I have started to build a new fiberglass crappie rod of 6 feet. When I first recieved the blank, the bottom piece would slip into the top one about 2.5 to 3 inches (based on my recollection). After painting and clearcoating, it will go in about 1.25 inches or so. It feels sturdy, but this is my first experience with a multi-piece rod. Is 1.25 inches a good enough overlap to fish with for panfish and rainbow trout, or do I need to sand the male segment down to allow more insertion. The pond I've fished in recently has turned up a few largemouth bass, but very small. I think the lunkers stay in different parts. So there may be a chance of hooking up with something larger, but at that point I'd be more concerned with the 4 pound line breaking I think. Will be using a [www.mudhole.com] fuji concept spinning guide kit, an Okuma Avenger AV-10b reel with 4 pound mono with 4 pound flouro leader when it's all said and done, if any of that helps.
Oh, and I used Duplicolor Perfect match spray paint and 2k urethane clear with my HVLP gun.
Thanks!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2014 01:09PM by Randy Weakley.

sand it carefully until it fits about 2" deep.

Randy,
In the future, always tape off the base of a tip section for a two piece rod before doing anything that might change the size of the blank.

Be safe

To add to what Roger said, I would also mark on the butt section where it fits snugly in the tip section and then mask that portion off as well.

What you could do now is put the sections to gether mark while adding about 1/4" sand with 400 dry LIGHTLY Dry fit if it goes down father Add another 1/4" and LIGHTLY and again

It will ware as you use the rod and unless you fell a movement Not to worry

Bill - willierods.com

Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and sanded down and it is going in further. Now I just gotta smooth out the transition to where it was taped off when I sanded. There's kind of a ridge there. The only other concern is there are two small spots where bare fiberglass is showing. May throw a bit of paint over this again just to protect.

It does not need protection.

Going through my old posts and decided to update this one. I got it fitting pretty nicely when my son's friend invited him fishing. I offered up my rod, which he took. One of the adults he went with must've thrown a heavy tackle box in the back of the truck on the rod...it came back snapped in two (tip section).

So I get to make another one now. I'll have two butts and one tip. I'm gonna go with EVA this time to save a few bucks, but I'll do the painting right!