Let's see your South Bend fly rods

[teter]

From the top by model #:
#290
8' Cross 1640
8 1/2' #323 (HEH)
8 1/2' #323 (HEH)
8 1/2' #323 (HDH)
8 1/2' #346
8 1/2' #359
9' #12
9' #47

[reelill]

I am so glad to see your enjoying it Lon,. It looks like he's not alone.

I really like this thread beautiful SouthBends.
Richard

[Webfly]

I just knew that there were some closet SB lovers out there...nice rods...

[Doug K]

here's one of the 359-9 in action, with a rainbow from the Arkansas river Pueblo tailwater..



The picture is blurry, so applied an oil painting filter and called it art. Ha.

It's my first time fishing with an automatic, Shakespeare Tru-arT that came free with a glass rod I bought. Cleaned it up and put on a new line, works fine. The spring is a bit heavy for 6x tippet, ended up feeding line out by hand when one of the bigger fish ran.

a tough day, lots of refusals, lots of fishermen on not much water.. but got 2 out of 3 risers seen, on a #24 CDC emerger. In the evening the fish were rising steadily to something emerging but we did not figure it out, took this one and a couple smaller at least.

[bassman]

This is a 290 I acquired in very good shape. I believe it has been revarnished unprofessionally sometime in the recent past and a person comfortable could probably polish this out nicely. As is, great fitting ferrules, good handle, all straight and full length, and just that one stripper on the butt with adequate guides on tip. This rod is going on the Classified soon now that I took some pics and has a real nice Southbend reel to go with it.

[dave potts]

Here is a photo of my Southbend 9 foot model 59. I bought it from someone here on the forum (can't remember who) but he did a fantastic restoration on it.

[Char_Mender]

An 8.5 59. I have two of these. This by far the better of them. One tip, no sock. I'm second owner since new

[NewUtahCaneAngler]

Here is a South Bend 59-9 model #59 9' 3/2 which I believe to be made circa 1951-1952 based upon: 1) the reel seat, 2) the reported discontinuation of bamboo production at South Bend in 1953, and 3) that "jasper" was dropped from the description in the 1953 catalog. I have it paired with the larger of the Bivans Mfg. Arnold reel from Los Angeles circa the same vintage (this reel marked pat pend and Bivans was given a pat in Feb 1950; I suspect that given the short time that Bivans was in business, they likely never changed the marking to patented). I picked it up at a pawn shop just yesterday. A couple of interesting (at least to me, a genuine South Bend novice) points on this nicely flamed rod: 1) most of the cork grips that I have seen photos of have multiple grooves; this grip does not, 2) I have not found an identical South Bend decal - some similar, but those have additional information below the "A Name Famous In Fishing" line, 3) the 59-9 is written in yellow, NOT black, 4) quality control at this price point was lacking - note the difference in wrap length on the tips. All pieces are identical in length. Other than obviously being used, the only flaw seems to be a missing hook keeper & damaged tube.

[wrong66]

Nice find. You are correct on the 1951-1953 production period. Around 1951 or so, they started using that decal and used it until the end of production around 1953. Your identical rod, with the same reel seat and without the ventilated (grooved) grip, can be seen in the "South Bend Catalogs" thread under this board's "Information About Makers & Manufacturers" sub-forum.
Mark

[Webfly]

Nice rod, I like the green/black jasper wraps. A couple of notes that I have learned about the SB's from the other gurus. Instead of flamed cane, SB used darker varnish that appeared "flamed". I'm not 100% in that camp, because I have seen some, like yours, that are pretty convincing. There were many grips like yours without the grooves and writing in white (turned yellow). I would definitely make sure that all ferrules were tight and wraps were stable, as the glue tends to dry out over the years. And yes, SB's were all over the map throughout the years. Great bass rod.

[kermit]

South Bend #47 9 foot 3/2. Mint, as in NEVER FISHED!

[NewUtahCaneAngler]

Nice rod, I like the green/black jasper wraps. A couple of notes that I have learned about the SB's from the other gurus. Instead of flamed cane, SB used darker varnish that appeared "flamed". I'm not 100% in that camp, because I have seen some, like yours, that are pretty convincing. There were many grips like yours without the grooves and writing in white (turned yellow). I would definitely make sure that all ferrules were tight and wraps were stable, as the glue tends to dry out over the years. And yes, SB's were all over the map throughout the years. Great bass rod.

From their catalog: "split bamboo in rich flame finish" - I don't know how they created that look, but sure looks like flame to me.

[Webfly]

Nice rod, I like the green/black jasper wraps. A couple of notes that I have learned about the SB's from the other gurus. Instead of flamed cane, SB used darker varnish that appeared "flamed". I'm not 100% in that camp, because I have seen some, like yours, that are pretty convincing. There were many grips like yours without the grooves and writing in white (turned yellow). I would definitely make sure that all ferrules were tight and wraps were stable, as the glue tends to dry out over the years. And yes, SB's were all over the map throughout the years. Great bass rod.

From their catalog: "split bamboo in rich flame finish" - I don't know how
they created that look, but sure looks like flame to me.

I thought the same thing, but was corrected by the top SB guru when I mentioned that one of mine was flamed. Apparently, if you strip the varnish, it is light beneath it. I never tried so I will take his word.

[Webfly]

Ok, I miss quoted. Here is a response to one of my threads: viewtopic.php?f=64&t=70588&p=578526&hil ... ss#p578526

It would be nice to know if anybody has ever stripped one of these to get a more definitive answer.

[Salar4me]

Yup they work!

[barnesspecial6]

Yup they work!

Yes Sir, Very nice rod, reel and beautiful fish, I also love your technique of releasing your fish, just like I do, I handle them as little as possible, never removing them completely from the water, I love it!

[wrong66]

Here's one you don't often see, a Cross (South Bend) No.253 "Doublebuilt", with the original bag and labeled tube. These were believed to have been produced for a short time near, or immediately after the end of WWII. These, like so many of the later Cross models, were never catalogued. How South Bend was able to market them is a mystery.

[Shrimpman]

"It would be nice to know if anybody has ever stripped one of these to get a more definitive answer."
I've refinished a couple of my #346s, and they're deeply flamed. The 346 and 359 look to be the only models with actual flaming, with other dark cane models having tinted varnish. That's what my eye tells me... at this moment...
Shrimpy

[wrong66]

Here's one you don't often see, a Cross (South Bend) No.253 "Doublebuilt", with the original bag and labeled tube. These were believed to have been produced for a short time near, or immediately after the end of WWII. These, like so many of the later Cross models, were never catalogued. How South Bend was able to market them is a mystery.

If anyone happens to know of a catalog listing for these, please let me know.
Mark

[EastslopesTH]

From the top by model #:
#290
8' Cross 1640
8 1/2' #323 (HEH)
8 1/2' #323 (HEH)
8 1/2' #323 (HDH)
8 1/2' #346
8 1/2' #359
9' #12
9' #47

Lon, I would like to know what line do you prefer on the 8 1/2' #323 (HEH)?