Rod Tips
We will begin our tackle tips with your rod, as it is rather central to your equipment inventory.
So many times when you get home from a trip where you took several three or four piece rods. you will find that you are unable to identify which section goes with which.
A great tip is to put a little dab of different colored paint, the kind model builders use. at the ends of each section will serve well to identify which section fits with which.
Putting a multi-piece rod together correctly.
Almost every fisherman has at one time or another experienced the rod tip falling off while casting.
This is due to using improper techniques when assembling the rod. Many hold the rod pieces at eye-level and line up the guides then shove the two pieces together.
Try this tackle tip. Position the rod sections so that the guides are about 90 degrees offset, then as the the sections are mated, twist the tip section such that as they come together, the guides are lined up properly.
This twisting action insures that they will not separate during use.
Lubricating Rod Ferrules
Rod tips can come off during casting for another reason. When the male section becomes very dry, the tip will work itself free and continually fall off.
The male sections should be lubricated from time to time. Some use paraffin, but it soon wears off. Beeswax is also sometimes used for this task, but tends to be oily and pick up dirt which can crack the ferrule.
Our tip is to use a candle with just enough wax to lube well and not be too tacky. A common solution is to use a birthday cake candle and rub a small amount on the male section of the ferrule from time to time.
Checking the Guides
Ceramic rod guides can get chipped or develop small cracks, which are too small to detect. Such damage can really chew up a fly line so checking for even the tiniest chips or cracks can be critical.
Our tackle tip is draw a Q-Tip thru it. The soft material on the Q-Tip will snag on any cracks or chips.
Rod Reel Seats
Most fly rods use one of two different type of reel seats. The “down-locking” type, and the “up-locking” type.
The ‘down-locking reel seat requires the reel mount be inserted downward into the seat and the tightening rings are screwed downward to hold it in place.
The “up-locking” type works just the opposite, with the tightening rings being screwed up from the rod butt to seat the reel.
A good tackle tip is to use the ‘up-locking’ style so that it leaves a short rod butt with which you will have an extended leverage point for fighting those bigger fish, and more importantly, your hands won’t tend to loosen the locking ring when casting.
Transporting Rods
The most common method of transporting fly rods is to break them down into sections and load them into a hard tube. There are times when you you will find one of the snake guides of your rod is loose after being stored in a rod tube.
The cause for such damage comes from improperly placing the rod in the transport tube. When you drop a section into the tube, the guides may catch on the tube lip, or on the guides of previously loaded rod sections. A good tackle tip is when placing rod sections in a transport tube, be sure to store the sections in a rod bag, then lower the rod gently into the tube without dropping them.
Traveling With Your Rod/s and Equipment
Modern rods are now designed to be broken down into 3 or 4 sections, allowing for shorter rod cases. This in turn allows for taking your rods aboard an airplane as carry-on luggage, so that your tackle will arrive when you do.
A common-sense tip is to select a carrying case that allows for carrying several rods AND reels AND the rest of your tackle. Keeping it together will insure when you arrive, your tackle arrives with you.
How To Carry Your Rod In The Woods
By now, you most likely have learned that carrying your rods in the bush or through the woods most likely will result in a broken rod tip. To avoid this little outing-spoiler, carry your rod with the tip pointing rearwards.
But, even this tackle tip may not completely solve the problem of snagged lines or damage to your rod. To avoid snagging your line in bushes and tree branches, pull off enough line and leader that you can put a hook into a guide two or three inches back from the tip. Then bring the leader back and around the handle of the rod just behind the reel. This will result in the leader lying flat along the rod. Wind in the excess line and you are good to
