Thread: Old fiberglass rod

Hey Hey - this one is in my wheel house. I have stripped and rebuilt many old rods - and that's all I fish with. I could have easily bough a half dozen King rods for what I have invested in equipment and thread - but hey, what fun would that be?

You don't have to buy the equipment - most of the refit components are available pre-bored for most common blank sizes.

The method will depend on the rod - most old surf rods had an 3/4 inch aluminum tube handle glued to the fiberglass blank while more modern ones are fiberglass all the way to the butt - and even some of those have been extended with a 18-20" piece of fiberglass glued to a shorter blank.

If the guides and rod finish are OK - you are GOLD. Strip off the grip with a razor knife, use a dremel tool with a cutter disc to cut the reel seat. Be VERY careful to not cut or scratch the blank if it's a fiberglass butt. There is usually an arbor under the seat that will give you a bit of clearance between the seat and the blank. Score down as close a possible - and a big flat blade screw driver will usually pry apart the seat for removal. Use 220 grit sand paper to remove excess glue and adhesive.

Many videos on line to guide the rebuild process. But be warned - it's addictive. I've got enough old rods in the corner to keep me busy for many years...but I go out every weekend looking for one more!

I have the same corner with a few stripped, and some in the basement ceiling, waiting for the redo....darn part time job that kinda turned full time, and other life things going on .....one day I'll get to them, but like you still go looking....darn habit hard to break
Maybe this winter I'll set up shop in the basement and do a few for the spring ling season!

I wouldn't mind rapping one of these old lamiglas blanks I picked up .....think be a good spanish rod or flounder/pomp rod