Wax Your Ferrules to Avoid Broken Fly Rods
Apply paraffin wax to your fly rod ferrules and avoid unnecessary breaks.
How many of you take the time to wax your rod ferrules a couple times a year? I know I usually don’t, and I’ve paid the price of broken rods too many times to count.
Finally after doing that very thing on a tarpon trip a couple weeks ago, I came home and took out every rod I owned and did them all at once. Breaking a rod anytime is a real drag, but when you’re on an expensive trip where you’ve traveled somewhere far away it stings even more.
Here’s the problem: The male and female section ends of rod ferrules can become loose after repeated casting. The ferrule is the part of the rod that joins the sections of the rod together. The hollow (female) portion at the end of a rod section receives the male end of the next section. After a time the male end can slip to the very edge of the female end and when enough pressure is applied (like a hard cast), it can actually crack or “blow out” the blank wall, resulting in a broken rod.
Here’s the solution: Many manufactures actually give you a little package of paraffin wax to help keep your rod pieces together when you buy a rod. Take this wax before the first time you use your rod and apply it to all of the male sides of the ferrules. If the manufacturer doesn’t provide you with any, simply get a candle or chunk of beeswax and gently brush it forward towards the top of the male ferrule, coating the entire piece. If your rod is old and has been used a lot, remember to clean out the female side with a Q-tip or something similar before applying wax.
Now your rod pieces should hold together much longer and tighter, minimizing the chance of a silly rod break.
Wonder if bees wax would work?
Tim, it may be more important to regularly clean the ferrules. Sometimes they may not fit well or loosen up because they have gunk in them. One of the best fisherman and rod designers I ever knew recommended cleaning them after every few outings. That may be a bit much, but I clean mine every 10 to 15 outings. Most folks probably have never cleaned them. My process is to use some soapy water for the male and doubled over pipe cleaner for the female with soapy water and then rinse . Some use q-tips but I have them come apart which is a pain to get out of the female ferrule.