My Take On Modern Vintage Casting Setup

[Ghost]

Shimano Calcutta 51 and Berkley Lightning Rod, 6 ' medium, pistol grip rod.

I've had the Calcutta 51 for 14 years and has caught some nice bass. I just got the Berkley Lightning Rod, pistol grip last week. I wanted a pistol rod for some time but either they are expensive and old or none are available. The rod doesn't cost much, got it for $30 during Bass Pro Shops Spring Classic sale.

I actually bought the pistol grip rod for a Zebo Micro 33 spincast reel, but was curious how the Calcutta 51 and the pistol grip rod would look together.

I'd say they look outstanding, my version of Modern Vintage.

Now if it will just stop raining here Southern California and have a chance to fish from this Covid-19 mess, to try this rod and reel combo...🦠

[goldrod]

Very Nice looking set up. How comfortable is the pistol grip?
I've never used one and would like to know what you intend to do with it, like what technique did you have in mind?

[toddmc]

That setup looks like it should be attached to Hank Parker! I wish that I would have kept a few of my pistol grip Lightning Rods from back in the day. I thought that I was hot stuff with those blank through the grip models with 100% graphite. Those were cutting edge.

[Revofisher]

i always scoffed at short pistol grip rods until i tried one. its so fun and effortless to roll cast and get baits in hard to reach places with them. Nice set up!

[Ghost]

Hi Goldrod! I bought the pistol grip for a Zebco Micro 33 gold spincast reel I have. I've casted with it with some spoons, inline spinners and ultralight crankbaits. With that small reel, the pistol grip feels good. I've not used it with a baitcast reel in the water yet. We've been having some heavy rains and the Covid-19 is keeping us all indoors for the time. I'm hoping to try with a baitcast reel sometime soon. I did mount my smaller baitcast reels on the pistol grip, to get a feel for a baitcast reel on it. I just looked at my casting reel collection and mounted my smaller casting reels to get a feel of them on a pistol grip rod. The reels I mounted were: Shimano Calcutta 51, Shimano Curado 51E, Shimano Curado 101D, Shimano Casitas 151, BPS Carbonlite Gold reel(left) and Daiwa Sol.

I like how the Calcutta 51 looks on the rod, it has that vintage look. I'll eventually will use the pistol grip rod with a baitcasting reel sometime, but first for the main purpose is to use and catch with my micro spincast reel.

I'm curious to see how I can handle a fish without an extended handle in back.

And, thank you all for the kind comments.

[KP Duty]

I played around with that rod at BPS the other day...thought it was sweet.