Hi, I found an old fishing rod I didn't know I had and it is a:

 

Lews Speed Stick #1-16HOBB 6' 1 Piece Japan Hard Ring Med & Short Range 5/8 Bait

 

Can this be used as a baitcasting rod?  I don't want to buy a new rod if I don't have to.  I'm new to baitcasting, and I thought I could use this rod and put my money into a good reel.  If I can use it, should I, or should I get a new rod?  I'd rather use this one, but I don't want to make my first experience with bait casting to be frustrating.

 

This is the search I used to find information:  https://www.google.com/search?q=Lews+Speed+Stick+%2216HOBB%22

 

I saw some baitcasting reels on one in a picture, but they were the "round kind."

 

Thanks for advice.  It's actually in better condition than the picture shows.  It had some tape on it, or maybe it was the original "tape" on it?

It won't hurt to find out.  The worst that can happen is you find you don't like it.  It might be a good rod for casting under docks and trees.

I was looking at things more on the forum, and I saw people don't like the pistol grip.  Oh well.  I guess I can't use it, or I can, but it apparently isn't the way I should be doing things nowadays.

1 minute ago, piscis said:

I was looking at things more on the forum, and I saw people don't like the pistol grip.  Oh well.  I guess I can't use it, or I can, but it apparently isn't the way I should be doing things nowadays.

Pfft - ignore what others say. If you can use it - then use it.

2 hours ago, piscis said:

I was looking at things more on the forum, and I saw people don't like the pistol grip.  Oh well.  I guess I can't use it, or I can, but it apparently isn't the way I should be doing things nowadays.

Do you have a reel for it?

 

I've got a couple of shipments to make tomorrow. In rummaging through things I found that I have a lightly used Abu Garcia Silver Max that isn't in use by either me or my son. You can have it if you can use it. On me.

My issue with pistol grip casting rods was that my wrist & for arm hurt some after I'd been casting around an hour or so.  Even on short ( 6' or so ) rods I find a straight handle rod is best for me so that I can cast with 2 hands and my wrists and fore arms don't hurt when I do it that way.

 

Lews Speed Sticks were very popular 40 years ago.  Mount an Ambassador 5500C on one of those rods and you will be fishing like we did back then.  I prefer a pistol grip rod when fishing a bait that needs a lot of action like a top water plug.  I find it easier to move my wrist than my whole arm. Everyone is different.  Shorter rods are good for dock fishing and where space is tight.  The big advantage of modern rods is weight.  Today's rods are much lighter than in the 60-70s.

11 hours ago, piscis said:

I was looking at things more on the forum, and I saw people don't like the pistol grip.  Oh well.  I guess I can't use it, or I can, but it apparently isn't the way I should be doing things nowadays.

People don't like pistol grips?  There are so few on the market right now-how would they ever know?  If you watch video's from Larry Nixon (no slouch) from back in the day, he used pistol grips and he didn't complain.  You may, indeed, find you don't like them but don't treat the modern talk as if it's gospel.  Remember, some of these same people also listen to the drivel that's somehow passing for music.

about 15 years ago, the Japanese were collecting and buying these up, along with Fenglas Lunkerstik and Phillipson Bass Slayer.  Any of these rods then would bring $600 selling to Japan.  

Of course, they're fickle, and don't collect these any more.  

I had one with An Abu 4600C  mounted on it . Find the right weight spinnerbait and you will find it an accurate enough rod . I guess a 1/2 ounce  will fit it best , maybe 3/8 .

I’ve actually salvaged pistol grips off old rods and used them on new builds as a special request. There’s no right or wrong in any of this. Try it and use what you like. 

I had one of these exact rods but lost it several years ago. Either fell out of the back of the truck while driving down the road, or I forgot to load it up when I left the lake. Didn't want to go back and look for an old rod and beat up Speed Spool. Nothing wrong with it, very serviceable rod. I fished spinnerbaits on mine. 

Is the "trigger" pat of the rod that makes it a bait casting type?  Or is it because the reel can sit on top of the rod?  Something else?

9 minutes ago, piscis said:

Is the "trigger" pat of the rod that makes it a bait casting type?  Or is it because the reel can sit on top of the rod?  Something else?

That's part of it - but also if you look, spinning rods have much larger guide sizes close to the reel...this is because of how the line comes off the reel.