I am getting ready to do my first build and bought a 4pc 4wt fly rod blank online a few years ago that's going to serve as my first rod.

I'm getting confused with the ferrules though. With this blank it has the hollow parts on the female ends of the rod pieces and then it has the plugs in the male ends. Do I need to buy ferrules for this or are these technically the ferrules and I just need to wrap over these to reinforce them?

I'm having a hard time finding this information online - from what I understood you need to buy ferrules even when the rod ends are hollow to reinforce them, but if mine has the plugs in the male ends, I'm guessing that means no?

I can post some pics if I need to.

Thanks.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/2017 08:56PM by Logan Derrick.

Not exactly sure what you are talking about. Does the tip sections of the blank fit snug over the butt sections? If so, you are fine, but I am still not sure what type of ferrule you have. If the tip section fits over a smooth butt section you have a modern type of tip over butt ferrule. If the tip section fits over a protrusion from the butt section you have a spigot type of ferrule. In either case the ferrules should work just fine. With the modern type of tip over butt ferrule I always wrap the end of the female ferrule as insurance against splitting. If it is a spigot type of ferrule wrap the end of the female part of the ferrule as above, and also make a small wrap below the point where the spigot emerges from the blank on the male side to reinforce this area. I can't imagine that the blank you have would require you to install ferrules, unless someone cut a one piece blank into four sections and did not install ferrules.
Norm

Gotcha.

The tip section does fit snugly over the butt section, so I guess it's the modern type like you said. I will wrap over the female end and do a small wrap over the male end right after the female end stops as you mentioned.

Thanks.

leave a little space for wear on the male section, how much ? that is up to you,

William Sidney
AK

Since you don't have a spigot ferrule but rather a modern tip over butt ferrule you do not need to do any wrap on the male side. Just wrap the end of female ferrule only. A.very short wrap will suffice. Some people do not even wrap the end of the female ferrule, but I think it is good insurance to do so.
I am pretty sure you do not have spigot ferrules but just to make sure please google spigot ferrule and take a look at them.
Norm



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/2017 11:37PM by Norman Miller.

Logan

Norman M is correct; a short wrap about 1.5 to 2 times the OD of the female ferrule is cheap insurance to re-inforce the female ferrule where casting and fish fighting forces are concentrated.. Make the wrap as close to the end of the ferrule as you can.

A male spigot ferrule will probably have an abrupt "shoulder" where the spigot plug enters the tip of the section. The shoulder might or might not be reinforced with a metal ring. Regardless, the shoulder of a spigot ferrule also benefits from the insurance of a short wrap.

I agree with Norm - no wrap on the male ferrule. I've never seen a fly rod break at the male ferrule, especially a 4 wt. I always wrap the female ferrule, just a short wrap, as Norm suggested.