Harnell Rod Blanks / anyone remember ?

[4/0]

I grew up on the gulf side of Florida and friends and I used to build rods , tried a cast net once we won't go there. this is back 68, 69 or so but I remember those were the top of the line blanks. I am thinking about the 550's & 552's you could put a 9/0 or a 12/0 on them and shark off of the piers, tough rods only had those shoulder harness's , nothing that wrapped around your butt like these things that save your back, of course ergonomic's (sp?) wasn't on the mind then. anyway anyone remember the old Harnell's ?

Butch

[jamesbfishin]

Yup, had my grandfathers old Harnell surf rod rebuilt as a father's day gift for my dad last year, he loves it, first walk up to the beach with it caught a 30" bass on the first cast.....

[evernic]

yessir, I remember lusting for a Harnell, "custom" when I fished anglins pier, Ftl. 1961-1965

Finally started having customs built by Bill Boyd Ftl. 1971...on lamaglas and fenwick blanks, harnells were not avail then...?.........

[4/0]

I "remember" the 550 being the short boat rod , I could not bend it much, we used to shark off of the piers and I built a couple of them white grips with the blank exposed , jet black blank with red and gold and black wrap , had the diamond in the center of the bridges, then came the army . I need to find me another old Singer sewing machine with the foot pedal !!

some one bought them I can not remember now Though.

Butch

[4/0]

evernic,

sorry man missed you my last reply, yes that sounds about right, 71/ 72 dolphins and I was not here to see any of it.

Butch

[triumphrick]

Heck yeah...I fished Haulover pier (Miami) as a kid and my stepfather owned a big 'ol Harnell with a Penn 68. We landed a few tarpon off that pier back in the early 60's.

[Rodbuilder]

Boy, I sure do remember them I built tons of them.

About 12-15 years ago a store that carried them in Largo, Fl was going out of business and I just happened to be there the day the sale started. The owner told me that he had about 75 Harnell and Harrington blanks, I bought them all right then and there. I sold a few and built some but I still have 25 or so. I'll get around to building them some day.

I built 3 or 4 of the monster blanks for shark fishing, they have bigfoot guilds, Aftco uni-butts and they all say "Rodzilla" on them. One of them whipped a 750+ Tiger to win a major west coast tourny.

Before you ask, I don't build much any more so I don't take orders and I don't want to sell any of them now.

They were and are the best blanks ever built, hand down.

[4/0]

Yes I would have asked

I built one that I used for trout fishin had a pretty light tip, used to stack white bucktails that i bought down at Betts in St. Pete, two or three of them about 24" apart I would bump them through the lights on the piers w/ treble trailer on them. I can't remember the blank number though.

Also had one for a 9/0 and one for a 12/0 along with a grouper rod with a 6/0 on it, short little thing #550 maybe.

anyway thats good to hear,

Butch

[Slim]

yep I have 3 of them from my dad and a customer (old timer) gave me one of his. Best Salmon trolling rod ever made. I get big Salmon on them.

[north coast]

http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/spo/1110547270.html