Clearing out my recently deceased father in law's garage I found a Vortex Supreme rod by E T Barlow. I'm thinking of keeping it but need to ask if in today's carping world it would be any use. I don't know if they were available in various TCs so I'm not sure of its capabilities. It's obviously not a match for today's carbon fibre rods. Is it worth keeping if only for sentimental reasons? I've got a very old shimano small baitrunner I could use with it just to give the old girl a whirl! Any thoughts?
In reply to Post #1
I read a lot about old rods,and fish with a good friend who uses vintage tackle..as I do sometimes,mainly Mitchell's
Keep the rod as you say,enjoy it and get a lovely Mitchell 300,boomerang anti reverse version five maybe..
Old kit is more than a match for today's angling..
Here lies the moral,is the angler up to using that older kit..not the other way around.
I read a lot about old rods,and fish with a good friend who uses vintage tackle..as I do sometimes,mainly Mitchell's
Keep the rod as you say,enjoy it and get a lovely Mitchell 300,boomerang anti reverse version five maybe..
Old kit is more than a match for today's angling..
Here lies the moral,is the angler up to using that older kit..not the other way around.
In reply to Post #1
I use a pair of 1950-60 era Hardy Palakona's (Split Canes) which I totally re-built during lockdown, I use them with Mitchell 301's fitted, plus I have numerous other vintage set ups, mainly very early Carbon from North Western
I also have the latest high tech modern Carp Rods with nice Alps Reels seats, precision blanks etc.........
But guess which is the most fun to use
I'd use the Vortex and then prepare for looking for another 
I use a pair of 1950-60 era Hardy Palakona's (Split Canes) which I totally re-built during lockdown, I use them with Mitchell 301's fitted, plus I have numerous other vintage set ups, mainly very early Carbon from North Western
I also have the latest high tech modern Carp Rods with nice Alps Reels seats, precision blanks etc.........
But guess which is the most fun to use
I'd use the Vortex and then prepare for looking for another
In reply to Post #3
301s Keith,right hand wind..I started using my dad's 301s,but I was left hand wind in years to come,stood me in good stead,as I can use em both ways..maybe I bit Ronnie o sullivan,ha,ha..
I love old skool gear...
301s Keith,right hand wind..I started using my dad's 301s,but I was left hand wind in years to come,stood me in good stead,as I can use em both ways..maybe I bit Ronnie o sullivan,ha,ha..
I love old skool gear...
In reply to Post #4
I'm same can easily use handle on either side, prefer RH wind thou.
I love using old gear too, you just got to remember always in the back of your mind “it's valuable and can't be replaced!”
I'm same can easily use handle on either side, prefer RH wind thou.
I love using old gear too, you just got to remember always in the back of your mind “it's valuable and can't be replaced!”
In reply to Post #5
Xmas day 1979..got a hardy fibretube FJT trotter blank,the whipping thread,fuji three legged glow in dark eyes,screw in tip eye for quiver tips or swing tips..
Black reel fittings ,and the gudbrod speedcoat,for the whipping,lined the Fjt,next to the fathers real ,hardy fjt,to make sure it was spot on..xmas day ,whipped it up.,boxing day varnished it,same day turned the Cork butt on a homemade drill.lathe..two days after,down Tredidin Barton on the float for cornish feral wildies,then up the Valency for trout or silver ladies.. great rods the old skool stuff ,it has a soul and being all of its own ,this is why I like rods that actually bend when playing a fish...
One day, I will fish solid retro,not cane,but early glass..
Xmas day 1979..got a hardy fibretube FJT trotter blank,the whipping thread,fuji three legged glow in dark eyes,screw in tip eye for quiver tips or swing tips..
Black reel fittings ,and the gudbrod speedcoat,for the whipping,lined the Fjt,next to the fathers real ,hardy fjt,to make sure it was spot on..xmas day ,whipped it up.,boxing day varnished it,same day turned the Cork butt on a homemade drill.lathe..two days after,down Tredidin Barton on the float for cornish feral wildies,then up the Valency for trout or silver ladies.. great rods the old skool stuff ,it has a soul and being all of its own ,this is why I like rods that actually bend when playing a fish...
One day, I will fish solid retro,not cane,but early glass..
In reply to Post #6
When I retire I intend to treat myself to a couple of the very best, but can't decide between - pair of Edward Barder's or a pair of B & W Hexagrath's
When I retire I intend to treat myself to a couple of the very best, but can't decide between - pair of Edward Barder's or a pair of B & W Hexagrath's
In reply to Post #7
Barders...
Barders...
I'll definitely give it a try on my syndicate water. Anybody any ideas on the TC so I'll have half an idea of what to expect? My current 12 footers are 2.75lb so I'm not too aggressive and am used to being patient.
In reply to Post #9
The only reference I could find to a "Vortex Supreme" was this little snippet-
ET Barlow and Son, Vortex Supreme. This is a very rare rod. I have been reading up about the rod maker, and the type of rod it is. They produced a 'Goliath' model, which is also very rare, but which you can pick up if you are prepared to pay the right (high) price. After extensive on-line research, this Vortex Supreme version.
It's probably a Sportex Blank too
The only reference I could find to a "Vortex Supreme" was this little snippet-
ET Barlow and Son, Vortex Supreme. This is a very rare rod. I have been reading up about the rod maker, and the type of rod it is. They produced a 'Goliath' model, which is also very rare, but which you can pick up if you are prepared to pay the right (high) price. After extensive on-line research, this Vortex Supreme version.
It's probably a Sportex Blank too
In reply to Post #10
Ha ha, you're assuming I can catch even on a runs water. I'll wait until I have a quiet day on my syndicate so I can experiment with casting using different weight leads etc. to get a feel for how it performs. I'll definitely keep it in memory of the old boy and if if does manage to haul in a decent size carp I'm sure he'll be happy wherever he is. He always used to talk about fishing but for the last 45 years I've never known him to go, so that gives some idea of the age of the rod. Thanks for all the replies guys.
Ha ha, you're assuming I can catch even on a runs water. I'll wait until I have a quiet day on my syndicate so I can experiment with casting using different weight leads etc. to get a feel for how it performs. I'll definitely keep it in memory of the old boy and if if does manage to haul in a decent size carp I'm sure he'll be happy wherever he is. He always used to talk about fishing but for the last 45 years I've never known him to go, so that gives some idea of the age of the rod. Thanks for all the replies guys.