Should I keep it the way it is, fix it, or replace it all?

[Ryanralston07]

I recently flew with Delta and they broke my lock, causing my Plano Airliner case to slide together and break the tip and rod down to the 2nd eye on my 3-week old Daiwa Tatula Elite 7'4" Howell rod (MH/M). Delta reimbursed me for the rod, and now I'm wondering if I should keep it the way it is and fish with it, try and fix it and keep using it, or replace the whole thing and scrap the rod. I planned on using this rod for chatterbaits and topwater, so sensitivity isn't as important as it would be with a rod for texas rigs and the like, but I'm unsure if losing this amount of the rod even matters since the rod's action was moderate. I fish a chatterbait and topwater a TON, so having this rod go down hurts. Thoughts?

 

Edit: I do need a spinning rod because my only spinning rod broke in the car earlier this year, so there's that to mention lol. 

[Kirtley Howe]

You have nothing to lose by putting a new tip on the broken rod and giving it a try. A good new tip can be purchased for less than $10.00. I agree that it being a moderate action would tend to keep the action from being destroyed by the rod being shorter. Who knows, you may really like it for some applications.

[bloom]

It's an inexpensive, easy fix so no harm will come from the repair, but you will probably not like the repaired rod.  I always like to say those last few inches of the tip are the best part of the rod.

[MickD]

Putting a new tiptop on will result in an action that I don't think you will like.  Shortening a rod that much always messes it up severely.  But it can be fixed so that it fishes well using this process.  I've done a lot of rods this way and they work quite well.  The biggest flaw in this process is that you see the sleeve.  https://www.rodbuilding.org/library/repair-oquinn.html

[garroyo130]

Fix it and fish it. If you don't like it, sell it but let the buyer know its repaired. Odds are you'll still find takers. 

[Jig Man]

I have never seen a rod with the tip broken that was acceptable for fishing after it was repaired.

[DaveT63]

Put a tip on it and give it a shot.  I MIGHT be serviceable, but that's a lot of rod to lose.  I bought a used Megabass Destroyer Daemos that UPS damaged in shipping.  They broke two inches off the tip end.  I got my money back and got to keep the rod.  I put a tip on it, and use it for spinnerbaits and chatterbaits.  I have no complaints about how it fishes, although I'm sure it isn't like it did before it was broke.

[J._Bricker]

Fix it and see how it works out@Ryanralston07, after all Delta bought you a new 7’4” rod to replace the one that was broken. A new reel might be needed as well ?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

6 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I have never seen a rod with the tip broken that was acceptable for fishing after it was repaired.

You mean re tipped right? I’d agree with that. A competent rod builder can repair a broken rod in many cases with no perceptible affect on performance. 

 

[Ryanralston07]

Ordered a new rod just like the one I had, and thankfully it was on sale. Thanks, guys!

[MickD]

21 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I have never seen a rod with the tip broken that was acceptable for fishing after it was repaired.

I respectfully suggest you have never seen one repaired with the O'Quinn process.  I built an 8 wt Quickline fly rod once, measured CCS numbers, and fished it for a few years.  Then broke it.  I repaired it, rechecked CCS numbers and they had not changed.  The rod cast as well as it had before.  Of course it had to be a little heavier, but I didn't notice it.  A friend broke his RX8 Rainshadow casting rod about 10 inches below the tiptop.  I repaired that one and he has been using it for many years now.  He is a discriminating fisherman and wouldn't be using it as his primary rod if it did not perform well.  My son broke his 8 wt RX8 Rainshadow fly rod about 8 inches below the tip.  I repaired it and he used it for probably 3 more years until a boat partner stepped on it and broke it again lower down.  He is an expert with the fly.  I built a replacement, but he wants me to try to repair it again.  This repair process, in most cases, works well.  It is certainly worth a try if a rod is one that one enjoys fishing with.

[king fisher]

Even if the rod worked better with a new tip, I would always reach for another rod, because in the back of my mind the Monkey would be telling me the fixed rod was junk.  I recommend you put a new tip on, and give the rod to a kid who doesn't have one.

[Darth-Baiter]

it feels like wearing shoes on the wrong foot.  it feels so wrong.  

 

I dont think any manufacturer tells them selves, "hmmmm we need a shorter rod in the lineup, so let us just clip off an end".   i would buy a new rod and say good things about Delta customer service. 

[webertime]

Strip the guides and tip and lockout.  Get into building your own rods.

[fin]

Since you've bought a new one now, maybe try to sell the broken one on the BR marketplace as a broken rod at a severely discounted price. You might not be happy with a repaired rod, given the history, but someone else might love to have it.

[Ryanralston07]

20 hours ago, fin said:

Since you've bought a new one now, maybe try to sell the broken one on the BR marketplace as a broken rod at a severely discounted price. You might not be happy with a repaired rod, given the history, but someone else might love to have it.

I wouldn't even know how low to discount it. 50%? More? Less? Never even used it on the water, just threw a couple casts in my yard was all.  

[Darth-Baiter]

a rod broken to the first eye is janky as heck..two guides?  forget it.  

 

try it.  clip it so the first eye is neatly at the end.  rig it and cast it.  you'll see.  personally, i would have clipped it short enough so it would fit into my garbage can and moved on.  

[fin]

3 hours ago, Ryanralston07 said:

I wouldn't even know how low to discount it. 50%? More? Less? Never even used it on the water, just threw a couple casts in my yard was all.  

I'm thinking much more, just to get rid of it. You've already replaced it, anything above that is a bonus. I know if I was in your situation, just having it sitting around would bug me until I did something with it. I doubt anyone would buy it, but maybe someone who repairs rods, or someone like @MickD might. It was like $150 new? I'm thinking like $25-50. It would have to be really low. I still wouldn't buy it at $25, myself, but if I had the rod, I wouldn't be able to just throw it away either ?

[rudderless]

If its still available i'd buy it from ya...nice winter repair project..when I can I buy used brokin and repair it...as long as it is not for the wife...she requires new...

[MickD]

18 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i would have clipped it short enough so it would fit into my garbage can and moved on.  

Save the pieces.  They are good for sleeves for the O'Quinn process.

[Darth-Baiter]

i would still toss it in the garbage can. i dont have the urge or the habit to keep parts and things for "just in case".  that's how it starts.  

 

it is why i decided i wasnt a shadetree mechanic hope to restore an old FJ40.  

[gim]

I recently broke about 3 inches off the tip of a spinning rod in June.  I started a thread about what to do.

 

Many suggested trying to put a new tip on and then see how it works.  I did that.  A new tip costed me less than 5 bucks.  Unfortunately, the tip was too close to the second eye now (about an inch), and I didn't care for the way it handled or the way it looked.  So even after putting a new tip on it, I bought a new rod.  But for less than 5 bucks, it was worth trying to fix.

[Alex from GA]

Do as MickD says and keep it for repairing the next rod you break. The guides can also be used when you step on one in the boat.