I was recently given my grandfather's old Pflueger Medalist fly rod, and would like to get some more information on it. The rod Is marked No. 261 F, 8’ 6”, EDM. I am hoping to find out what weight this rod is as well as the approximate age. I have read a lot about the vintage Fenwick rods. How does the Pflueger Medalist compare to the Fenwick FF series of rods? Thanks for any information.

Maybe a rebranded Shakespeare (wonderod), the one I have (8' Megaflex) appears so, and in trying to research it's origins somewhere I did find some discussion inferring the same. Never did find any real solid info on Pflueger rods or who made them.

Like Upstream, I have a graphite Medalist rod, probably from late '90s as my son gave it to me after he went into the Airforce, 9'-9wt iirc. heavy in the hand as any glass rod I have. And I have grown grandchildren.
A picture would be good.

When I saw The Purist had posted, I figured we were on to it. An ivory/off white color and spirals indicating Howald process would be excellent telltales. I seem to recall that Pflueger fly rods of that time were dead ringers for Shakespeares, even if--I don't recall--they were in a different color, pale green maybe.

You could use the search function here to find some posts and look at detail pics of some mid 1960s Shakespeare rods. Probably just gazing through 1960s era catalogs here will do it viewtopic.php?f=3&t=67483#p361291 If Purist is right, the resemblance will be obvious.

I think Pflueger rods of the time were Shakespeare-built even before the mid-sixties acquisition. At 8 1/2' (two sections with metal ferrules, right?) that rod will be a 7 or 8 weight. It will probably cast a 6 fairly well, too, and feel, in effect, stiffer with a 6 because it won't be fully loaded.

261F is the Medalist. The 161F was the Supreme.

Dr. Howald was the inventor of Plaskon and polyester resins and the first to use fiberglass in fishing rods. The Howald Process was his patented method of putting parallel resinated glass fibers over a mandrel (first wood and not removed, later metal that was removed) and wrapped spirally with cellophane during heat-treating which, when removed, left the spiral impression on the rod shaft. His patent was used by Shakespeare starting in 1945 and was used on the new fiberglass Wonderod in 1946.
Dr. Howald’s impact on the sport is immeasurable.

Even though it isn't my rod, thanks for the information & history lesson!

Do you know who it is?

Just in case you thought it was me, it isn't...

I’m sorry to say that I don’t know who that is, but if I had to enter a guess it would be from a British comedy show?
Glad to know that you don’t have purple hair, but it would make for some great bass flies.
Ok, I just Googled Mollie, and now will look for the Are You Being Served series. That should keep me entertained this winter. That and looking for Pflueger glass!

Imgur
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=67491#p361008

Thanks Bulldog!

https://imgur.com/a/QQSOkRv.jpg


Hmmm...clearly more learning needed. But that is a picture of the 161F Pflueger Supreme

Does this have anything to do with Mr. Granger?

Bowbender, we'd know more about you and likely the context of your fishing if you edited your profile with your location.
On the other thread you started, Vintage v. Modern Rods, several people have asked about Pop's rod, which you opened that thread with a reference.
Maybe by topping this thread, they'll make the connection - and maybe not.

This rod is going to be on the heavy side, but there are several places it would fish very well, including tailwaters, big western rivers, big flies for smallies in big rivers.
8'6" cane is my choice for my home tailwater, and Pop's rod would plug right in there, especially on a windy day.
In the tailwater situation of heavy nymphing rigs, where you're not making long brave blind casts over and over, but gentle reach casts, roll-casts, high-sticking and dead drifting, swinging wets, the weight of the rod is not a huge concern.
In the vein of your other thread, compared to graphite, it should mend line with ease and greater finesse.

We also don't know where you live (i.e., where you fish).


same Heddon 8-1/2' 2f 6-wt cane rod, different day, and out for the same reason - big wind


and since this also came up on the other thread, a good primer to help you learn all the terms we're throwing out,
Curtis Creek Manifesto