For many fishing enthusiasts, seeing one of your beloved fishing rods break is a heart-wrenching experience. From reminiscing every fishing moment you’ve had with it to wishing you’d taken better care of it, breaking a fishing rod is simply a journey every angler must go through.

But what if we told you that before you bin your broken fishing rod, it could be repaired and given a second chance to join you in all your future fishing trips? That’s right, we’ll take you through how to decide if your fishing rod can be repaired and the steps to doing it below. 

Assess the damage 

Before you start the repair of your fishing rod, it’s important to assess the damage it has suffered. This will help you pick out the best repair method for your fishing rod. For example, if the breakage is mainly located on the main shaft of your fishing rod, then your rod may be irreparable, and you will have to replace it completely. Here are several other fishing rod damages that you may experience as a fishing enthusiast: 

• Broken rod tip – A broken rod tip is one of the most common damages every angler will experience. Thankfully, repairing a broken rod tip is easy and affordable so you won’t have to throw away your fishing rod just yet.
• Broken line guide – If you have a bent or broken line guide, chances are that you may experience not-so-smooth rod casting. This may be due to regular wear and tear as most line guides on fishing rods are made with a metal inner ring or even a metal piece molded with plastic. While the repair steps may be complicated, fixing a broken line guide is still possible even if you are not a professional.
• Damaged cork handle – Aside from providing the user with a firm grip, a cork handle usually provides a beautiful finish to your fishing rod. With frequent use however, it’s common to see the cork handle suffer damages caused by hooks or rocks. But you won’t have to worry, because replacing a damaged cork handle is an easy process and won’t put a huge dent in your pockets.
• Broken ferrule – A ferrule is also known as the joint area where the fishing rod pieces are kept together. Very often, this part of the fishing rod breaks due to overuse or if the rod is accidentally dropped or stepped on. Repairing a broken ferrule is the most difficult of all and should only be done if you feel confident enough. If you notice that the crack extends longer than half an inch from the joint, then you may not want to repair the rod at all. Instead, you will have to consider purchasing a new rod.

How to fix a broken rod tip

If you’re experiencing a broken rod tip, it’s good to know that it’s an easy and affordable fix. Most times, you may experience a difference in the sensitivity to your rod after it has been repaired, but this shouldn’t affect the fishing rod’s performance too much. Let’s look at how it could be fixed with several simple steps:

• Step 1: Remove any remaining parts of your rod tip with a strong pair of scissors or clippers. Sand the edges to ensure you have a smooth repair surface.
• Step 2: Apply hot glue on a new ferrule and place it on the sanded surface where your old rod tip used to be. It’s best to apply extra glue to the joints and store the rod vertically, allowing the glue to dry for up to 24 hours.
• Step 3: Sand away any excess glue that may have dripped out from combining the two. Your rod tip will now be ready for use again.

How to replace a broken line guide

Having a broken line guide usually causes an angler to experience drag, resulting in lines snapping easier. This would lead to lost fish while casting your rod, causing an overall negative experience to your fishing day. Luckily, fixing your broken line guide can be done quite easily: 

• Step 1: Remove the broken line guide from your fishing rod with a lighter or candle. As line guides are normally attached to the fishing rod with epoxy, applying heat to the part will melt away this combining agent. Gently scrape away the broken line guide once all the epoxy has been melted away.
• Step 2: Clean the rod with alcohol and place a new line guide where the broken piece used to sit. To accurately keep the new line guide in place, you can also wrap a thin thread wrap around the guide and fishing rod.
• Step 3: Apply epoxy to the connection point of the line guide and the fishing rod and allow it to dry for up to 24 hours. You can remove any excess epoxy with sandpaper for a cleaner finish on your fishing rod.

How to change a damaged cork handle

Aside from causing discomfort to hold, having a damaged cork handle also makes your fishing rod look tired and worn out. The next time you look at your damaged fishing rod handle, why not consider changing them out using these steps:

• Step 1: Sand down your damaged cork handle. Create a hole in every section by drilling into the handle. Insert a small wooden dowel into the cork and coat it with hot glue. Quickly place the dowel into the blank side of the handle.
• Step 2: Slide the new section over the wooden dowel, allowing space of up to an eighth of an inch. Seal the parts tightly together with hot glue and let it dry for up to 24 hours. You can also sand down any of the excess glue from the new handle to create a sleek look.

How to replace a broken ferrule

If you have a broken ferrule, chances are that it may affect the performance of your fishing rod. While replacing the part may be complicated, your fishing rod may be as good as new if done with these steps properly:

• Step 1: Cut away the cracked ferrule and remove the old thread wrap and epoxy. Be careful not to damage the rod in this step. Replace this with a new ferrule and wrap it with a new set of thread wrap.
• Step 2: Seal the thread wrap with epoxy and leave the rod to dry vertically for up to 24 hours. You can also remove any excess epoxy with sandpaper after to achieve a smoother finish.

How to repair a broken fishing rod

Finally, it’s to tackle the most complicated repair on your fishing rod – the rod. As this is the part that would make or break your repair, it’s crucial to prepare most of the items you’ll need such as epoxy and a two-part coating such as Flexcoat beforehand. When you have everything set together, it’s good to then keep calm and try these steps to put them back together: 

• Step 1: Remove the broken part of the rod and measure the length of a new insert you’ll need for the rod. Keep in mind that you’ll need a minimum of six inches of insert for the broken rod. Test the size of the blank insert by placing it into the rod. If the insert is shaky, you may have to increase the size of the blank.
• Step 2: Coat the pieces with epoxy, pushing the insert into a section of the broken rod. Once you have successfully placed the insert, carefully slide the other parts of the broken rod over the insert. Ensure that the pieces are fitted tightly without being overly shaky. Clean away any excess epoxy and the rod rest vertically for up to 2 hours.
• Step 3: When the epoxy has dried, wrap the repaired section with a rod thread. Be sure to hold the rod thread taut and wrap up to four inches out on both sides of the break. When picking the rod thread, we’d recommend a piece that can be pulled tightly without breaking. 
• Step 4: Apply a generous amount two-part coating such as Flexcoat over the repaired section of your fishing rod. If possible, have a friend or family help rotate your rod while you coat it with the two-part coating. Allow the coating to dry over the fishing road completely. 

How to prevent breaking your fishing rods again

As you can see, repairing your fishing rods isn’t a difficult task. All you’ll need is a bit of patience and the right tools to help give your fishing rod a second chance. Despite this, it’s also important to limit the amount of breakage on your fishing rod. Here are some easy ways and changes you can make to prevent breaking your fishing rods again: 

• Transport your fishing rods using a proper soft or hard case. 
• Don’t place your fishing rod on the floor to avoid stepping on it by accident.
• If possible, keep your fishing rods collapsed when storing them.
• Don’t leave your hooks on your fishing rod guides as this may bend, weaken, and break them over time. 
• Keep your fishing rods indoors instead of the garage or shed to avoid weakening the structure of your graphite or fiberglass poles.