How to Repair a Fiberglass Fish Pole

There are few feelings worse than heading out for a fishing excursion and breaking your rod. If you do not have other fishing rods, a broken rod means the end of the trip. However, it does not have to mean the end of the rod's useful life. With the proper equipment, anglers can repair broken fiberglass fishing rods and make them just as strong as they were before the break.

Things You'll Need

  • Scissors
  • Clear nail polish
  • Six- to 8-inch dowel (diameter should be the same or close to the rod)
  • Fishing glue
  • Thread
  • Sandpaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut each end piece of the broken rod with a pair of scissors. Remove any spot that has a crack or splinter, even if it means taking off several inches from the rod. When this part is complete, the seam should be smooth and even when you hold the two parts of the rod together.

    • 2

      Place the broken ends of the fiberglass rod against the ends of a 6-inch length of dowel. Use sandpaper to sand each side of the dowel so it fits into the hollow rod openings.

    • 3

      Coat the dowel in fishing glue.

    • 4

      Insert the ends of the dowel into the broken ends of the fishing rod and press the two rod parts together. The rod parts should cover the entire dowel, and be lined up so all the guides on the fishing rod are in line.

    • 5

      Allow the glue to dry fully. This usually takes at least one day.

    • 6

      Sand off any glue from the repaired area of the fishing rod.

    • 7

      Wrap thread around the break, and on two to three inches on both sides of the break. The thread should cover the rod fully.

    • 8

      Coat the thread with clear nail polish.

    • 9

      Allow the nail polish to dry completely before fishing with the rod.