I recently made a light/ultralight spinning rod (4-10lb test) for use on smallmouth bass. It performed beautifully, right up until the point where a 35 inch pike crushed the lure at the boat, slamming the rod tip into the aluminum rail. the impact took a divot out of the paint, exposing the graphite about seven inches from the tip.

My question is this -- how do I know if I damaged the rod? Do I just have to wait for it to fail, or is there a stress test that I can conduct? This is a travel rod, so I would really prefer not to have it fail several thousand miles from home....

Suggestions?

Thanks,

Erik

Erik;
If it hit the boat hard enough to chip the paint? There is a good chance it bruised the blank. It may last for a while or it may break on the next fish. I would at the least build a back up rod or use that one close to home for a while until you see what it s going to do. It is possible that it's not damaged but unlikely. Especially if it’s a high modulus blank, as they are more subject to damage form being struck or striking something else then cheaper blanks.

Paint?? do you mean epoxy? Is the graphite splintered, or just not covered with either the epoxy or paint anymore?

If you want to preform a test run the line through the guides tie it to somethin near the ground about 20 feet from you, pull back and cross your fingers.

Scott,

The graphite does not appear to be splintered, but it is definitely not covered by epoxy or paint where the rod hit the boat -- the coating chipped away, leaving bare graphite underneath.

recoat the area with some permagloss or epoxy, it should be fine.

Erik,
I would recommend getting a new tip section from the manufacturer and build it as a backup. An impact of that type has most likely damaged the fibers whether they are currently exposed or not.

Todd

Regards,
Todd Vivian
Mud Hole Custom Tackle

todd@mudhole.com

The problem with doing a stress test of any sort is that it won't really mimic real life conditions. I'd say if that blank hit the boat hard enough to chip the finish away, you very likely have damage to the graphite as well - I'd follow Todd's advice (seeing as he might know a thing or two about blanks LOL!), and see if a second tip is available to build up as a backup. That, or it's an excuse to build a WHOLE NEW ROD :-) Darn snot rockets....

Would a thin coat or 2 of permagloss be a possibility....it might not look right but it may protect...Dont know maybe it is a dumb idea....

There are a couple of laws that apply here.

1: Anything that can go wrong will (Murphy's Law)
2: The chances of the buttered side of the bread falling face down is directly proportional to the price of the carpet (Murphy's other law)
3: That sucker is gonna fail as soon as you hook the fish of a lifetime (I'm a pessimist law ;-)

cheers,
Owen

I'm with those who said probably damaged. I had a similar experienced and was marveling at the toughness of a blank. Even fished and caught some more fish on vacation with that rod. Some weeks later, the blank just folded like a straw without any undue pressure.

Mo