Foothills bamboo fly rod

Question
I have a bamboo flyrod, 3 piece with 2 tips 9 feet long.
All that is in the handle is the name "Foothills"
I am interested in finding out more about this rod.
Should I fish with it or put it on the wall?

Answer
Hello Larry ---

I think what you have is likely one of the "phantom" Montague bamboo rods. Some were made for fly shop and rodmaker custom orders, built for another rodmaker, or branded for another reseller. They were made for at least a couple decades. You won't be able to find it in the Montague catalog, because it wasn't listed. But it's about the same rod as a Montague Clear Lake or Lake Pleasant.

Foothills in black script, no quotes, no Montague sticker?

There are precious few Montague boo rods that are collectible and worth money--only the really short ones, or unique models with small production runs. But most of them cast just fine! I have a 1950s Monty that i fish at least once every year.

I'd check it carefully for damage, like cracks or loose ferrules. Then string it up with a generic 5 wt line to do a few practice casts in the yard. It probably wants somewhere between 4 wt and 8 wt fly line. I'd guess 6 wt. Once you find something generic that casts nicely, buy a Cortland Sylk double taper fly line in that size for it, and take it out on the river. I do like Cortland Sylk, it does simulate the weird floppy feel of real silk nicely, but lasts a long time and needs no special care.

Anyway, I think it's a nice old boo rod to fish with, not hang on the wall.

www.classicflyrodforum.com is where I got lots of this info, then checked it with my local fly shop which does 'boo restorations. All the info agreed.

THIS guy seems to really know his Montys:
http://themontyman.clarksclassicflyrodforum.yuku.com/

Have fun! tight lines.

DAN