Monday, 30 April 2012

Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} An interesting evening at the Tidal Basin

Pulling a dryer sheet through your rod guides can both show you if
there are nicks AND lubricate them. Use a new dryer sheet to lube the
guides, and a used one to test for nicks... (If you are fishing very
sensitive trout, might the fairly powerful artificial scent put them
off after many casts? Snakehead and cats won't mind... Any thoughts?).
If you still want nylons, dollar stores have cheap stockings, and they
are useful for many things.

I've found steel wool too messy and ineffective for smoothing rough
guides. Try 1200 then 1800 weight automotive sandpaper but watch the
varnish on the rod (though, really, such fine paper won't do much
other than take a bit of gloss off). Roll a small piece of the paper
up then use very lightly, like a file. Change angles, think like a fly
line, and go slow. Still won't polish the guides, but the rust and
nicks will be worked down substantially.

Tight Lines!

Mark

On Apr 29, 3:49 pm, Carl Zmola <carl.zmo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 04/27/2012 10:42 AM, Aaron O wrote:
>
> >         P.S.  The rod did a great job and I'm very happy with it. The
> > only hick up is that the older rod does not have as smooth action due
> > to friction from the line going through the loops as the new ones do.
> > If anyone has any suggestions on that, or any other tips on
> > maintenance of an old bamboo rod, please let me know.  Thanks
>
> Aaron,  Congratulations on the catches.  Those catfish are great fun on
> a fly rod, aren't they.
>
> As to the "action" of your old rod.  If the guides are rusted or pitted,
> you should probably avoid using it.  The old guides will act like
> sandpaper or little knives on your fly line and really tear it up fast.
> The test someone has told me is if you can pass pantyhose through the
> guide without it snagging, it is ok.  If it snags and causes a run, you
> shouldn't use it.  I've never tested it because I don't have old nylons
> hanging around.
>
> This rod probably isn't worth putting new guides on, but that is the
> solution.  Cutting off the old guides and putting new chrome plated
> snake guides on.
> If you want to try and smooth the existing guides, I would try fine
> steel wool to get rid of the rust and pitted areas.
>
> For advise on care of old bamboo rods and just some background on the
> type of rod you have, search the old posts on Clarks Classic Rod forum.http://classicflyrodforum.com/forum/index.php
>
> Carl

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