Use and Care of Bamboo Fly Fishing Rods
Do's and Don'ts
- Never put the rod away in the tube if it is wet. It could grow mold.
- Don't store the rod assembled. It could become difficult to disassemble.
- Put the sections in the rod sock butt end down.
- Don't hook the fly into the cork grip.
- Use adequate pressure when assembling. The butt sections require more pressure than the tips.
- Avoid getting dirt or debris in the ferrules.
- If the assembly doesn't feel smooth, make sure that they are clean and apply some paraffin wax to the male section.
- If the sections are having trouble coming apart, apply a slight bend at the ferrule while pulling apart. More wax should be used on the ferrule.
- Don't overdo the wax. Too much could cause the rod to come apart when casting.
- Do not tug on snagged lines with the rod.
- Alternate use between the two tips.
- Wipe down the rod before storing.
Why 2 Tips?
Traditionally fine fly rods have an extra matching tip. They are typically the section that get caught in doors or limbs and get broken. It is best to alternate use between the two. One tip has 1 accent wrap at the tip top and at the ferrule. The other one has 2 accent wraps. They should both have very similar action. I usually use tip #1 on odd dates and #2 on even dates.
Applying Wax
The ferrules should go together and come apart smoothly. Occasionally a small amount of paraffin wax should be applied to the male sections of the ferrules. Too much wax could cause the sections to come apart when casting. Only apply when needed.