Greetings one and all,
I am building when I should be out fishing on this nice day (ok I was out for three hours this morning) - however I just had an epiphany... and perhaps I am heading off the deep end - but is there really a reason to add a cork plug to close the final cork in the handle...? I realize water could enter - however - I am not sure that is a problem - or would cause future problems... so is this mostly cosmetic? OR would H2O penetrate the interior surface of the blank? Always looking for ways to shave additional weight! Thanks for all of your comments! Chuck Ungs

No pro here, but a couple thoughts:

1. The butt cap protext the end of the blanks. Pressure on corners (blanks included) is a lot more pressure per unit area - and likely to crack. Were you thinking of wrapping it with thread to reinforce or just leaving uncapped?
2. More comfortable when resting against one's tummy or hand when trying to leverage a fish.
3. One actually want some weight onthe butt to balance the front heavy blank. This is assuming casting or spinning rods. WIth fly, probably no effect.

Mo

I should have clarified - I have a rubberized cork ring already rod bonded in place on the end of the blank - with two cork rings epoxied to the top of it on the blank and have the unit shaped like a fighting butt on this split handle design. The center of these three rings were bored large enough to slide down over the blank - and the blank is visible inside that end ring about 1/4" up from the flat end of the butt cork.

My question really pertains to the hole in the center of the end ring... I certainly have a cork that would fit into the hole - but for verticle jigging lightweight is paramount, and it already balances fine - the cork obviously will not make a significant difference either way I guess - just fishing to see if anyone out there ever just leaves the bore open... and am just curious about your opinions on if there is a reason to close it other than for cosmetics? Chuck

Chuck

I don't think water in the blank will cause you trouble, but water isn't the only thing that can get into the rod. A small rock or even a stick could cause you a world of trouble if it gets into the blank. You could end up with a broken rod for a very small difference in weight.

Thomas F. Thornhill

Chuck,

The only potential problem I can see is if you leave your rods in the boat in the winter. Here in VA it does get down below freezing. If some water got in there while sitting and then froze it would probably split the blank. I would plug it with something just to be safe.

You might ask how this could happen. A couple of years ago before I got a carport for my bass boat and my bass tracker I forgot to pull the plug on the tracker when I got back from a very cold and wet November fishing trip. I went ahead and covered the tracker like I had good sense and when I uncovered it in the spring. It was half full of water. Everything was sitting in water and soaked, rods, reels, and tackle. What a mess. But a tough lesson learned. The tackle took the biggest beating. The rods and reels were fine however after a thourough cleaning. Fortunately, I did not have any open ends on my rods. I would have been very upset if some of the hand made rods didn't make it.

Don't know if anything like this could happen to you but it was a surprise to me.

Chuck...

how could you leave your butt exposed?

yer supposed to put something UP THAR!

like a token or good luck charm....

think about it...

tws

[www.theworriedshrimp.com]

The attached picture is one real good reason to rig a rod where the hole is left in the end of the butt.

[www.rodbuilding.org]

My NASCAR customer, Jeff Gordon Fan, wanted to fish six days a week and race on Sunday! Removable butt plug to expose tailpipe and wheels when racing!

Best of both worlds!

Fsh No Mo