Question
Heddon Rod
Hi- I have a Heddon Model #7676 7'3 5 piece Trailblazer Pack Rod. The rod has
never been fished and is in brand new condition. It's been inside it's lightweight
aluminum case for over 30 years. On the shaft it says weight 7 fly line, made in
U.S.A. I was wondering if you could tell me what it might be worth. Thanks,
Mike~
AnswerHi Mike,
Looks like a nice pack rod. This type of rod is pretty popular where I live.
I did not find any specific references to this model in my books. The rod is a spinning and fly rod combination which is why there are two separate reel seats on the rod. You would normally carry two different reels to use with the rod depending on what type of water you find and what type of fishing you plan on doing. When used as a fly rod, you attach the fly reel to the lower seat. When used as a spinning rod, you attach the spinning reel using the slide rings on the cork handle. The 7wt designation would be for fly rod use. For spinning it is probably rated something like 8-12 pound test line...maybe a lillte lighter.
I've seen a lot of Wright-McGill rods like this, but this is the first Heddon model I've seen. In general, these combination rods don't make the best fly rods, nor do they make the best spinning rods...but they do work pretty well and they are very portable in the back country. They are fiberglass and fairly rugged and able to take some abuse, and they come in a protective case for transporting. Therefore, they are still popular with anyone who heads out on horseback, on foot, or on an ATV, motorcycle or canoe.
This is only a guess, but since the rod is in mint condition I would guess the value to be in the $60-$100 range. It depends on the buyer and how badly he/she wants it. It is still a very useful rod.
Thanks, Joe
