I have my dad's old cane rod, still in great shape, and my old very early glass rod; I used both of them a lot while growing up back when hardly anyone on the West Coast fly fished. Nearly all my friends used either worms or salmon eggs. This was back in the early 40's and 50's.

I also tied flies by the hundreds and sold them to a couple of sporting goods stores. Long live Herters!

Now that I've bored you stiff, my question is this- since the old method of describing weight was by the line diameter (mine are both HDH) what would the modern equivalent be? 5 weight? 6?

Thanks.

Here ya go Jerry! I never can keep them straight and I fish exclusively bamboo and silk lines!!!

https://flyrods.weebly.com/the...ly-line-designations

Thanks, sharps, looks like a 6 to me.

Jerry, from what I've read and been told, the 6 wt. was, back then, what the 5 wt. is today in that it was the most popular weight.. I have several vintage rods and they're mostly 6's. They work great with a silk line. Bamboo is very forgiving about going up or down one line weight.

OH for the days of a cane fly rod and a basket creel!! How many times I broke one when fishing with a favorite uncle in Creed Colorado at 12years old. He was a patient man!! He even turned his back when I stuck a grass hopper on a dry fly!