**Disclaimer: I'm well aware of how long this shot is, but I'm gonna throw it up in the air and hope for the best**

For the past several months I've been fishing a custom fiberglass fly rod and Pflueger Medalist reel combo that I found in my mother-in-law's garage. Presumably it was my father-in-law's, who was an avid fly fisherman before he passed away in 2005. I only recently took up fly fishing, learning to fly cast with a fairly inexpensive Redington 9' 5wt graphite combo, and I thought this might make a nice small stream rod for the North Georgia freestone streams I was beginning to explore. Needless to say this little 6'6"ish glass rod was something of a revelation for me after a little trial and error trying to figure out what size line it would answer to best. I took it out and caught a couple dozen panfish on it over the course of a few weeks and absolutely fell in love with it. Next, I took it out on a large tail water near where I live to put it on some trout and was was about halfway through an awesome day catching little rainbows when the tip section flew off, sank and disappeared from my life forever.

When I recovered from the shock I wondered if I couldn't figure out a way to make it whole again. Problem is I don't even know where to start. I've inspected it thoroughly and don't see any markings on it that might indicate the blank type. The only thing I can find is "Featherweight" on the butt cap and 'DON GUENTHER' stamped just above the handle. I assume Mr. Guenther was the original builder and a hobbyist, as nothing comes up in a Google search relating his name to any other rods or to fly fishing in general.

So my question is: am I wasting my time? Would I be better served just buying a new short glass rod and moving on? Who the @#$%& is Don Guenther and where can I find him?

Somebody steer me in the right direction. Thanks in advance for any help and/or sage advice!

Check out Heddon featherweight rods.

With it being over 20 years old, unlikely you will find a replacement tip section, maybe if someone can identify the rod, you might find a similar rod for sale. Any new manufactured tip will be substantially different!

I take it the line was not through the guides when it came off, otherwise reeling in should have recovered the section.

I had about 2' of fly line out. I assumed the fly would catch at least one of the guides, but no such luck. Never had any issues with the ferrules previously, so it shocked the heck out of me.

if the bottom isn't silt and water isn't fast moving and fairly clear get a mask and snorkel you know about where it hit the water get in and take a swimming hunt for it

The best day to be alive is always tomorrow !!
Think out side the box when all else fails !!!
Wi.

Just about three months ago I lost a tip of a spinning rod in the Delaware Canal of central NJ. The next day I went back with a weighted snag hook that I cut off below the barbs which left me with a shallow treble. I tied it to a length of mason cord and probed the area I was fishing and with luck was able to retrieve it. That would be my first choice of a way to recover it. As a bonus I was rewarded with a bunch of snagged lures I recovered in the process.

Dennis J. Danku
(Sayreville,NJ)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2017 02:01AM by Dennis Danku.

I hadn't even considered looking for it or trying to drag for it. The water where I was standing was only about knee deep, but like I said it's a major tail water with fast moving currents and fairly low visibility (not to mention daily dam releases over the past two weeks since it happened). Having said that, I'll probably give it a shot next time I fish this spot.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/24/2017 05:23PM by Brian Cunningham.

I don't know how it was possible to lose the tip section if line was through the guides. Didn't the fly get stuck in the guides??
Herb

I don't know how it was possible to lose the tip section if line was through the guides. Didn't the fly get stuck in the guides??
Herb

Herb, did you read his post above?