03-23-2003, 08:38 PM
[cool]I've had a few requests for suggestions on how to carry fly rods in PVC tube rod holders, considering the differences in handle design from spinning or bait casting. I have experimented with several options. The pics below show that you can either make an insert tube...if your fly rod handle is less than 1" across...to fit inside the larger main rod tubes. Or you can cut a 6" vertical slit in the main rod tubes just wide enough to keep the fly rod handle inside, but to allow the reel to ride outside.
I have pictured fly rods with three different kinds of handles. The one with no butt at all, is my little boron fairy wand, with a slender handle which fits inside the insert tube. The one with a 3" butt is a 7 -8 weight, and the one with the longer "fighting butt" is my 10 weight salmon slayer. With a longer butt on the fly rod, you can get by with simply putting them in the regular rod tubes. However, there is greater safety in cutting the custom fitted groove in the tube and pushing the reel down into the slot. In fact, I begin by cutting the slot a bit too narrow and then power disc grinding the groove wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. That way, you can snug the fit by jamming the reel and handle all the way to the bottom.
To elaborate on the short tube, for the insert. It is 1" PVC, with a couple of short machine screws partially screwed into the PVC on opposite sides, to fit into the reel handle notches on the main rod holders. The 1" pipe fits nicely within the 1 1/4" PVC I use for the main rod tubes.
![[Image: SCOU1712CustomImage1255310.jpg]](http://web.ecomplanet.com/SCOU1712/ServerContent/MyCustomImages/SCOU1712CustomImage1255310.jpg)
![[Image: SCOU1712CustomImage1266723.jpg]](http://web.ecomplanet.com/SCOU1712/ServerContent/MyCustomImages/SCOU1712CustomImage1266723.jpg)
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I have pictured fly rods with three different kinds of handles. The one with no butt at all, is my little boron fairy wand, with a slender handle which fits inside the insert tube. The one with a 3" butt is a 7 -8 weight, and the one with the longer "fighting butt" is my 10 weight salmon slayer. With a longer butt on the fly rod, you can get by with simply putting them in the regular rod tubes. However, there is greater safety in cutting the custom fitted groove in the tube and pushing the reel down into the slot. In fact, I begin by cutting the slot a bit too narrow and then power disc grinding the groove wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. That way, you can snug the fit by jamming the reel and handle all the way to the bottom.
To elaborate on the short tube, for the insert. It is 1" PVC, with a couple of short machine screws partially screwed into the PVC on opposite sides, to fit into the reel handle notches on the main rod holders. The 1" pipe fits nicely within the 1 1/4" PVC I use for the main rod tubes.
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