Is it normal? If not what causes it? And how can you prevent it? I have two fly rods that do it, one factory one custom... Both are “high end rods”. Neither of them did it when they were brand new. Might be worth mentioning that none of my less expensive rods do it at all.

Hello Mike
Clean and lube the ferrules. Use U-40 Ferrule Lube it has instructions with it. You can obtain it from several sponsors on the left. Ferrule will wear for all rods especially if they are not kept clean. Even with cleaning they should be lubed to prevent excessive wear. You can clean them with cotton squabs and Alcohol but this will not lube them. When I use the term lube it does not mean oiling or waxing or whatever. Use U-40 Ferrule Lube as it will work very well. Then the ferrrules will go togeather firmly and will only come apart when you want them to. It should be used a couple of times per season and more often if the rod is used daily- I suggest once every couple of weeks.
Regards Joe Kassuba



His Rod Shop
Joe Kassuba

If they didn't do it when new, then the ferrule fit was good and even with wear they shouldn't develop those "ticks" which are indicative of poor ferrule fit. Joe is probably right and you've got a build up of something that even though hard to see, is there and is preventing the ferrules from fully seating along their length. Try a good cleaning and see if that helps. If not, there are ways to re-fit bad fitting ferrules.

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Thanks Joe! I was trying to figure out what could be the cause last night. I was using a wax that St Croix sent with a rod but it was hard as soap. I decided to try some lite tack dubbing wax instead, it worked! I have not been cleaning the ferrules, only waxing them. I usually get the rod out every day weather permiting, and practice cast. I will start a routine cleaning and waxing with U-40 from now on for all my rods.
Good info Joe, and thanks again.

Sombody has to teach us greenhorns.

Mike,
Absolutely do not wax your ferrules. Despite what the "gurus" at the rod manf. would have you believe, wax is the worst thing you can use on a ferrule. Wax collects dirt, grit, grime sand etc...which in turn wears on your ferrule fit. Simply use U-40 Ferrule lube regularly, to maintain the fit and decrease the wear .


Andy Dear
Lamar Manf.

Andy beat me to it. Also, male ferrules seat deeper if you lightly twist them into place. I have a nickel silver set and it seats 1/4 deeper when twisted. I found this out because the male was blued to that point.

All glass to glass and graphite to graphite ferrules should be seated by bringing the piece together mis-aligned by 90 degrees and when snug, twisted into place and final alignment.

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Tom is correct in the manner to put the sections together. This technique is what we refer to as a bayonet fit. I know at least this is the practice we use when trimming the sections to fit. If assembled differently then they would not seat as far.

Todd

Will do Andy. This has been a problem for me for a long time. I think you guys have got me on the right path now. It amazes me how many inaccurate instructions there are out there about fly rod upkeep, casting, etc, etc, and fishing rods in general. What about furniture polish to clean them, is that one wrong too?

Thanks!

I don't think you'd want to use furniture polish for cleaning nor would you want something that slick on the ferrule mating surfaces. I'd just use some isopropyl alcohol to clean things with and if you want to lube/protect them, then use U-40 Ferrule Lube.

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Don,

If those nickel silver ferrules are on a bamboo rod, please do NOT twist them together. You can very quickly damage the bamboo. If you continue having seating nickel silver ferrules on a bamboo rod the male-female fit needs to be re-worked. I have a little print out on re-fitting the nickel silver ferrules on bamboo rods that I will be happy to send to you or anyone who asks.

Harry Boyd

I always find this topic interesting to read about. This past winter I returned a rod to a well respected blank manufacturing sponsor. I was having difficulty with one of the ferrules. He test cast the rod for awhile, and sent it back with a small tub of paraffin wax to apply to the ferrule.

Jeff Shafer

In a near future issue of RodMaker, we'll have an article on how to properly fit and re-fit poor fitting ferrules.

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