My 7'9" FY-A 510 Wonderod has a single stripper, 5 snake guides and a tiptop. The stripper is located 30.5" from the end cap, and the first snake guide is 9.75" from the stripper. The first guide on the tip section is located 10.5 from the bottom of the ferrule. The remaining guides are 22.5", 32.25" and 40" from the bottom of the ferrule.

I also have an 8' FY 110 that has the same basic guide layout. My rods fish fine as is, but if you are going to rewrap your rod it certainly wouldn't hurt anything to add a couple of guides. I fish both of these rods with a WF7, and a 1495 Medalist. Mike

Flydad5, Welcome to the forum!

Your rod first is in the 1965 Shakespeare catalog. There are catalog scans, including an image of your rod (click here). The rod has 4 snake guides on the tip section and a snake and the stripper on the butt section. The rod is unusual for a Wonderod as it has a black blank with gold wraps and gold foil under the wraps. If you look closely, you may be able to find the old guide locations.

You can rebuild the rod with how ever many guides and whatever wraps you wish. If the black paint is still in good shape, that rod would be a nice looking outfit if it were redone like the original.

The catalog suggests D, HDH, or 2LM lines. Most would describe those as 6 weights, or even a 5-ish weight for the HDH. But why not give it a try with a WF7? You won't break the rod and the game warden won't take your license. If you like the rod with the 7 weight, then that is the line for you with that rod.


Tom

Thank you all for the great information, this forum has been a great resource, no doubt due to the vast experience of its members.

I have to admit that I was really skeptical that this rod was weighted for 6 wt. which is why I was worried about the 7wt. line. In my mind it was more a 4 or possibly a 5 wt tops. This had to do with the way it felt compared to my more modern fly rods. I weighed the line that came off of it (on the medalist) and it was a 7 wt...which I thought strange. However, I put my old 7 wt. on and spent 2 hours casting in the yard yesterday. It felt great and I'm sure I don't have to tell any of you that this rod is different than anything I've ever used before...its so different its hard to walk away from.

As for the guides, I do plan to redo with the gold on the black while replacing the guides when I get all the needed items. The only original guide left with the gold wrapping was crushed so it will eventually need replaced too. I will try to upload some pics of it as is - and how it will be fishing tomorrow . That leads to my next question, I have never redone a rod before, where might I find the materials needed to do this?

I have included some pictures of the rod (if they post): just note that these are taken of the rod as is from storage above his garage...I have not done any cleaning on it yet.

Thanks again,
Cheers!

Yes it still breaks down into 2 pieces and that all looks to be in great condition. The spinning real guides are added throughout the length of the rod...5 total (not including tip).

Rob