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3. Help unsticking my fly rod

I seem to have gotten my 2 piece fly rod stuck together...I can't disconnect it to collapse it down. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to get the 2 pieces separated and unstuck? I don't want to force it and break it. Thanks all.

1. Try pouring cold water over the joint. 2.If that does not do it try heat on the outer section and ice on the inner section. 3.Still no success? Try warming with a hair dryer. BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVERHEAT! 4.If trying alone hold the sections behind your legs at the knees and pull (carefully). 5.Still no luck ? Go by the fly shop and try their ideas! I ended up returning my rod to the manufacturer and they had to break the sections. I would like to know how to prevent it.

To prevent it, rub the male ferrules behind your ear, on your nose, etc. The oils on your skin will help keep them from getting stuck.

the old fashioned way to prevent rods from sticking together or coming apart when you're fishing is to lightly rub the inside part of the joint with a birthday candle before putting to together. some folks say this makes a mess. some folk have never cast both the line and the top section of the rod at the only fish of the day!

here is one more way to unstick a rod: wash and completely dry your hands so they have no oils on them. grab the rod, one hand on either side of the joint. try to twist the joint to loosen it. sometimes a rubber band will help you grip it better. be very careful not to put any pressure at all on the guides! sometimes the warm friction of your hand on the outside part of the joint will help too.

Are we talking about a metal ferrule or a graphite/glass self-ferrule?

If it's a metal ferrule (especially on precious older split cane), I'd be very cautious about the application of any significant heat or twisting. The "behind the knees" technique that GARRETT suggests or pulling with a partner's help (each with a hand on tip and butt) would probably be the safest approach.

For prevention, Alex's nose grease suggestion is traditional for metal ferrules on cane. Other lubricants might tend to increase suction on a snug-fitting metal ferrule. As Casey suggests, paraffin is a standard recommendation for lubricating graphite/glass self-ferrules. Just be careful to keep the waxed area free of grit.

I've always lubricated the ferrule with graphite from a lead pencil. It's less greasy or waxy and will not cause the suction problems that petroleum products might. All the suggestions for getting the ferrule apart are pretty good. A friend of mine had this problem with a very nice cane rod, We ran some medium hot water on the female-outer part, and she came apart.

Mark

Mark, how do you get the pencil graphite on to the ferule? it can't be as fiddly as it sounds. graphite isn't going to melt into the fabric of myvest on a hot summer day, or leave goopy lumps sometimes.

a sudden "ah-ha!" moment suggests the stub of a carpenter's pencil; the fat lead would offer an easy applicator.

Thanks to all for the suggestions and prevention tips but I regret to inform you that the rod broke as I tried to pull it apart. I tried the cold water and the hot water tricks but to no avail...rest in peace trusty 3 wt. rod.

I shall find a suitable replacement soon. And then I will make sure to take steps to prevent this from happening again.

Bummer, Jason. :(

Casey,
as you have surmised, simply rub it on via the pencil, Or you can shave a little off with a sharp knife onto a piece of paper or small plastic container, making it into a powder. This can be applied with your fingers. Years ago, one could purchase powdered graphite in little squeeze bottle which was used to lubricate locks which were sticking. Check with your local hardware store.

Mark

Auto parts stores sell little tubes of graphite
for squirting into key slots.
That keeps them well lubricated.

That reminds me of the time I inherited a non
nondescript bamboo rod of a foreign make, which
was a real piece of junk.
Well anyway one day on the stream I needed to
make a long cast and you guessed it; the rod
flew apart.
Then a fish took the fly!
So here I am trying to land a what I thought
to be a good fish while the tip kept sliding
down the line as I was retrieving.
Turned out to be a sucker, and another one
for messing with shoddy equipment.

Dick

Nice story, Dick.

-Shawn

I wish I read this earlier. You might still have a 2 piece rod. If this happens again with your new rod or if it happens to anyone else get some WD40 and spray it on the joint. Give it a minute and pull them apart. Its hard to believe the WD40 gets inside the joint but it does.

I actually tried the WD40 trick and it wouldn't work. I must have really gotten them stuck. I found out that the rod was actually a lesser quality than I had originally believed it to be. I went out this evening and purchased a new Temple Fork Signature Series 3wt 7'6" setup. It is really nice and light. Feels like it is of a much higher quality...and the lifetime warranty means I'll never have to worry even if it does get stuck. Can't wait to hit the water on Sunday.

Many years ago on the Big Horn a friend of mine was fooling around false casting his rod with no fly on the tippet. Well the sections were not seated well and after a few forward casts the tip section went flying out of the butt section and before he could do anything it slid right down the fly line and all thhe way down the leader and into the river never to be seen again.

That happens to me way too often. Luckily it's always been with a big enough fly that the hook caught on the last guide and I could reel my rod-tip back in. Hopefully that luck doesn't run out.

Jason (N.),

Two of my rods have ferrules that work loose while fishing. I use beeswax on these instead of paraffin--it helps reduce the incidence of casting off the tip.

I'm a machinist and if you take two pieces of rod (any metal or strong non metal) about the same length and drill a hole thru, just big enough to slide on the rod. Cut lengthwise a slot (or two to make two half sleeves if you can't get it over the rings). If you cut twice you get two halfs which will fit both rod portions. Now take two vicegrips TM and clamp. Attempt twisting motions and pull or take a hammer and tap one in a direction away from the joint. These sleeves will proect the shank(s) and avoid marring/crushing them.
Good luck

sit down with your knees together, put the ferrule in front of your knees, grab both ends of your rod with your forearms just outside of your legs, seperate by pressing your legs against your arms.

WD40 works like magic!!!!!!!!!