Hello again.

I have a 10'-0" fly rod blank and want to extent it to 11'-6" or 12'-0".

Question is; is there a problem with doing that much of an extension?

How far into the existing blank should the extension piece go?

Should I use a fiberglass extension or graphite? (blank is graphite)

I know when you extend a blank for a casting / spinning rod the extension piece needs to go at least to the postioin of the reel seat, but this case, the reel seat is down at the end of the extension. This is what I am worried about.

Any help would be appreciated.

Tight lines & smokin' drags,

Art
mrparramoure@yahoo.com

The extension should go over the blank and should be at least as stiff as the butt area you're extending. The overlap needs to be a length that is equal to about 6 times the diameter. Any more than that is just wasted material. It does not need to go into the reel seat area on any rod, although doing so isn't going to hurt anything.

There's not necessarily a problem with extending a blank that far, but that is a bit far on a multi-piece fly rod blank. I have to wonder if you might not be better off finding a suitable blank in that length on the go.

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Thanks Tom for your quick response..

You say the extension should go OVER the blank???

I am just checking to be sure, as I was instructed years ago that the extensions go into the butt of the blank your extending..

Please let me know that it is OVER and not inside the blank.

Thanks again.

Art

Over is better. When you make an extension that fits inside the blank, you have a piece that is typically weaker and less stiff than what you are extending. An oversleeve will be stronger and provide far more leeway in getting the right stiffness there at the butt. Do you have the RodMaker article on extending blanks? It goes into great detail on not only the process, but on what blanks make good condidates for extending and which are better left alone.

Now you can do this with an inner sleeve, but for that length and the butt diameter we're probably talking about, I really think I'd go with the oversleeve.


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Thanks much, I will go with your suggestion.

Art