Comments on: Can I use a 25 year old fishing rod?

Question: Can I use a 25 year old fishing rod?

Smart Dalek — Sun, 28 Dec 2003 18:09:00 -0800

I stumbled across an old fiberglass fishing rod in a cardboard mailing tube.
It still appeared to be in excellent shape, yet I know the rod must be at least 25 years old, as it was a parting gift from the previous owner, circa 1979.

Should I risk taking it out on the water, for old time's sake, or would the rod end up snappimg from fatigue? What sort of reel considerations could I make, given it's age?

By: troutfishing

troutfishing — Sun, 28 Dec 2003 20:37:45 -0800

Smart Dalek - I wish I could match your expertise from the last post, but - excepting that - I'd say that fiberglass is only minimally susceptible to ageing, to oxidation. As far as I know, oxidation is the crucial possible ageing factor here - and I don't think silica oxidizes at all.

I bet that it's as good as the day it was made.

By: dg

dg — Mon, 29 Dec 2003 01:16:53 -0800

The biggest enemy of fibreglass is sunlight, so it should be fine if it has been protected in a cardboard tube. Give it a gentle bend and listen very closely - if you can hear even the faintest "splintery" noises, don't use it. Or, at least, don't catch anything with it.

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Mon, 29 Dec 2003 05:28:28 -0800

I'll give it a try, then. Thanks, troutfishing and dg!

By: troutfishing

troutfishing — Mon, 29 Dec 2003 06:57:19 -0800

you're welcome. happy fishing (for trout? also - check local alerts for mercury levels in fish) - dg filled in my gaps. UV degrades fiberglass or - perhaps - the resin that binds the glass fibers. UV tends to degrade an awful lot of things. People and dogs, couches and drapes.....