Advice on build

[trout head]

Ok I have been asked to build a rod for this reel , it is a Crouch Australian made the reel is 50 years old , perfect working order , it is cast with the reel on the bottom of the blank then the rod is used with the reel on top to fight a fish , now due to the hight of the reel I would think I would use spinning guides , but how would that go when you turn it over to fish like a casting rod , so does anyone have any info how rods where made for this reel , Thank you Ian

[Owen]

Are you sure it gets used as an overhead?
Not much info about on them, but one photo I found has "Right hand wind" stamped on the side plate.
With the writing the right way up it'd be mounted like an Alvey.

[grave41]

Hi,
They are a multiplying below the rod reel so build the rod as a spin.
Graham

[Charlie]

I doubt it's meant to be turned over every time you retrieve, it was(is) a common practice using cane rods to turn over when fighting a fish to reduce the mount of fatigue in the cane fibers and so double the rods life.I would just build it up like any other float rod.

[Stuart]

I rebuild many old to very old rods dating back to the very early 1900 and even the late 1800s. The best advice I can give you is if you’re going to rebuild or build a new rod try and match the build to the era of the reel. It can look out of balance when you have a 50 year old reel and the latest model blank, guides and reel seat. Offcourse its up to you mate.

Stu

[Aussie123]

Crouch Reels are a fantastic reel and also a highly desired collectors item.
25 years ago they were selling for $60 to $100 each but I have no idea what they are worth these days.
They are used solely below the rod so any spinning rod setup is fine for them.
Some have a small type of button that compresses a felt pad against the spool as the brake mechanism and others had a finger hole in the side plate to use your finger directly on the spool as the brake.
The left side plate unscrews to remove the spool for servicing but many of the aluminum reels corroded in the threads so they can sometimes be hard to unscrew.
The plastic ones didn't suffer from this.
Once you master casting with them they are as good as most overheads available these days.
They were made in the mid 60's.

[trout head]

Thanks for all the replys guys ,Here are some more photos ,