Rods getting "sloppy" with age

Tom156 · #1 22-10-2013, 09:02 PM

I haven't been using some of my lighter gear for a while, focusing on offshore fishing but I went for a Jack fish the other day and picked up my Racing Condition which has gotten a lot of fishing hours throwing everything from light plastics to heavier lipless cranks and plastics.

I felt the rod lost a bit of its crispness and wasn't as fast as it used to be... A lot of the time it is under load throwing deep crankbaits around pontoons and rock walls or lifting vibes for bass.

So I'm wondering if anyone else has found a similar issue with there rods getting a little sloppy with age and a lot of use?

Tom

brad mcdonald · #2 22-10-2013, 09:13 PM

interesting.

unless its picked up some heat damage, which may cause changes to the resin in the blank, i dont think it could or would alter much.

perhaps you may be remembering it differently after not using it for a while?

i have noticed this with my fly gear, thought my 6wt was much faster than it felt after using my 9wt for a few trips....

jmo

Squidlipz · #3 22-10-2013, 09:40 PM

same thing is happening to my missus.

You did ask for it you know.

rooboy · #4 22-10-2013, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squidlipz

same thing is happening to my missus.

You did ask for it you know.

Yeah, I had noticed that too

Reckon you left yourself open for that one!!!

The G factor · #5 22-10-2013, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rooboy

Yeah, I had noticed that too

Reckon you left yourself open for that one!!!

sounds like he has been leaving himself quite open if both his missus and you had noticed it...have to question what you were doing looking though

In regards to FISHING rods being sloppy, I have not noticed it. That said I only have 1 or 2 rods that I have kept over around 3 years that have been used consistently and they feel as they have always felt.

Tom156 · #6 22-10-2013, 11:05 PM

Can't complain with that banter

Maybe its what Brad said, I just remember it being different. It would only be the first couple of casts where I thought it felt a bit different but I'd say it's my mind playing tricks on me.

spork · #7 23-10-2013, 12:38 AM

I've got one rod that I still use occasionally - had it for over 20 years.
Another couple I've had for probably 15 years.
Can't say I've noticed any change in their actions, although they do feel a bit "funny" after lots of fishing with very different (usually lighter, faster action) graphite rods.
I doub't the rod has changed, but your memory of it has.

Piranha · #8 23-10-2013, 12:54 AM

[QUOTE=Tom156;582436]I haven't been using some of my lighter gear for a while, focusing on offshore fishing

That could be the reason your rod feels different? going from bicept working heavy gear to the light stuff?

JIM1 · #9 23-10-2013, 02:17 AM

Sure it's not because you are use to using heavier gear and the light stuff just feels more "sloppy"?

Tom156 · #10 23-10-2013, 02:33 AM

It had been a while since I had used it, but it makes sense I had forgotten how it felt.

Ripen lips · #11 23-10-2013, 02:41 AM

I have never had this happen to me. I know with resins they don't ever stop hardening after they have been catalysed. So if anything it should be stiffer.

Nix88 · #12 23-10-2013, 04:26 AM

Never had an issue with my fishing rods action varying over the years but i suppose we can use Viagra to harden things up

#13 23-10-2013, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom156

So I'm wondering if anyone else has found a similar issue with there rods getting a little sloppy with age and a lot of use

I guess they shouldnt 'age as such' - however carbon and other weaves may wear in a little with flexing and use. I did notice with road cyclists while in my time at a roadie bike shop with people saying that they felt their bikes "loosen up" - mind you the stressors of bike riding is far more than that of using a rod...

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad mcdonald

unless its picked up some heat damage, which may cause changes to the resin in the blank, i dont think it could or would alter much.

We always told our customers to leave their carbon and half carbon bikes in the shade where possible and store them in the cooler parts of their garage away from the bonnet area of their car.

I did notice that when I left my rod in a hot car (for about a hour - while I went for a walk with the ball and chain) while at the Seaway the other week when it was like 35 degrees here - the rod did feel different and my Stradic Ci4 was a little unhappy also until it cooled off (with the violent SE change that tore through abruptly - and near took off everyones car doors within sight). I do not as a rule of thumb leave any rod or reel or even lures in a hot car this due to the temperatures encountered - somewhere of 60 degrees and well above - hence why I take my fishing gear into my work (much to the detest of the store manager, who's room I store it in while there).

I dare say that quite possible like what Brad said that heat could affect a rod - how much is anyones guess???

Piscateur · #14 23-10-2013, 10:45 PM

I have three of the same rods at varying ages. A 5 yr old rod a 3 yr old rod and a brand newie. When Suspended at both ends I noticed there was ever more flex from oldest to youngest. The flex was minimal maybe just less than a cm difference at point of greatest difference. But in the hand you couldnt tell the difference.

Phantom · #15 23-10-2013, 11:18 PM

wouldnt your rods then fail after years of use? if heat weakens the resin and movement disturbs the carbon lay/loosens it?

i think its all in the mind. i have some spin sticks for 7+years and they dont feel any different or slower, i am one of those people who leaves rods in the car, for a week sometimes haha
id think QC issues are to blame for different actions in blanks (aswell as components) ive built mulitple rods of the same model and have different blanks turn up each time, even different dia's