Unsticking Fly Rod Ferrules

Written by Capt. Ron Presley | 16 October 2009

Malfunction Junction

It could happen to anyone. You have just completed a great day on the water and you are packing your gear for the return home when your two piece fly rod won’t come apart. It is a rare problem, but it does happen. What can you do to separate the stuck pieces?

Over the years innovative anglers have devised various ways to cope with this situation of ferrules that won’t come apart. In the case described above you’re out in the field and may not have many tools at your disposal, but you still may be able to get the rod apart.

I experienced this problem when a good friend gave me a nice 8 weight that he wasn’t using. He took it out of storage and put it together to check it out. When he began to disassemble it the two rod segments were stuck together. Result, I had a nice free fly rod that would not come apart.

What Not To Do

Before considering the solutions, note a few things you should not do. It is not a good idea to forcefully twist the rod, use pliers, vice grips, bench vices or any other mechanical equipment to hold the rod. Under no circumstances should you use the guides to get a better grip on the rod.

Get a Grip

Any of the methods suggested below do require a good grip on the rod blank and there are a few items that will help. Many pros suggest using rubberized shelf liner material. It comes in big sheets and you can cut off as much as you need. In fact, you can cut a couple small squares and just keep them in your tackle box for when you need them. There are also commercial jar gripping pads that give you added grip. Even those gloves with little rubber strips on them will give you more grip than your bare hands. Latex rubber gloves will also give you an advantage over the slick exterior of a fly rod blank.

The Possibilities

The most common suggestion to separate the rod sections involves setting down and placing the rod behind your knees. Reach down on the outside of your legs and grip the rod blank on each side of the ferrules, being careful not to put any pressure on the line guides. Slowly separate your knees applying a lateral pressure on your wrists and forearm to pull the rod sections apart. This is a more powerful method than simply pulling on the rod using only your arm strength. One good thing about this method is that it can be used in the field without other tools. Unfortunately it didn’t work for me.

Another approach uses the scientific principle that heat expands and cold contracts. In this case, carefully heat the female ferrule with a blow dryer being careful not to get it too hot. After warming up the ferrule, grasp the rod blank on each section and pull. This one didn’t work for me either, but has worked well for others.

Some anglers have successfully used WD-40 sprayed on the ferrule. It is hard to imagine, but the lubricant is expected to seep into those tight ferrules to do its job. The idea is for the lubricant to ease or eliminate the friction that caused the rod to stick. Since the usual cause of sticking is dirt or grit getting into the ferrules, this method works when and if it actually penetrates the inside of the joint.

What Worked for Me

After trying these methods without success I found another suggestion which seemed to defy the principle of science that says heat expands and cold contracts. This method rests on the success that some anglers had in placing their rod outdoors in freezing temperatures overnight. When they brought the rod back inside and gave a hefty pull the rod separated just like it was suppose to.

To simulate this method I filled a sandwich baggie half- full of crushed ice from the fridge. I wrapped the bag around the female ferrule and pinned it with one of those clips you use to keep the potato chip bag closed. Then I wet a small kitchen towel with hot tap water and wrapped it around the blank below the ferrule. I left the whole rig set for about 10 minutes while I prepared two grips from the shelf liner material mentioned above.

After 10 minutes were up I called on my wife to tackle the stuck ferrules with a two-man pull. She placed the handle of the rod in her arm pit and squeezed it tightly. I asked her to get a good grip on the blank, with both hands, and be ready for me to pull.  All the time being careful not to pressure any of the guides, and instructing her to do the same, I pulled hard on the blank. I felt it give a little and then come apart.

Once the sections were apart I used Q-tips and rubbing alcohol to clean inside the female ferrule. One swab of the Q-tip identified the dirt and grime that had caused the sections to stick. I then use white rubbing compound, the really fine stuff, to clean and polish the male ferrule. I finished by cleaning it thoroughly with rubbing alcohol.

Finally, to prevent the segments from sticking again I used a method that has been around for decades. I rubbed the male ferrule behind my ear. This action applies a coat of oil from your skin and helps keep the ferrules from sticking again. You can accomplish the same thing by rubbing the male ferrule along side you nose. In lieu of the skin oil approach you can also use white candle wax or one of the many commercial ferrule lubricants available on the market.

Note: An edited version of this article appeared in the May/June 2009 issue of Florida Sportfishing Magazine. Visit their website at www.floridasportfishing.com for fishing reports in your area and more fishing tips.