DIY Fishing Rod Repair: How To Fix A Broken Rod Tip (Repairs For Hollow Rods)

Whether you’re pulling bass out of thick grass or practicing your cast motion inside your house (guilty of this), breaking your rod tip sucks.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a veteran angler. It happens.

And it happened to us.

A few things ran through our heads the moment we heard the tip broke off our casting rod:

  • We hope we didn’t have to replace it with a new rod.
  • Could we repair it without sacrificing its performance?
  • Would we be able to fix it ourselves?

This step-by-step guide will run through our process for repairing your rod tip.

It was our first experience, and to be honest with you.

We couldn’t be any happier with the result. It took less than an hour from start to finish.

How To Fix

supplies for fixing rod tip

Tools Required

  1. Power Drill
  2. Sandpaper
  3. Super Glue
  4. Carbon fiber sticks

Don’t worry. The repair kits (mentioned below) will have sandpaper and carbon fiber sticks.

Step 1: Make sure it’s hollow

This repair guide only works for hollow fishing rods. The one we broke was a 3-piece travel casting rod. It needs to be hollow because we’ll insert a carbon fiber stick inside to reattach the rod tip back on.

Regarding carbon fiber sticks, there are many repair kits on Amazon. Just look for one that has various sizes like this one.

Step 2: Find the right-sized carbon fiber stick

carbon fiber sticks

We decided on a kit that contained various stick sizes for future mishaps.

Since the top tip is the smallest diameter from the main pole, we used the smallest diameter carbon fiber stick in the kit, which was 2mm in diameter.

Inserting carbon fiber stick into rod segment

Stick the carbon fiber stick into the opposite end of the broken segment. You shouldn’t be able to see any part of the stick protruding out from the broken end.

Step 3: Sanding

sandpaper

You want to sand the end of the carbon stick so that it sticks out enough to insert the broken tip firmly in place.

To speed up the process, use a power drill for this.

power drill holding carbon fiber stick

Lock a portion of the carbon stick inside the power drill, and grab the included sandpaper from the kit.

We folded the sandpaper over the end of the carbon stick while pressing on the power drill.

about 1.5" of carbon fiber stick protuding out

Keep sanding and checking the stick’s taper by re-inserting the carbon stick until you can see about 1.5″ of the carbon stick.

Step 4: Super Glue

super gluing carbon stick

You first want to lock the thicker side of the carbon stick into the piece from which the tip broke off. Then, apply super glue to the end and drop the stick to reach the other end.

If you don’t see the carbon fiber stick on the other end, forcefully tap the rod until you do so.

You want to do this quickly, so the carbon fiber stick doesn’t stick inside the rod.

Next, apply super on the carbon fiber stick that’s now visible on the broken end of the rod.

Insert the broken tip onto the visible portion of the carbon fiber stick.

aligning guides before super glue dries

*Important: Make sure you align the guides so that they are straight.

That’s it. Here’s the end result!

end result of fixing broken rod tip

Allow the super glue to dry for at least 48 hours.

Fishing Rod Repair Kits

The carbon fiber fishing rod repair kit includes everything you need to fix your broken or damaged rod.

Most of the kits sold on Amazon include

  • A couple of pieces of sandpaper in different grits
  • Carbon fiber sticks in different diameters

Carbon fiber is lightweight and strong, making it ideal for repair.

We recommend getting a kit with various diameters and grits of sandpaper so that you’re prepared for future mishaps.

This is the kit we grabbed from Amazon.

What It Costs For Repairs Doing It Yourself

You will always save more money by repairing yourself than by taking it to a shop if you’re willing to put in a little of your time.

If you’re interested in repairing your rod tip yourself, the cost of the repair kit is around $10 – $20. This assumes you already have a power drill to help speed up the process, but it’s optional.

How to Prevent From Breaking

Now that you know how to fix a broken rod tip, let’s talk about how to prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are a few tips.

Inspect your rod before each use

Look for cracks, chips, or other damage when shopping for a brand-new rod.

Be careful when casting

You want to make sure your surroundings are clear before you cast. If fishing in a crowded area, be extra careful not to swing your rod around.

Use a sleeve or tube when traveling

When packing your gear to head out on a trip, use a rod sleeve or rod tube to protect your rods from getting banged around and damaged.

Proper Storage

When you’re not using your rods, store them properly. We recommend hanging them up, so they don’t get tangled or damaged.

When Should I Replace For A New One?

Sometimes the damage is so bad that it’s not worth repairing, and you’re better off buying a new one.

Here are a few signs that it’s time to replace your rod:

  1. Most of the guides are cracked or damaged – We get it. Sometimes it just takes too much effort to repair all the guides. In this case, it’s probably better to replace the rod.
  2. The tip is severely bent – A severely bent tip is usually a sign that the rod has been damaged beyond repair and should be replaced.
  3. The blank is damaged – This is a more serious issue and usually means the entire rod needs to be replaced. You’ve had the rod for many years – Even if your rod is in good condition, sometimes it’s just time for an upgrade. New technology and materials can make a big difference in your fishing experience.
  4. There is significant damage to the reel seat – The worst thing to happen when you’re hooked onto a big fish is to have your reel come off because the reel seat is damaged. If this happens, it’s time for a new rod. Reel seats are integral to the strength and stability of your rod, so it’s important to make sure they’re in good condition.

If you’re unsure, take it to a local shop and ask for their opinion. They’ll be able to tell you if it’s repairable or not. Simply Google “fishing rod repair near me” and you’ll find a local fishing tackle shop that will help.

Final Thoughts

If you fish long enough, some of your fishing gears will break at some point from your fishing rods, reels, etc. The list goes on.

It is what it is, but now you know how to fix a broken rod tip yourself and prevent it from happening in the first place.

We hope that this guide was helpful and that you’ll be able to save some money the next time you break your rod tip.

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