Got to agree with Joanie on this point, please don’t give a rod (cheap one) to a really new guy. If you can’t stand the way it casts or fishes, they won’t either. Kinda like buying a square bowling ball (on sale) might keep someone from ever taking up the hobby. I have a (really cheap) (less than ten bucks new) rod I bought just to let new guys see how terrible a rod can be. I think it does wobble (hinge?) at the joint usually. If it was my only rod, I would NOT fly fish. Yes, it’s that bad. 
I have have an older one, 7ft rated for 6 line…not as old as Dudleys but the same feel and qualities in his description. It is one of my favorites. Throws a dt6 like a dream…It cost me $2.75 because it was missing a guide which was an easy fix. I couldn’t be happier with it . Here is a pic with the blank # which is different fromt the new ones. I had a new one and it was a bit of a challenge to get comfortable with. It was fun on the ponds though. I sold it to a member here, and he was happy with it.
Janus
Wright McGill sent me this replacement rod about two years ago. I sent them a butt section of a rod I hoped they could match up with a top section I had lost 20+years ago. They could not find a match so they sent me a complete NEW rod. Now THAT’s SERVICE.
However, the new rod is too “noodley” for my style and I have never used it. I will sell it here one of these days . The recommended line wght is 6.
That rod is, like you mentioned, an older Eagle Claw. Not even close to the newer ones. That’s a nice little rod you have. I grew up with one like it back in the 70’s. It was fun for a kid to figure out fly fishing with. Your’s has metal ferrules instead of the newer butt over tip “design”, and I use that word loosely.
I got mine from a FAOLer ,(Janus) and I love it. But let me say that I don’t cast it. I like it on my very small streams, just flipping nymphs and catching fish
I have an Eagle Claw 6’6" with an Eagle Claw pawl-drag reel that I’ve had since I was 16. And I bought it used, then, so I have no idea how old it is. I still fish with it. It’s cool on small streams. Mine is so old, it has cork grips.
I’ll go you one even better. I also have a 6’6" fiberglass fly rod and reel made by a company called South Bend. I got this one when I was 10, as a present, and I still use it.
I have one too. A 7 footer rated for a 6 wt line. I like it for the nostalgia since I had one that I used to slay bluegills with as a teen. But it’s just not a good casting rod. I agree with the others regarding the hinge affect.
It’s also too bad that wright and mcgill decided to do away with the metal reel seat and replace it with plastic a year or so ago.
Greg
I don’t think Fly Goddess was insulting anyone. She just stated her opinion in her own way. I made a similar statement or two in the same manner though and it was taken the wrong way. Person on FAOL here quit talking to me. I just said it the same way Fly Goddess and it was perceived far more offensive than he should have taken it. It was just a statement. No intention to be offensive at all. But he doesn’t speak to me via e-mail anymore. Those kind of statements are just like you were standing face to face and having a live conversation station opinions and observations. But when those type of statements are typed on the board sometimes they are perceived as daggers or insults. "tis nothing. Just someone saying something.
If Fly Goddess wanted to insult anyone…I would HATE to hear it! I bet she could REALLY insult someone! NO kiddin’ huh?
Anywhoooo…I don’t see any insult in Fly Goddes’s post. Just stating her opinion. “Her” opinion is probably the only one she is an expert on.
Of course I know my opinion on here wasn’t asked for here either. Oh, well.
Gemrod
I can’t really get involved if whether is a “pig” of a rod or not. I like casting all of them and know that everyone has their preferences. When you think about, bamboo is still one the the most sought after and appreciated materials ever used for fly rods and, most likely, the Eagle claw if faster and a tad easier to cast (I say most likely because there are so many variations, it’s hard to talk generalities without making some mistakes.)
Anyway, putting new guides on will take us a few hours and cost too much in relation to the blank. Terri who helps me might do it for around $40, but then you’ve got shipping, etc.
Here an idea, I just uploaded a PDF of simple directions. Page through them and look for the winding section and see if you can do it yourself. You have nothing to lose.
Here they are: http://www.hookhack.com/RBDEX2.pdf.
Ron