Whether you've put a hairline crack in your ferrule, snapped a guide, or lost a tip, the repair is the same; basic rod wrapping. Except for your grip, everything that's attached to your rod is simply, but carefully, attached by thread and sealed with epoxy or varnish. This skill is easy to master with just a little bit of patience.
Getting started
Cabela's offers an entire catalog dedicated to rod repair and building, and Bass Pro Shops also has an abundance of choices.
When it comes to purchasing replacement parts like guides or tips, you're better off visiting the local tackle shop. Sizing an individual guide is tricky business, and selecting from a catalog photo is almost impossible.
Material list
Replacement rod guide
48-inch 2x4
00 or 001 thread
Razor blades
300-grit sandpaper
Masking tape
Heavy books
6-pound monofilament
5-minute epoxy or clear nail polish
Step One: Build a stand
First, cut a single 1 1/2-inch V notch in the center of two 12-inch 2x4s. Standing the 2x4s vertically, screw the bases of these "bookends" to the ends of a 20-inch 2x4. Glue a piece of felt in the notch. The stand will secure the rod, allowing it to turn freely.
Step Two: Guide replacement
With an Exacto knife or razor blade, gently cut through the rod's epoxy finish. Remove the old thread, trying not to gouge the rod while freeing the guide foot from the blank.
Use 300-grit sandpaper to remove any burrs from the old wrap. Position your replacement guide (www.anglersresource.net), making sure it fits into the same space. Apply masking tape to the rod where you want the wrap to start and end.
Once set up, take your guide and gently flatten the footing with a file or grinder; this will make the thread fit more evenly. If you're replacing a single-foot guide, cut a fine 1/8-inch strip of Scotch tape and secure the guide in the correct spot.
Step Three: Roll one
With your guide taped to the rod, sandwich your thread between several heavy books(a). Pull it tight and begin to wrap (by rolling the rod) creating even tension. Wrap four to five times on top of the starting length of thread(b).
Step Four: Roll two
While maintaining tension, evenly cover the guide until you have five or six wraps left before reaching the tip of the guide foot. Push the wraps with your fingernail to keep them lined flat against each other. Take a length of thread or 6-pound mono and make a loop, laying it on the rod in the opposite direction of the new wrap.
Step Five: Roll three
Continue to tightly wrap over the loop, securing the guide. Hold the last wrap in place and cut the thread, taking the end and running it through the loop. Holding the cut end in one hand, draw the opposite end of the loop, pulling the line through the wraps, and tighten. Carefully cut the excess thread with a razor blade.
Check the wrap, making sure it is snug and the guide lines up. You can still make a slight correction if the guide is out of alignment.
Step Six: Epoxy time
Mix the epoxy. Quickly and evenly apply it around the threaded wrap (if mixed incorrectly the coating will dry too fast or never dry at all). Use a thin coat and instantly remove any excess. Clear nail polish also will work well, but epoxy is stronger and has a better finish. You will need to make three to four applications for a factory-like finish.
This basic wrapping skill will allow you to replace a broken guide, fix a small crack or finish a glue-on rod tip.