I have to replace a cork fly grip that was chewed by a dog. I can see no way to do this other than to either remove the reel seat, OR remove the two stripping guides. Is there any method I am overlooking???

Pete,

Those dogs can really ruin a day!

If it were my decision, I would remove the two guides. I always hate to pull off a reel seat. It always seems to turn into a bigger job / problem than I thought. Maybe someone else has a better thought!

Good Luck

Don Campbell
don@sensorfishingrods.com

It would seem to me pretty easy to remove the grip and seat, then set up a cylindrical base for a new grip and seat that is just bigger than the butt diameter of the blank. The base made with your preference of masking tape, fiberglass netting, whatever you prefer. Once the base is set up, just slide the grip on from the rear. Only issue I see is the winding check in front of the> grip, but that can be formed as a nice little fillet made of epoxy.

Turn the current grip down to a diameter that is roughly the same diameter as the amount needed to slip the new grip over the butt guide, if that's possible. Then pass the new grip over the butt guide and adhere it over the old one.

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Depending on how chewed up it is you might not need to replace the whole grip. If it is only a few cork rings that are damaged you can just cut those out. Then drill out the center of the replacement cork rings to the diameter of the rod blank in that area. Now cut with a razor blade a slit into the cork ring, going from the outside of it to the hole you drilled. Now you can put glue on the bank and sides of the cork ring and use the slit to get it back on the blank. Use rubber bands or thread wrappings to close the slit in the cork rings and let it dry. Once dry turn down those rings to the rest of the handle.