I would like some help solving a mystery. I bought what was advertised to be a 9 foot, 2 piece Fenwick World Class fly rod with serial number A01426. It was sold to me with two tip sections, both 58 in. long, but the butt section is just 55 inches long. Some calculation convinced me that the tip sections both were made for a 9 foot 6 inch rod, rather than a 9 foot rod, but the butt section is for a 9 foot rod, just as the decal indicates. By assembling the rod sections and marking with masking tape the place on the butt section where the tip section seats, I was then able to use a micrometer to measure the inside diameter of the tip section at its base. That measurement was .270 in.. My guess is that the tip sections were made for an 8 wt or 9 wt rod, and I am hoping that someone who owns a 9 ½ foot Fenwick World Class rod in either an 8 or 9 wt. could measure the inside diameter of the tip section (as I did) and let me know what measurement they get. Of course, I’d settle for an alternative way of learning whether the tip sections are for an 8 or 9 weight Fenwick World Class.

Thanks,
Phil

If it's a tip-over-butt configuration then my guess is that you've got the right pieces if the sections otherwise seem to match up. The butt section will extend +/- a couple of inches or so into the tip section and the tip section will extend the same distance over the butt section = +/- 108 inches = 9 feet. When you assemble the 2 sections if you've got a nice snug, secure connection that holds securely and casts properly during normal use and produces a rod that is 9 feet long then you should be okay. If you've got sections that were intended for different model rods I think you would be able to tell rather quickly. In a tip-over-butt configuration for a 9 1/2 footer the two pieces laid end to end would measure about 118 inches or so.

I would think a 2 piece blank should have 2 even sections, when laid side by side. Variations in the blanks may make one slightly longer or shorter than the other, but not by 3". The total final length is allowed for in design and manufacture.

This subject was covered just a little while back, do a search and you'll find the thread.



[rodbuilding.org]

I am following up on an earlier post when I was not aware that the tip sections were from a 9 1/2 foot rod and the butt section from a 9 foot rod. One clue was that the tip sections fit about 6 1/2 inches over the butt section. For comparison, I have a 9 1/2 foot, 9 wt. Fenwick HMG 2 piece rod whose tip section and butt section are each 58 " long, just like the World Class tip sections I am asking about in my posts. The inside diameter of the HMG 's tip section is significantly bigger than that of the World Class tip sections.