ALLSTAR ZELL ROWLAND TOPWATER SPECIAL

[inspired fisherman]

6FT 6IN ALLSTAR TOPWATER SPECIAL 96% GRAPHITE MADE IN TEXAS,USA . PRACTICE FISHED WITH ZELL AT A TOP 150 AT LAKE NORMAN IN THE NINETIES . AFTER FISHING ZELL GAVE ME THIS ROD . NOW , ZELL DID NOT FISH WITH THIS ROD . IT WAS NEW IN THE PLASTIC WHEN HE GAVE IT TO ME . HE USED THE TOPWATER SPECIAL FOR SMALL CRANKBAIT , SPINNERBAIT , RAT L TRAP AND OF COURSE THE POP R . I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT THESE RODS GO FOR THESE DAYS . I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF THIS ROD , VERY GOOD CONDITION . AND IT FISHES GREAT . THANKS .

[wmitch2]

I have the All Star Titanium 683c Zell Rowland Signature Series Top Water Special that Zell fished with back when he was sponsered by All Star and were made in the US. He and I have fished together a few times when we could get together. It's in perfect shape even tho I fish with it a bit and has been one of my favorite rods for Pop R, spinner baits, and small crank baits. Never thought of the value, but it would be interesting to know !!!

[El_Guapo]

I’ve got one as well, it suffered a mishap umpteen years ago and is about 6’4” now, with a new tip. Still sees regular use!

[rangerjockey]

I have one also. If it's the Houston made time frame with the charcoal colored blank with maroon wraps probably $100-$150. If it's after the Shakespeare takeover or light green colored blank nothing.

[dragon1]

I have one also. If it's the Houston made time frame with the charcoal colored blank with maroon wraps probably $100-$150. If it's after the Shakespeare takeover or light green colored blank nothing.

I agree. My initial thoughts was in that $125 range + shipping.

[wmitch2]

I have one also. If it's the Houston made time frame with the charcoal colored blank with maroon wraps probably $100-$150. If it's after the Shakespeare takeover or light green colored blank nothing.

Mine is the Titanium AST783 and has black and silver wraps, made in Houston. Was there a "Standard" blank also ??

[dragon1]

Mine is the Titanium AST783 and has black and silver wraps, made in Houston. Was there a "Standard" blank also ??

I am not 100% sure, however I recall the late 1990s and early 2000s Made in Houston AllStars to be T38x, T40x, T80x...the Titanium was a later series and was a bit stiffer than the T80x blank (and was before AllStar was sold and no longer Made in The USA). FWIW, I don't know if the OG Zell Rowland topwater rod was part of the titanium series.

[Phrog Phil]

They are legendary,the original ones at least. I’ve been hearing about them it seems like forever.

[Imavol]

Were a great small spinner bait rod too.

[rangerjockey]

Were a great small spinner bait rod too.

Yes indeed I also have a 6 ft medium,, The All stars that I have are from the mid to late 80's. As I recall Morgan McCain and Billy Kistler were the original owners. The rods during that time period are the ones that seem to be the most sought after.
I think they started painting the blanks after K2 outdoors bought them.

[dragon1]

Yes indeed I also have a 6 ft medium,, The All stars that I have are from the mid to late 80's. As I recall Morgan McCain and Billy Kistler were the original owners. The rods during that time period are the ones that seem to be the most sought after.
I think they started painting the blanks after K2 outdoors bought them.

It was the Golden Age of small/independent American rod manufacturers...AllStar, Castaway, Kistler, American Rodsmiths were all tied in together in some shape or fashion. Shikari was still a strong blank manufacturer that provided blanks to many of the top U.S. brands, along with some others that didn't last too long like Rogue and Warrior Rods.

[JJohnSind]

I have a couple. They were less than $100 new, I doubt they have any “collectors” value today, and through they may be better than most $100 rods today, they are nowhere near the caliber of today’s “best”. Mine are retired in the corner. Not worth selling, but not worth using either (my opinion on the using part). Rods/blanks/components have come a long way since the early 90’s.

[dragon1]

I have a couple. They were less than $100 new, I doubt they have any “collectors” value today, and through they may be better than most $100 rods today, they are nowhere near the caliber of today’s “best”. Mine are retired in the corner. Not worth selling, but not worth using either (my opinion on the using part). Rods/blanks/components have come a long way since the early 90’s.

Agreed to a certain extent, however I have a buddy who had a Daiwa Tony Bean smallmouth spinning rewrapped with modern guides and it fishes much better and more crisp and is as good as most mid-high $300 rods today for it's intended purpose.

I have also had a couple factory builds rewrapped and they did wonders to making the blank feel more crisp with removal of additional weight by using lighter, smaller guides and less/cleaner epoxy.

Value is always going to be what someone is willing to pay for it.

[JJohnSind]

Yes, part of what makes today’s rods better are that the components have come a long way also. It’s not just the blanks that have improved. No doubt stripping an older (but good) rod down to the blank and fitting it with modern components would noticeably improve it. Personally, it’s too meticulous and time consuming for me to strip down a blank all the way down to bare blank, that I’d rather just get a modern blank. I think blanks that perform as well as good blanks from the 80’s & 90’s can be had today for about $50-$60, maybe even less.

[dragon1]

Yes, part of what makes today’s rods better are that the components have come a long way also. It’s not just the blanks that have improved. No doubt stripping an older (but good) rod down to the blank and fitting it with modern components would noticeably improve it. Personally, it’s too meticulous and time consuming for me to strip down a blank all the way down to bare blank, that I’d rather just get a modern blank. I think blanks that perform as well as good blanks from the 80’s & 90’s can be had today for about $50-$60, maybe even less.

Yeppers, this is all the more evident as you build your own.