Well, it was fun while it lasted...

I'd built a few rods before, but my big project this winter was to build my first fly rod. Since most of my fishing is in the Jersey surf, I wanted a relatively stout outfit to go after striped bass. Because one of my pet peeves is how expesive heavier-duty saltwater fly outfits are, I wanted to use the rudimentary rod-building skills I had picked up to try to get into the game on the cheap.

I settled on a close-out 10-11 wt Cascade blank from Mudhole. I ordered the blank and the components, did static distribution and casting tests, figured out the guide spacing I wanted, and put everything together. Last night I finally finished wrapping the guides and finished them. I woke up eager to give the new fish-killing machine a tryout.

After a few casts in the backyard, I noticed that for some reason the fly line was getting hung up on the blank between the tip top and the topmost guide. This was strange, as it had never happened during test casting. I pulled the rod tip down to have a look at it, put the tip in my hand, and watched in horror as the tip broke clean off.

I called the dealer (it was Mudhole, and since they're a sponsor here I can say that their customer service was excellent). Fortunately, the blank is still under warranty; unfortunately, because it was a closeout, they don't have any more left in stock. It will not be possible to replace the blank.

Now I have to figure out what to do next. Mudhole isn't going to want the blank back, so I can take the credit they're going to give me and use it for another rod (I've been thinking about building a new plugging rod). Or I can use the credit to get another fly blank, but I figure that doing that would be the same as starting all over.

So I'm turning to the friendly rodbuilders here, who have much more experience than me. Here are my questions:

1) Can the rod be repaired, and a new tip installed? If so, is it worth doing it? Will the rod be ruined? If I fix it, will it be useable?

2) Is there a way to start over with a new blank without having to start from scratch? Will I be able to reuse the reel seat and the cork grip?

Basically, I'm looking to see what more experienced builders would do in this situation. Any help and/or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, by the way, the rod is a 9' foot two-piece blank, and only about an inch or so broke off.

Get a new tip top and call it good.



Regards,
Todd Vivian
Mud Hole Custom Tackle

todd@mudhole.com

An inch will make some difference, but not too much, and I think the best thing you can do right now is what Todd has suggested - install a new tip top and give it a try.

By the way, how did you install the current tip top? Hot melt glue or epoxy? I have a reason for asking but I'll wait for your response.

.........

Thanks for the reposnses. Tom -- I used five minute epoxy. I thought that it might have been that, too, but it's the same stuff I've used on other rods without a problem (it's even from the same batch). And the fact that it broke below where the epoxy was applied -- it's about an inch and a half from the top, and an inch from the bottom of the tip-top thread wrap - made me think the epoxy wasn't it. Though I guess I could be wrong.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2006 04:59PM by Chris Garrity.

Like they said above,

Glue a new tip top on it and forget it ever happened.