I am looking for advice on the best way to replace the cork grip on a fly rod. Is it possible to do this by removing the reel seat and installing new grip from bottom?

Yes, it's the easiest way to do it. I have replaced several cork fly grips with carbon fiber grips, and have also replaced a number of spinning and casting grips from the rear. You can leave a little of the cork behind to serve as a shim, or use fiberglass dry wall tape to get a good fit.
Norm

Of course If it is a four piece fly rod it’s easier to just remove the grip and replace it from the front, since there are not guides to be removed and rewrapped, just the hook keeper, if you use one.
Norm

Is this grip replacement for cosmetic or functional reasons? For function you could coarse sand bottle corks, catch the coarse "sand dust", mix this dust into a thick slurry with thick, flexible two-part epoxy and fill the bad spots on the grip with this mixture. High spots can be leveled with sandpaper and the grip will be equal to a new grip - unless you fish waters with grip inspectors and grip critics.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/02/2020 05:05PM by Phil Ewanicki.

Thank you!