My uncle, who recently passed away, left me a number of hand made rods. On the rod it has the name of the rod builder, Lon Wanser Seaford N.Y. The rods are fantastic. Any info you can give on this rod builder would be greatly appreciated.
Lon Wanser
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
Joined
·
947 Posts
Lonnie had a shop on Merrick Road in Seaford, I believe its an appliance repair now, near JetMore. Local legend, Wanser's Cut off State Channel is named for him. He closed up in the 80's I guess. Did most excellent work. Nice rod, take care of it, not many left
Joined
·
10,097 Posts
Ah-ha. My neck of the woods. And my fav tackle shop while I was growing up. We used to ride our bikes there to check out the latest tackle - and in fact that is where I first laid eyes on the then unique all-black Newell 220. I well remember Lon Jr asking my opinion, and I told him what the heck, its ALL plastic. His response - "What else would they make it of." Of course this was decades before the Trinidad came out, so for his time, Lonnie Jr was right.
Anyway, Lon Wanser's shop was one of the top shops of its time here on the South Shore. It was the old man, Lon Sr, that started it up and for whom the bay cut is named.
Great place for crabbing, kingfish and in years long past, winter flounder. It lead from the Bulkhead Drain down to the State Channel, east of Zach's Bay eastern-most entrance. You could take that shortcut to circumvent the slow crawl of traffic from the 2nd Wantagh Bridge down to and past Zach's Bay. That was never a smooth ride on weekends, especially. So "the cut" got plenty of higher-speed traffic.
It was Lon Jr. that was the rod wrapper, and he made some very impressive sticks in his day. He used a mechanical loom to make those intricate butt wraps - the most complicated of their day.
Lon Jr, actually love Golf much more than fishing and when his father passed away, he was tough to locate around the shop - usually on the Links, I guess. He would leave his wife in charge of the shop - which I and many others frequently felt that she really resented being stuck there.
The shop carried on for several more years and then Lon and his wife shut it down, pulled up stakes, and moved to Maine - where he purchased a very nice bed and breakfast - which he still owns, or so I'm told.
best, Lep
Anyway, Lon Wanser's shop was one of the top shops of its time here on the South Shore. It was the old man, Lon Sr, that started it up and for whom the bay cut is named.
Great place for crabbing, kingfish and in years long past, winter flounder. It lead from the Bulkhead Drain down to the State Channel, east of Zach's Bay eastern-most entrance. You could take that shortcut to circumvent the slow crawl of traffic from the 2nd Wantagh Bridge down to and past Zach's Bay. That was never a smooth ride on weekends, especially. So "the cut" got plenty of higher-speed traffic.
It was Lon Jr. that was the rod wrapper, and he made some very impressive sticks in his day. He used a mechanical loom to make those intricate butt wraps - the most complicated of their day.
Lon Jr, actually love Golf much more than fishing and when his father passed away, he was tough to locate around the shop - usually on the Links, I guess. He would leave his wife in charge of the shop - which I and many others frequently felt that she really resented being stuck there.
The shop carried on for several more years and then Lon and his wife shut it down, pulled up stakes, and moved to Maine - where he purchased a very nice bed and breakfast - which he still owns, or so I'm told.
best, Lep
Joined
·
111 Posts
I've known Lon Wanser's family for ages. His dad, Lon Wanser Sr has a bait shop back in the 60s, on Montauk Hwy in Amityville. That spot is now George Comb's place. I remember going into old Wanser's place, with like 15 cents. I'd come out with a couple of small hooks and a bobber, which I'd deploy on the fish in Avon lake. Lon Wanser Sr was a kindly old gent. He and his wife were always very patient as i deliberated the best way to spend a quarter on fishing tackle. Boy I remember the satisfaction and excitement when i knew I had a brand new hook and bobber on my cane pole rig. You know that feeling of anticipation when you leave a great tackle shop? That's what I think of when I hear Lon wanser's name. May sound funny nowadays but there was a time when all you needed was a 10-cent roll of that "poppin fresh" dough from Bohack and you'd be set for days of freshwater fishing. We never heard of fishing licenses, seasons, slot limits or mercury. Never worried about it, either.
Now Lon Wanser jr I recall as being kind of a college guy. More quiet and a little harder to get to know than his dad. Lon Wanser jr always reminded me of Alan Jardine of The Beach Boys. Just a physical resemblance, but there were times when his fishing skills were talked about. Like during those grey winter days when tales of warmer days and big fish kind of get you through till it's time again.
Lastly, I remember once, about 40 years later, I walked into Lon Wanser Seaford with my favorite 9 footer in need of winding repair.It wasn't too long before they sold that store.
Lon Jr.was there, he saw me and we talked a minute. then he offered to rewind the whole thing for me while i waited. It came out beautiful and I remember thinking as I looked it over, the thought occurred to me that Lon Jr was just like his dad. I always admired those Wansers. I keep a couple of cane poles outside my house to this very day, and I still have my favorite 9-footer restored by Lon Jr's hands. Most of all I carry those great memories of a couple of kindly fishermen whose store I visited once and always kept in my heart.
