PuddlePirate

Travis first fish 1987 caught on an ultra light Fenwick blank with cork grips. 4 lb test setup for fun fishing action.

1982 7ft Fenwick baitcasting glass blank butt wrap.

2nd set of guides, since 1971, on the old girl.

Some of the rods.

Casting practice at a local school yard. Rod on the left is a 1970 Fenwick (10' 10") single piece. Reel is an Ambassadeur 7500 CT Big Game spooled with 20lb mono and a 50lb mono shock leader (5 turns on the spool). Casting weights 3 - 5 ounces (optimum) and casts 140 yards (reel is stock). The rod on the right is a Fenwick 1981 blank (10' 5") single piece. Reel is a Newell P338-J spooled with 30lb mono with a 50 lb shock leader (5 turns on spool). Casting weights 5 - 8 ounces optimum and casts 110 yards (reel is stock). The 1981 Fenwick can take a Penn 6/0 or Daiwa 600H with 1500 yards of 80lb Spectra line. Application - shark fishing with a kayaked bait paddled offshore into Gulf of Mexico.

This is how I transport my long surf rods (one piece blanks). Wrapped lovingly in pipe wrap, tie wrapped and Bungee cord down to truck bed tie down. Reels are stored in the cab till setup time.

My first fish of the day Port Mansfield Channel South Padre Island National Seashore December 2004. Caught and released 18 redfish this day tossing chrome. Beat my son Austin by 14 fish but he had the largest of the day = tie

My son Austin with a spooned redfish Port Mansfield Channel South Padre Island Texas. Rod is an old 80's generation Ugly Stick blank rigged for light line casting action.

Taking a break in the action April 2004. Wade fishing the Port Mansfield Texas channel at South Padre Island National Seashore. Casting plastic and chrome to feeding speckled trout, flounder, redfish and leaping ladyfish.

Absolute motivation for the visiting Padre Island National Seashore surf fishing enthusiast.

1970 Fenwick on it's 2nd lifetime wrap. Old school diamonds with a chromed steel reel seat. Grips & reel seat have been on this rod since 1971. An old friend indeed with a lot of large fish through the years.

Wrapped this small Fenwick baitcasting blank back in 1984. Flexcoat still holding it's own even though the guides need a refinish. Must do that one of these days.

2nd guide on my 1970 Fenwick single glass surf rod. This wrap is 1995 and still in decent shape. No frills functionality for long surf bound blasts. I've owned this blank since 1971 and still fish it hard.

Hanging on during a long burning run. Fought this one 1.5 hours before break-off (line nicked on seaweed). 1970 Fenwick with Newell 338-J. Fish ran 400 yards of 30 out before I could turn him. Lost him at 50 yards on the last sandbar

Soaking the bait in the surf at Padre Island National Seashore Texas. Location is 32 miles south of park entrance at Big Shell.