BigBendFishing.Net

Over the years have built a collection of rods & reels, and now am to the point that about half the gear is in good shape while the other half is showing it's age.

Reason for the post is that I'm trying to marry up all the usable gear before going shopping for any new gear. Did tons of reel repair this past week and now am getting around to evaluating rods.

Don't have any rods with broken guides but DO have several with the clear coating peeling off /all off. These rods weren't expensive when I bought 'em (I know you get what you pay for -- why I've upgraded to better gear as time's gone by ) but as I use them for light inshore fishing and they still function relatively well, I really would like to recoat in order to have extra gear for company that regularly visits to fish. Not looking to sink more into them than I paid ($25 to $50) -- just looking to get a few years additional use out of them. Just wondering if I can recoat them and if so, what material should I use? Any advice on the topic will be much appreciated.

BBG

If the thread is not showing through and you just want them refinished, bring 'em to Rocky's Saturday and drop 'em off with me. I'll get 'em taken care of.

Hopefully Reel Cowboy will chime in, but there are a couple options that I've used in the past. A two-part epoxy that's thinned and painted on with a small brush is a durable solution. Clear fingernail polish is a cheap substitute and might be just the trick for the rods you described. Either way, you'll have to rotate and dry them (by hand in front of a oscillating fan) to ensure an even coat. Both options will add a little weight and stiffness. But it probably won't make much difference to those using them.

BBG,

Did you get the PM I sent you a week ago?

silverking wrote:Both options will add a little weight and stiffness. But it probably won't make much difference to those using them.

The difference will be hardly noticeable if at all.
There are numerous 2 part finishes out there that are designed for rod winding thread. The trick is to be hard yet flexible because rods, hopefully, bend. SK is right on as well about needing to keep them turning for a hours until the finish sets but I would recommend against the fan as it will introduce bubbles into the finish.

HEY BBG, I HAVE USED SPRAY CAN OF POLYETHELENE AND IT WORKED GREAT, TAKES ABOUT 10 MIN. TO DRY AND GIVE,EM A SECOND COAT, LET THEM DRY IN THE SUN. JUST USE SOME 200 SAND PAPER TO ROUGH THE ROD UP WHERE THE SPRAY WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO GRAB. I HAVE SEVERAL ( UGLY-STICK) RODS I DID THIS TO ABOUT 5 YRS AGO AND THEY STILL LOOK GOOD. THEY WERE ABUT 5 YRS. OLD WHEN I REDID THEM.
PA
SEMPER FI

Reel Cowboy wrote:

silverking wrote:Both options will add a little weight and stiffness. But it probably won't make much difference to those using them.

The difference will be hardly noticeable if at all.
There are numerous 2 part finishes out there that are designed for rod winding thread. The trick is to be hard yet flexible because rods, hopefully, bend. SK is right on as well about needing to keep them turning for a hours until the finish sets but I would recommend against the fan as it will introduce bubbles into the finish.

Thanks RC. That's why I now trust the experts like you.

silverking wrote:Thanks RC. That's why I now trust the experts like you.

SK, I've been called a lot of things by an awful lot of folks but expert ain't one of them.
But thanks, you just earned an additional discount.

Reel Cowboy wrote:... because rods, hopefully, bend.

Amen to that, Reel Cowboy! And many thanks for the tip on turning / avoiding bubbles.

Silverking, sure did get your PM. Don't know if I've used that exact manufacturer's lure but can say that one very much like it has been our go to casting lure when they show up on the surface. Sometimes we fish 'em on plain round jigheads but seems adding some color entices them to fight for it if they show up in numbers. We've put that same lure on these before with VERY good success...

Yeah, BBG, I'm sure Matthew's Fishin' Stix will do a good job. You could do like I did, and get Matthew to stencil-in the words "Your Name" on a rod. That way you can get your money back. Just say to someone, "I bet I've got 'your name' printed on this fishing rod." Works every time.