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My latest is a lowly, but quite scarce, 7 1/2-foot Heddon Model 8, 1 1/2F. This little rod had definitely been "put away wet" many years ago resulting in the partial de-lamination of all four sections. Several wraps had, in fact, literally rotted away leaving black water or rust marks where the guides had been. Who would buy such a "basket case", much less want to restore it? Well...uh, I guess...me!

You see I have a special place in my heart for the basic Model 8 Heddons. It was, in fact, the restoration of my late Dad's 8 1/2-foot, Model 8, 2F by Doug Merrick at the Winston shop in San Francisco circa 1972 that really got me started in "this fine madness".

In any case, this particular Model 8, which was produced for only a year or two in the early 1950's, had obviously been used very little. All sections were full length, straight and the nickel silver ferrules, reel seat and grip were in good shape. Even the original Heddon inked markings were still there as was the original Heddon bag.

That said, while I have successfully repaired minor de-laminations before, these were a little more extensive than I felt I could handle. So I decided to farm out the restoration to Dennis Stone (tapermaker), who I knew had experience in fully de-laminating and then re-gluing whole rod sections. Dennis pulled the bright ferrules and then did just that with the 3/2 Model 8.

He was able to save the Heddon markings and even matched the unusual, but original, gold & brown "striped" wraps. As a result, the little rod is once again as fishable as the day it left the Heddon shop, and it casts great. Thanks, Dennis!

I've heard some say they won't own a restored rod. Well, that's fine. But as for me, I'll take great pleasure in returning rods, like this humble little Heddon, to the streams they were made to fish.

Best,

Flyman