Expert on fishing rods gives some helpful tips

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In every circle of outdoor pals, there are some who know how to tie 40 different knots, and how to repair even the most intricate piece of outdoor gear with little more than a Leatherman tool, a can of WD-40 and a roll of duct tape.

Or so it seems to people like me.

People like me (though few will likely admit to that unenviable title) are willing. We’re eager. We’re not unable to learn.

We just tend to frustrate the heck out of our really handy pals, and are generally told to do one of two things.

First: “Stand over there and don’t get in the way.” (I’m pretty good at this one, if I do say so myself).

Second: “Hand me the duct tape.” (Ditto).

I do have a few outdoor skills that I’m almost, nearly proud of, but itemizing them here would be foolhardy and merely tempt the outdoor gods to wait until the worst possible time to prove me wrong … again.

(Don’t laugh. You’ve never fished with me. It’s true).

Luckily, those of us like me sometimes have friends like Don Corey.

Corey is a computer expert here at the BDN, and is president of the Penobscot Fly Fishers. He’s also a fly tier, rod maker, owner of Annika Rod & Fly, and all-around handy dude.

At least, that’s what this all-around not-so-handy dude thinks.

On Sunday, I sat down with Corey for a couple hours and talked about fishing rods. Specifically, he taught me that every time I break a rod (which, of course, happens more often than I’d like), I needn’t immediately look for the nearest trash can and reach for the L.L. Bean catalogue.

“The most vulnerable spot [on a fly rod] is right at the tip,” Corey told me. “That’ll get broken off. It can get broken off in a car door, when you’re fishing, [it’s] very easy to do.”

Tell me about it.

I once broke a rod tip while fishing (although, come to think of it, I wasn’t so much fishing as knocking ice out of the rod guides when I heard that sickening snap).

And I once broke my rod while standing on shore, pulling line from the reel and thinking about fishing (though, I’m quite sure that nearly falling off a cliff earlier in the day may have weakened the rod in some not-so-subtle way).

The good news, according to Corey: I can fix it.

Or, perhaps more accurately, he can.

Honestly, though, rod repair needn’t seem as complicated as some of us make it seem.

Even if you’re deep in the woods. Even if you’re miles from the nearest UPS truck and unable to take advantage of your rod manufacturer’s Free Repair Guarantee (Even If You’re A Bonehead Who Ought To Know Better!)

All it takes to turn a broken rod into a workable casting implement, in fact, is a little bit of fire, a packet of five-minute epoxy and a few extra tip-tops.

Of course, “owning” the equipment you need is not enough. Bringing it with you into the woods is an important piece of the equation.

“I always encourage people to have a little kit with four or five tip-tops in it, a little bit of epoxy,” Corey said. “In a pinch, you snap a rod, you can actually fix it and be a hero on a trip if you’re a thousand miles from home.”

Knowing that the epoxy that holds a rod’s tip-top in place will become pliable if heat is applied is one thing. Actually doing something about it is another.

And until I saw Corey perform a five-minute repair job on Sunday, I’d never have believed it was so easy … even for someone like me, whose first reaction may well have been to reach for the duct tape.

All you’ve got to do is (gulp) be prepared.

“You probably wouldn’t have $5 invested in a little epoxy, two or three tip-tops [in different sizes],” Corey said.

Which, I figure, is a pretty cheap insurance policy.

Especially for people like me.

NIE on-line auction continues

Speaking of Don Corey, he and I have teamed up to offer BDN readers some private fly-tying lessons as a part of our Newspaper in Education program’s on-line auction.

Rest assured, however, that Corey will do the heavy lifting, and I’ll be limited to … well … staying out of the way and handing the winning bidder duct tape … or feathers.

Seriously, Corey is not only a top-notch fly tier, but also a very patient teacher.

The winning bidder will receive four private lessons that will run about two hours apiece.

Of course, fly-tying lessons aren’t the only item up for bids at the NIE auction. There are a variety of outdoor-related objects and services up for grabs, as well as plenty of non-outdoor fare.

If you’re interested in checking out the auction, you can do so by clicking the link at www.bangordailynews.com.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.