Rod Care Pt 2
Walking to and from your spot: Use common sense. If you are going up or down a steep bank, think about which way you would fall should you lose your footing. Point the rod the other way. Generally, if you are walking through trees or brush, the best way to carry he rod is to hold it pointing backwards. It will follow you better than you can point it through the openings. However, if you are simultaneously threading your way through brush AND going up or down a bank, you just have to weigh your options and try to be careful.
Assembly: Before you assemble the rod, inspect the ferrules for dirt, etc. It is a good idea to carry a small zip-lock bag with a few q-tips in it to swab the female ferrule with prior to assembly. Any piece of clean cloth will work for cleaning the male ferule. However, the very best way to clean the ferrules is to swab both the male and female ferrules with an alcohol swab. Please allow sufficient time for the alcohol to completely dry. Q-tips are handy for that. The alcohol swabs can be purchased at any pharmacy and are individually wrapped. They usually come in boxes of a hundred for about a buck a box. Some people prefer to lube the ferrules with a variety of lubes. I feel like I need any lube at all, and usually don’t, I use Ivory soap. I emptied out an old chap-stick tube and stuffed it full of soap and keep it in my vest. Just be careful you don’t mistake it for chap-stick and put it on your lips. Please don’t ask how I know this. Do not use any type of lube made from any petroleum derivative. WARNING, if you use any kind of lube, you must, and I mean must, thoroughly clean the ferrules each and every time you assemble the rod. The lube left on the ferrules attract and hold dirt like a magnet and becomes an abrasive paste. To assemble the rod, be sure to have the guides lined up, if you fail to get them lined up properly, do not try to twist the two halves to line them up, pull them apart, adjust and reassemble. It’s best to hold the halves close to the ferrules when you assemble
GALLERY
THE SHOP
THE FISH
THE RODS