Help with inherited steelhead rod

[Fattie]

hi everyone, first timer here.. thanks for having me.

I inherited my grandfather's rod, and I have some questions about it.. Primarily, i want to know how sturdy of a pole it is. it doesn't have any numbers or weights written on it, just my grandfather's name and the word "steelhead" (in Grandpa's handwriting), with a sticker saying "R.L. Winston rod co. San Francisco Calif." The rod is 9 feet long, but has a huge handle.. the reel sits just over 7.5 feet from the end (not sure if that matters).
Obviously grandpa used it to fish for steelhead.. but i just don't want to land a monster steelhead, or something huge in the surf, and break my grandfather's rod.
Thanks for the help!
Fattie

 

[Fattie]

I should add.. the rods age is unknown.. Might be from the 50s. I googled the company and they've been around since 1929.

 

[Chromatose]

I would contact these folks before taking that Winston out on the water to see just what type of blank that is.
Winston Fly Rods |

Did your Grandfather wrap his own rods by chance?

 

[troutdude]

CRIKEY!!! R.L. Winston is known far and wide for making truly OUTSTANDING rods!!! You have inherited a fine rod! And I loves me a good fiberglass rod!

As Chromie asked about above...I'm also thinking that your gpa bought the rod blank, and wrapped the line guides himself. Or he got the rod from a local builder who put them onto the blank. And each guide appears to be "double footed", which adds strength to the rod. Which is a very good thing. Plus it's overall length could make it a good candidate for steelhead angling.

All hard to know without seeing the road in person, and checking it out. Is there a good sporting goods shop near you? If so take it and show them the rod; and see what they say.

 

[BrandonBeach]

Try posting a pic on this site.

Some great info about glass rods there.

https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/
BB

 

[troutdude]

Great idea @BrandonBeach; except it's not a fly rod. It's a casting rod.

 

[BrandonBeach]

I have always associated Winston with fly rods, didn’t occur to Me that they even made casting rods.

Apologies

The glass fly rod form is still a good place to start. There is a lot of info about Winston glass on there. Seems that Winston contracted out a lot of their glass blanks.

BB

 

[Fattie]

i don't know if he wrapped or not.. unfortunately, we always lived far away and only had brief visits.
Thanks for all the replies and help though!

 

[Fattie]

And yeah, I'll take it to a specialty shop i guess, before i start bending it... Probably the safest thing.

 

[troutdude]

No need to apologize @BrandonBeach. The Fiberglass Flyrodders site, is a great place. And someone there may be able to help.

P.S. I never knew that Winston built any blanks that weren't for fly rods, until now.

 

[Chromatose]

P.S. I never knew that Winston built any blanks that weren't for fly rods, until now.

TD, maybe this rod was built on a fly rod blank?
I have a few I have built. I am curious just what the OP is going to find out.

By the way. That is a very nice table you have there Fattie.

 

[Casting Call]

R.L. Used the very best of hardware. See the anodized reel set. RL is a pre Lamiglass area very, very lightweight. The rootbeer color rod is very sought after. Most were a chicken fat yellow. Most wetre made for Cali coast beach casting. GL let us know what you find. Tony

 

[Fattie]

Thank you to everyone for the help. I'm disappointed to find out it's a casting rod... But I'm happy to learn more about Grandpa's gear. I'll take it to a shop, but I'm not in a rush since it's not what i want to fish with currently.