In my latest Field & Stream magazine, there was an article on improvising a short fly rod. Basically it was removing the butt section and storing it on your vest with the reel still attached, slip a couple of wine corks over the ferrule of the tip section for a grip and use that to get into the tight spots for small streams. I thought about that being a reasonable idea except for the guys that try to put a guide on their ferrule.

Then I thought why not have a piece of blank that fits into the tip section that you could have a cigar grip/reel seat mini handle. I would think having the correct taper to fit into the tip section would be paramount. Long casts would be out of the question but it might be a great way to cast a short distance under tree limbs and the like. I'd hate to hook a record book Brown with it but it would seem a reasonable and better way to improvise a shorter fly rod when needed. I'm sure someone has already done this and am wondering if it works ok? I'm sure trying to high stick the tip section would be a no-no but what would be the other pitfalls on something like this? Thanks.

Only thing I can think of is a mis-match in properties and action between the butt and tip sections which could cause a failure in one or the other, particulary near the ferrule.

Maybe the better answer is to make yourself a very short pack rod that you can carry into places like that and then break that one out if the water gets to narrow or overgrown to use your regular rod.


...............

Was fishing on a stream in CA that Lefty Kreh and Mel Kruger were both fishing, was 1990 I think. I watched them just choke up on the rods they were using when they got into a tight spot. Tried it myself, it works, but not near as well as they were doing it. Ended up just sitting on the bank and watching those guys work, I don't think I've ever seen a smoother, more accurate caster in my life than Mel that day. He was putting a fly on any piece of water he wanted under just about any condition or cover. One of my most enjoyable days on the water.