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I bought a 1956 year model of the Shakespeare Howald 1290 7'9" 3-1/2 ounce Super Deluxe fly rod to replace the broken one I've had for 40 years. It's been great to get back out on the lawn and water with a Wonderod after several years of looking at one with a snapped tip section.

The Shakespeare Wiki suggests that HDH translates into a modern WF6F line. (I used to use a 7-weight line with my old Wonderod.) I've been working with two different lines, a Orvis Superfine Generation 3 Wonderline WF5F line and a Orvis Clearwater WF6F line. To be sure, there are great differences in the lines themselves, beyond the line weights. However, I was quite surprised to discover how well the Wonderod loaded with the 5-weight line. There was simply less effort in casting the 5 than the 6-weight line. The rod threw 60-foot casts (no leader in the case of lawn casts) with either line, but they were easier to put out there on target with the 5-weight line.

In each case, the rod felt nice and 'glass-slow. Don't know how I figured this rod for a 7-weight line 35-years ago. I sure did catch my share of fish on my old Wonderod that way, though, using streamers.