Today I helped my stepfather with a job (we are both plumbers).  When we finished we went to his and my mothers house.  Before I took off my mom said "hey did you show Brett the old rods you found"?  Well,  one was my old berkley lightning rod.

I got this rod when they very first came out.  I believe I was 12 or 13.  I'm 39 now.  It was officially my second baitcast rod.  I bought it to replace my first one (can't remember what that one was).  Took my bantam mag shimano off the old one and put it on the LR.

It's a LR22 with the old school pistol grip(foam).  5'2" 1/4-5/8oz.  Wow, how things have changed.  Back then I thought that rod was awesome.  Actually at the time it was.  Now I only Have 1 casting under 7'.

The only thing wrong with it is the insert on the tip is missing.  I'm going to re-tip it and give it to one of my boys for their first BC rod.

Memories

That made me go to the basement to look around. I have the pistol grip Lightning Rod (5' 6") with a Shimano Bantam Crestfire bc reel. I even have the original red flannel rod sock that came with it with room for the reel.

That made me go to the basement to look around. I have the pistol grip Lightning Rod (5' 6") with a Shimano Bantam Crestfire bc reel. I even have the original red flannel rod sock that came with it with room for the reel.

<lol>  I STILL have/use my Lightning rods!!  I have some of the shorter <6' rods that work great when I fish from my belly-boat.  I have some of the "originals" in 6'+ sizes too.  For their price (and time) great rods.

In fact, I recently bought some 7'+ L-rods of of eBay.  But now they have the "newer-style" straight handles.  Still think - again for the price - that they're a very good rod... especially for those fishing on a budget, like me.   :

Just wanted to add that theres nothing wrong w/ a LR.  I was more refering to the retro grip and 5'2" length.  I think the newer ones are probably a little diffferrent than the ones released in 1984.

My cousin and my dad (both whom I do the most fishing with) swear by them.  For around $50 they are definitely a good "bang for buck" item.

The only other rod that I can think of that has stood the test of time w/ anglers is the ugly stick.  I wish I had a dollar for every time I either watched someone or heard of someone doing the ugly stick test to a different brand rod.  The results were not good.   My buddy did this to one of my loomis spinning rods before I could even holler NO!!!  it was snapped in 2.  Then he proceeded to say that it was because the rod was junk.  Ignorance is blind.

I have sold or traded off all my old pistol grip rods from the 70's/80's except 2 Lews fiberglass Speedsticks and my original straight handle Fenwick Dee Thomas HMG Flippin Stik.  Love those memories ! :