A wee bit off topic, but I picked up a nice wee book today for the princely sum of $2.

"The Technique of Bait Casting" by Ernest Liotta Jr.

Fairly good condition for the age (copyright 1949) and full of a lot of useful information on reels, rods (bamboo and steel ... too early for glass!) and other tackle as well as casting technique.

Sounds as though the author, Ernest ("Sib") Liotta Jr was of some influence in bait casting circles both pre and post WW11. The youngest entrant ever to win the National All-Round Bait and Fly Casting championship at the age of 20 and won it in 1937-8, and 40-45-46-47. He did not compete 1941-44 as he was serving in the military.
He holds (or held at the time of writing?) the world's distance record for 5/8- ounce bait casting, having averaged 407 1/3 feet for three consecutive casts.



Neat wee book, but is the author well known over there?

That is just the kind of gear he is talking about Ron, although most of his rods are tournament handles with the slight offset angle to them and I cannot see mention of any one particular brand ... very gentlemanly ... no advertising or brand pushing here!

Cool book Mataura,

I have a question for those of you who might know. I wanted to ask about this one for awhile, but didn't want to start a new topic for a metal rod that might not even be a fly rod. I guess this thread is as good of a place to ask as any.

My questions are that sometimes I see rods similar to the one I have pictured sold as fly rods. (Are they fly rods, or is this really a baitcaster, or back when these were produced were these type of rods considered to be dual purpose? And whats the story with the goofy three ringed tip?) I tried casting it before as a fly rod, and it was uncomfortable having the reel in front of the handle. The rod is metal and labeled "Vim", the lock ring for the reel says "Union Hardware". I was wondering the approximate year, and also if the Rev-O-Noc reel I currently have it matched up with might be time period correct.



I currently have this combo spooled up with some vintage line, and am hoping to catch a few fish on it this summer.

Charged,
As Ron states I would call your rod a bait caster ... although bait casting never really took off here and us Kiwis would group them under spin rods. We simplify things a lot here, if it ain't a fly rod with the reel behind the grip then its a spin rod, pretty much regardless of shape or size.

Being the age the book is it is not full of photos of tackle. But does in text mention rods beginning to be made of glass and plastic ... all very modern for the era!
Mainly talks of solid and tubular steel and bamboo.

Hi Bill,
Since on this old thread I referenced Doc Henshall's book, here it is on-line on google books - free ebook
https://books.google.com/books/about/Bo ... &q&f=false

Our OP also got a really good buy on his copy of The Technique of Bait Casting - the used copies on Amazon are listed for $25+