Hi….I have six All Star Rods that I bought between 1989-1993. Two are spinning rods, two are casting w the pistol grip / ‘BCM’ on Rod , and two more casting rods that read ‘IM6’ BCH-6. So six rods total. I would like to post pics but can’t seem to make my files small enough to attach. They are all in great shape and if I’m not mistaken, we’re being made in Houston, TX and are supposed to be great rods. Are these good options to use today or do you think I could sell them? Thanks ! Justin 

@Crick74 Search how to adjust photo files in the upper bar on here and you’ll get great advice on that. While you’re there you can search for All Star Rods and I guarantee you’ll find a lot of posts on them also and if you’re so inclined to sell them you’ll find some interest on here as well or at least I feel you will. As far as fishing them only you can determine if they’re worth fishing, hanging on the wall as decorations or selling for what you feel they are worth.

Can you post some model numbers of these rods?

 

I found some timeline dates online to dial it in some:

 

"Morgan McCain owned it back in the late 80s early 90s. He sold to Brett Crawford sometime mid 90s to 2000. Then in 2004 or 2005, K2 (Holding company- Shakespeare and several other big outdoor brands) bought it from Brett and drastically cheapened the brand and components over the next 3-4 years."

 

And this one:

 

"Allstar was started by Morgan McCain, Johnnie Schulte, Helmut Kasiskie and Gary Colqourt (spelling?) period. Then came Billy Kistler, Ray Putney and Ray Henserling into Allstar, bought in as partners and that lasted 3 or 4 years. Billy broke off to start Castaway with 3 other partners and that lasted so many years, Trey Kistler came to work for Castaway after he returned home from the Army, learned how to build rods and when his dad left Castaway Trey was soon to follow. Morgan left Allstar who was bought by the Crawfords til they sold to Shakespere, Morgan and "Uncle Robert" started American Rodsmiths, that lasted only so long and so on and so on, partnerships in the rod business have a tendency to not last very long."

 

You rods fall into the Morgan McCain years which are by far the best years for the All Star brand. When Morgan McCain took it over he began buying his rod blanks from Gary Loomis and Don Mook's company called Loomis Composites Inc., or also well known as LCI.

 

Morgan asked Don Mook to come to Houston, Texas to build him a rod blank factory in Houston where he began to make his own rods.

 

This is historically significant because for one Morgan McCain is widely given credit for having created the first technique specific rods, and because for two, what he and Don Mook created was unique and changed rod blank design and manufacturing forever.

 

I don't want to specify what that change is right now BEFORE we find out what rods you have.

 

You could have a combination of both LCI and Morgan McCain rods.

 

You can tell the difference by where it is made. Going from memory, the LCI blanks Morgan McCain purchased from LCI and marketed as All Star rods I think say "Made in USA" on them, while the rod blanks Morgan McCain began making there say "Made In Houston, Tx" on them.

 

In your post above you said your rods say "Made In Houston" which tends to indicate that your collection of rods were made in the factory there that Don Mook built for him. This could mean you have one or more of the particular historic rods I was referring to that changed rod blank history forever.

 

So I hope you will post some models numbers and maybe some photos if you can. Thanks.

 

And as Eric stated you will find some interest here if you should decide to sell any of those rods that are in good condition. I'd be interested in them as well. I collect that brand and this era of rods. I buy both LCI and Morgan McCain rods when I can find the ones I'm after.

 

Looking forward to seeing what you have.

 

 

Over the years I’ve worked on some Allstar casting rods and found them to have a unique action. A little slower than modern “fast action” rods but the tip was very progressive. It was a soft tip and bent deeper than where modern rods “lock up” but it was progressive and had good back bone. I stripped one of them and rebuilt it with a modern guide train (lighter, better spacing). The result was unique great feeling fishing rod. 

I still have 2. A BCM 6  and a Zell Rowland TWS .

The TWS would bring $ 100 or so.Even by today’s standards it’s a great popper/ spook jr. rod