Customer Reviews

Antique & Collectible Fishing Rods: Identification & Value Guide

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A good book to give the basics on what to look for in a collecting fishing rods. It gives guidelines on what to look for, ratings on condition, time lines of manufacture, and ideas on value. Includes many models of bamboo, fiberglass and steel rods.

This book is a great reference for the serious rod collector or antique dealer that is in need of expert information about evaluating old bamboo rods. The author includes a good sampling of close-up B&W photographs covering many of the historic rod makers. Old patent drawings are used to explain various rod designs and component functions. A comprehensive chapter is devoted to common rod defects to look for and how each one might lower the collectible value of a rod. The back of the book contains a 32 page rod price guide listing which is helpful in formulating an approximate appraisal of value. A very worthwhile addition to any tackle collector's library of reference materials.

Got this book to help me understand more about a number of rods bought at auction. Although helpful, it spoke more about what a perfect rod should be. It has a price guide, but limited pictures to cross reference to. Most collectors will not run into the perfect rod so it was hard to compare. Book is not tailored for the person new to collecting rods. It would be better for the new person with more pictures and more educational background.

I have 7 antique/vintage fishing rods and none of them were in there. Also, the prices were separate from the descriptions so I couldn't tell what I was pricing.

This book was perfect for the avid rod collector. The photos and detail were great and easy to compare your own rods to theirs listed in the book. Highly recommend.

While Homel's book is helpful in giving a general idea of a fishing rod's value, there are some gaps in information. For one, the material is four or five years old and collectible rods have skyrocketed in price in that time frame. So the dollar amounts placed on rods are not very realistic. Secondly, I have found that there are sizes and models of fly rods that are not included in the listings of the various rod makers or manufacturers. This can be a little frustrating when one has purchased, or is about to purchase a rod and cannot find any reference to it in the book.

This book may be okay for someone who wants a short, incomplete reference guide on the subject of collectible fishing rods and their appoximate value. This is not a guide that gives you much information about which antique rods are worth buying if you are intent on fishing them. Some kind of information as to what weight fly line should be used on each rod and what the original rod 's intended use was (dry fly, wet fly, bass, trout, saltwater species, large or small stream etc). The list of rods reviewed is very incomplete, especially some of the more popular mass produced rods. For me, this book was a disappointment. It however, may be what you are looking for.

Lots of good info in this book. Really well written too. However, I wish it was in color, and had more pages. Kind of short and in black and white. Worth the price if you are a serious collector, but not a fantastic value.

have looked for a book that has everything i'm interested in. i found it in this book