For anglers, there is nothing worse than seeing their favourite rod break during a big day of fishing. This is every angler’s greatest fear, turning a pleasant trip into a frustrating ordeal. But, don’t throw away your wand! If you know what to do, you can bring your fellow catfish back to life, even if it’s a small tip break or a large crack.
In this guide, we show you how to prepare your rod in simple steps. You can get back in the water quickly and throw lines and snag your catch if you know how to do it yourself.
Check For The Issues
Before diving headfirst into repairs, let’s ensure your fishing rod truly needs fixing. Often, performance issues can be traced back to minor problems rather than a full-blown break. Furthermore, they can be related to the parts of a fishing pole rather than the actual rod. Therefore, don’t rush for it; hasty repairs can sometimes do more harm than good. Let’s take a moment to identify the signs of damage in a rod:
- Damaged Sections: Carefully check the rod, particularly the joints and places where sections meet. If you see any cracks, bends, or twisting in the rod, it’s probably been damaged. Moreover, it’s most common for travel rods to be damaged if not handled properly.
- Broken Guides: The lines that run along the rod are guided by the guides, also called eyes. Check for any broken or missing guides that need to be connected tightly. Damaged guides can make the rod work less well, so they need to be fixed.
- Holes in the Blank: The blank is the main length of the rod, and it’s essential to look at it carefully. Any holes or punctures in the blank could make the rod less strong.
- Weak Tip: The rod tip is especially easy to damage because it is fragile. Check whether the tip bends too much or feels weaker than usual.
Catch any of these and it is time. But when in doubt of the amount and ease with which you can repair or remedy it, ask a pro. Fishermen are great resources. Incorrect repairs can cause damage to the rod, possibly even ruining it.
Once you’ve confirmed that your rod is broken, we can proceed with the repair process.
Steps To Repair Your Fishing Rod
It might not seem very easy to fix a fishing rod. Still, with the right approach and care, you can get it back to its full fishing ability. In order to fix your broken fishing rod, carefully follow these steps:
- Assess the Damage
Carefully look over the whole fishing rod to see how bad the damage is. Check for cracks, breaks, or broken guides (eyes). Furthermore, write down the places that need fixing; it will help you plan the process of fixing them.
- Setup a Workstation
After that, pick an area with an ample light source and good airflow. A large workbench or table is best. Put down something to protect your work area, like an old newspaper or drop cloth, to catch any drips or spills.
- Fix Your Repair Tools and Materials
To repair fishing rods, have the tools and materials ready, including epoxy adhesive, sandpaper, cleaning materials, protective equipment like gloves and safety glasses, tape or clamps, and a razor or utility knife blade. Clean the rods with lint-free towels, rubbing alcohol or acetone, and use appropriate grit for abrasive pads.
- Clean the Rod
Next, using rubbing alcohol, acetone, and lint-free cloth, clean the damaged area completely. Furthermore, give the other parts of a fishing pole a thorough wipe for better clean-up. This step ensures that the area is clean and free of dirt, debris, or oil to ensure the epoxy sticks well.
- Take Out Damaged Material
Subsequently, using a pocket knife or razor blade, cut away any loose or broken material from the broken parts. This will make a clean surface on which the glue can stick well.
- Make the Surface Rough
Roughen up the areas where the epoxy will go using sandpaper or an abrasive pad. This will help the epoxy stick better, and it will also make it easier for the glue to stick to the rod.
- Use the Epoxy
Adhere to the directions on the package to mix the epoxy glue well. Ensure you use the right amounts to achieve the right consistency for the application. After that, a small brush or applicator is used to apply the mixed epoxy to the broken area carefully. Furthermore, make sure to cover all the cracks and broken parts adequately.
- Reattach Guides
If the damage is to a guide that has been pulled out or broken, simply do not remove it and use epoxy instead of glueing. Ensure all is lined up and in the right spot before the epoxy sets. Also, you can fix a broken part of the rod by clamping pieces together so they stay put while the epoxy dries. Well, in lieu of that, you can tape it all together.
Also Read: Bait Casting vs. Spinning Rods: Which is Right for You?
- Let the Epoxy Harden
Follow the hardening time that the epoxy’s maker tells you to use. Don’t touch the fixed area during this time to ensure a strong bond.
- Check Your Repair
After the glue has fully hardened, carefully check the fixed areas. Gently bend the stick to see if it’s weak or if the bonding isn’t good enough. If everything looks good, your rod should be ready to use again.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if your fishing rod is broken, it can be repaired. Before attempting any repairs, carefully assess the damage to determine if it can be fixed. For general issues you can try cleaning the rod and storing it properly to keep it in top condition. Additionally, be extra careful with your travel rods as they can catch dirt and debris easily causing damage in the long run.