pflueger Trump 461F. It’s an 8’ 7-weight.


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Post 04 Jun 2022, 06:01 • #19 
Master Guide
Joined: 07/21/21
Posts: 447
Location: Florida
Between casting notes of rods and posts about inherited gear I find these subjects fascinating. Always seem to have forum members come up with obscure “hen’s teeth” vintage tackle that invariably leads me to the Google’s search engine …. Beautiful real, screams Berkley Curt Gowdy Parametric to me …


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Post 21 Jun 2022, 03:07 • #20 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/11/06
Posts: 2516
Location: Nature Coast Florida
This was the first fly reel I ever bought. Think it was about fifty-five years ago. Had it on an eight and a half foot blue Garcia.
Was quite the colorful combination.

Barry


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Post 11 Jul 2022, 11:50 • #21 
Sport
Joined: 05/01/22
Posts: 39
Location: Padre Island




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Post 11 Jul 2022, 13:15 • #22 
Glass Fanatic
Joined: 06/16/05
Posts: 2537
Location: Georgia
Cool. Looks like you got a Fenwick for it. Which one?


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Post 11 Jul 2022, 20:51 • #23 
Sport
Joined: 05/01/22
Posts: 39
Location: Padre Island

That is a FF756-4. This is a Berkley Parametric that majicwrench graciously sent to me. It casts fantastic. They both do really.


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Post 12 Jul 2022, 18:45 • #24 
Master Guide
Joined: 08/03/14
Posts: 945
Location: central AR
:like


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