Now Lon Wanser jr I recall as being kind of a college guy. More quiet and a little harder to get to know than his dad. Lon Wanser jr always reminded me of Alan Jardine of The Beach Boys. Just a physical resemblance, but there were times when his fishing skills were talked about. Like during those grey winter days when tales of warmer days and big fish kind of get you through till it's time again.
Lastly, I remember once, about 40 years later, I walked into Lon Wanser Seaford with my favorite 9 footer in need of winding repair.It wasn't too long before they sold that store.
Lon Jr.was there, he saw me and we talked a minute. then he offered to rewind the whole thing for me while i waited. It came out beautiful and I remember thinking as I looked it over, the thought occurred to me that Lon Jr was just like his dad. I always admired those Wansers. I keep a couple of cane poles outside my house to this very day, and I still have my favorite 9-footer restored by Lon Jr's hands. Most of all I carry those great memories of a couple of kindly fishermen whose store I visited once and always kept in my heart.
Joined
·
525 Posts
His store is now apple air conditioning I believe.I have had atleast 14 rods made by him.He was great.He did nice work and was a pleaser to deal with.I still use one of his rods today weakfishing.I remember in the summer of 1977 there was bunker all over the bays in baldwin and freeport.We didn't have a rod to snag them with,my father stopped in wansers on monday and told him what he wanted and friday picked it up.That rod caught a lot of fish and took a beating till it walked out of my driveway.Man was I pissed.I believe lon had a heart attack and closed shop around 1990-1991 I know it was after 89 as that is when I got out of the navy and remember stopping there to buy some tackle.
Donald
Donald
Joined
·
10,661 Posts
Wanser's!
TonyFever
Hi,
I have a Wanser rod that belonged to my father. It was built just before my family moved south sometime around 1970. Every now and then
I take it with me and still enjoy catching fish with it.
Time goes by fast and my memory is slow retrieving info but about 7 or 8 years ago I traveled to Bar Harbour, Me. Lon was shutting down the tackle shop and I believe the B&B was up for sale or already sold. Interesting in that the tackle shop part of the B&B had once been the dinning room. I had a truck with me as I purchased Lon's entire rod building inventory. I wanted the butt wrap making machine but Lon would only sell everything to one person. I am still using some of the 15" cork grips and many other components.
Neil
This post edited by Captneilf 07:52 AM 09/04/2008
TonyFever
Hi,
I have a Wanser rod that belonged to my father. It was built just before my family moved south sometime around 1970. Every now and then
I take it with me and still enjoy catching fish with it.
Time goes by fast and my memory is slow retrieving info but about 7 or 8 years ago I traveled to Bar Harbour, Me. Lon was shutting down the tackle shop and I believe the B&B was up for sale or already sold. Interesting in that the tackle shop part of the B&B had once been the dinning room. I had a truck with me as I purchased Lon's entire rod building inventory. I wanted the butt wrap making machine but Lon would only sell everything to one person. I am still using some of the 15" cork grips and many other components.
Neil
This post edited by Captneilf 07:52 AM 09/04/2008
Joined
·
2,020 Posts
I used to live in Seaford and own 6 Lon Wanser rods. All 6 are still in excellent condition. I plan on using my Wanser bay fluking rod for North Shore porgy fishing in October.
Purchased a flounder rod for my father way back when. It was the one with the wooden butt and foregrip. He only used it once. The rod looks brand new and it's 24 years old.
I caught tons of bluefish on my two piece bluefish rod. The one you could unscrew right above the reel seat.
Ah the good ol days.
Purchased a flounder rod for my father way back when. It was the one with the wooden butt and foregrip. He only used it once. The rod looks brand new and it's 24 years old.
I caught tons of bluefish on my two piece bluefish rod. The one you could unscrew right above the reel seat.
Ah the good ol days.
My honey Lami Lon Wanser cod stick built in the days prior to braid has stood the test of time and many party boats over the past thirty years with only one guide needing replacement. I thought it was over when a bluefin grabbed on to my jig and headed to Potugal, but the rod held through after the tremendous strian of a 180lb fish. A few other tuna were hooked with the graphite braid setups and the rods snapped in short order. Everytime I pass a yard sale on the south shore, I check to see if some one is parting with a Wanser rod.
Joined
·
2,363 Posts
One day about 20 plus years ago I got selected for jury duty and got empaneled. (As a federal civil servant this was not such a horror, lol.) Anyway, the lawyers started in with the questions and we were asked if we knew any of the witnesses of a robbery at Marlin TV, just across Merrick Road and still there, and Lon Jr's wife was one. Was her name Marie ? Well, wishing to get out of work but striving to be honest, I raised my hand and the judge got interested when the attorney asked whether her statement would have any undue weight or could influence me. I thought for a second and stated simply that there were other shops that I could buy my bait and stuff from, but the Wansers were good people and I would believe whatever testimony she provided. I was back to work the next day.
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
