4 Signs that Your Fishing Rod Needs Tender Loving Care
Your fishing rod won’t talk to you with words, but it will show signs of age and wear. If it snaps or cracks, in most cases, it is possible to save your beloved favorite fishing pole. This four-part guide is designed to give you some tips for your best fish slayer.
1. Breaks at the Ferrule
For collapsible rods, this is the fitting where the handle end of the rod meets the tip end and joins the segments together. Cracks around the ferrule are pretty common, as is the possibility that the ferrule itself will come loose over time. Repairs in this instance are not just possible but easy, as long as you have the skill and the tools.
2. Microfractures
These little cracks are really hard to notice and happen over the life of the fishing pole in normal use. The problem is, they can grow, multiply, and result in catastrophic failure — usually right when you’ve hooked a whopper.
Just keep an eye on your fishing poles when you’re cleaning and maintaining them, and make sure to store them with no tension on them.
3. Broken Tips and Line Guides
It is possible to salvage a rod with a broken tip. Sometimes it means shortening the pole and reinstalling a new tip, which will deaden the rod a little. That should be no big deal with all but the tiniest fish.
Line guides are a pretty simple fix, but as always, take care to use the right procedures and parts to ensure optimal performance.
4. Incorrect Storage
Someone once said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, which means it’s better to avoid the need for repairs by just taking care of your stuff.
The best way to store your fishing poles is to keep them maintained and clean, store them in a place where there’s little chance of contamination with dust and rust, and most importantly, remember: tension is the enemy. Keep rods straight and release all drag from reels when storing or transporting them.
The Best Method of Fishing Pole Transport
Some people jam their poles into their cars, bungee them to the roof rails, or cram them into their trunks. This can really damage a fishing pole or even break it.
One of the coolest things on the market is this truck fishing pole holder, which satisfies all of the recommendations of point #4 above. Fishing pole transport can be tricky, especially for longer-length poles, so be careful with that expensive gear. And happy fishing.