bamboo flyrod tip top repair

Question
hello Mr. Douglas,
I have an older split bamboo fly rod (8' ~5wt) that my uncle assembeld from a kit in the sixties or early seventies
there are no make or model markings

I have fished the rod for several seasons, but the tip top is now loose
the thread wraps are still solid, but the tiptop bends forward (from the base of the tip top, not a bend or break in the metal itself)when moderate pressure is applied
i first noticed the bend when disassembling the rod after catching several good sized fish
how would you recomend i fix the rod?

Thank You,
Andy

Answer
Hi Andy,

OK...let me see if I understand this one.  First, the tiptop is the very last guide at the very end of the rod...on an older rod it is probably a tear drop shaped loop at the end of a metal tube that is about 1/2 inch long or so.  The ferrules are the metal pieces that slide together to attach the tip section to the butt section of the fly rod.  There are more likely 1-1/2 to 2 inches long.

If it is the tiptop and it bends forward from its base, then you probably have a broken tip.  To fix this you would remove the tiptop, then remove the broken portion (probably only 1/2 inch or so) and install a new tiptop.  You may or may not be able to reuse the old tiptop.  The rod may be sufficiently larger to require a slightly larger tiptop tube to fit properly.  Install the reused (or new) tiptop using the same heat sensitive glue you use for arrow fletching.  You can find this at sporting goods stores or rod building component suppliers.

If it is the ferrule that is the problem, it could be one of two things: 1) you might have a rod break right at the end of the male ferrule or just inside the ferrule; or, 2) the glue that holds the male ferrule in place may have dried out and loosened a bit from the ferrule.  

If it is a break at the ferrule end or just inside the ferrule, you will need to remove the male ferrule, then lightly sand and shape the butt end of the tip section and refit the ferrule.  You will lose an inch or two of length but the rod will be solid again.  You will need to remove any of the old bamboo inside the ferrule before refitting.  This may be loose and come out when oyu remove the ferrule.  It may require that you heat the ferrule gently to loosen the glue so you can slide the end out.  It may have to be drilled out very carefully.  

You want to save the male ferrule and reuse it because it matches the female side.  The other choice is to replace both ferrule parts.  Some older ferrules have pins.  A small metal pin driven through the ferrule and bamboo from one side to the other to help hold the ferrule in place in addition to the glue used.  If yours has a pin, you need to drive it out before trying to remove the ferrule.

If the male ferrule is just loose due to the glue being dry and old you have two choices: 1) remove the ferrule and reglue it back onto the tip section; or, 2) gently heat the male ferrule and see if the old glue will re-flow and set itself again.  This does happen some times but is usually a temporary fix that may not last more than 2-3 fishing trips.  Removing and regluing the ferrule is the best solution.  You can also use the heat sensitive glue to attach the ferrule.

If you try this, use a heat source like a hair dryer on low setting.  Don't use a heat gun...it will get too hot and can discolor the ferrule or toast the bamboo.  Stop very frequently to test the ferrule, do not allow the heat to remain on the ferrule or the bamboo for very long.

If you don't want to try the fix, locate a local rod builder and have it fixed.  This may be a quick fix and cost may be small compared to trying to do it yourself.  Even re-seating the ferrule isn't too expensive and it is probably better to have this done by someone who has done it before.

If I missed the point of this question entirely, reply with more information and I'll try again.

Thanks,  Joe