Taping ferrules

[spike]

I wonder if anyone has some input on taping ferrules on larger rods where you are constantly roll casting or doing a semi-spey.
I taped the ferrule on a 9wt rod, caught a bunch of large salmon. I then broke down the rod cause I was going on a float boat, I reassembled the rod, no tape and on the first or second cast, the tip of the ferrule shattered. Being a mile down river and 4 more miles to go, I just put the rod back together, caught a fish and the rod totally broke. Fortunately, it is totally covered.
My theory is that the constant torquing of the rod by roll casting or the spey cast, combined with the pressure of catching of fish, caused the rod to try to twist in the ferrule but was being held in place by the tape causing the shatter.
Any input? I have been taping my larger rods for years.

[Todd K]

Hmmm... ask Andrew Manchester. I'm not sure the tape would do that but I'm just guessing. I know many spey casters tape there ferrules so I can only assume they wouldn't do it if it would cause damage. You could always post over at spey pages (http://www.speypages.com/speyclave/index.php).

[pvansch1]

The only time I have seen or heard of someone taping ferrules is on older wood and bamboo rods as the joint connection. The rods were either bound together with a binding thread and left assembled or in later years tape was used as the method of connecting the rod sections.
Why your rod made of I'm assuming graphite would require anything at the ferrules other than proper seating, push together and a slight twist at the end is beyond me.
Been casting and fishing a 10wt for most of the summer, more casting practice than fishing, trying for distance with weighed flies, no problem.

[DA]

Here's an alterntive to taping:

http://www.speyshop.com/channels/notebook/2004/1100802237/index.shtm


Here are some videos:

The first two videos show a method for taping ferrules.

http://www.speypages.com/video/tape1.mpg

http://www.speypages.com/video/tape2.mpg

The third video shows a snakeroll cast. For anyone not familiar with spey casting, turn on your speakers and listen to the sound the line makes to get an idea of the load that is placed on the rod by such a heavy line. The server might be slow, so the first time you play the video the sound may be a bit choppy. Hit your replay button and it should sound better as the video file will be cached in your temp directory after the first playing.

http://www.speypages.com/video/snakerollstrike.mpg

[spike]

The heavy load on the rod is the reason I tape. I have had one too many tips come off. I properly seat the ferrules but after a day of casting, they come loose. Taping has always worked in the past - and I use maskig tape. Video looked like electrician's tape.
The roll cast is a very effective cast but creates a lot of torque.
Thanks for the input and video links.

[Jon]

Taping ferrules is standard practice in the UK where one is often using a 14'+ salmon rod (often three piece). Ghillies complain if you don't as not doing so can result in a lost salmon (and thus lost tip, of the monetary kind).

I very much doubt any well made rod should suffer the fate of yours from being taped. I've done it for years with no ill effect. I assume you're spreading the load of the tape along the blank and not just directly over the ferrule join...


K