Nippon Bamboo Fly/Spin Combo Set

Question
Hi Marc-

I got your information when I searched for Nippon bamboo fly rod.  I like fishing with these, so when I found an old rod/it at a garage sale today, I bought it for $30.00.  The rod is in excellent shape, and can be made into an 8' fly from or 5.4' casting rod.  It came in a long thin rectangular box (most busted) with flys, line, a hand made mini-wood bobber, and a tag showing this to be a No. AC-151y Fresh Water Combination rod by the Nippon Fishing Tackle MFG. CO., 5-1 Shimouma Setagaya Tokyo; Tel Setagaya (42) 4112.  You indicated that this company made sub-par fly rods post WWII.  Do you know anything else.  If it's not particularly valuable, I will have fun with on my bass pond out back.  If it's worth something more that what I paid for it, I would like to know.

Thanks

Chuck

Answer
Hi Chuck,

Thirty dollars is probably a fair price.  Is it worth more than that, probably not too much more.

I don't know much more about the company.  Fellow expert Rich McGaughey could probably tell you a lot more about Nippon. My guess is that it may have more interest to a pure post-war era collector of antiques rather than a tackle collector.  It was probably more of a souvenir for a returning soldier to bring back than a quality fishing rod.

Back in that era, "Made in Japan" wasn't a good thing.  Things have certainly changed now.

Use it on the Bass in your pond and have fun with it.

Good fishing and ask Rich his opinion.  This is his wheelhouse!

Marc