stuck ferrule

Question
Hey, I have this collapsible rod that I recently bought for times when I have to
carry a lot by foot to my special fishing hole. But the next day when I took the
rod out, the last ferrule of the 5 part rod got stuck and wouldn't collapse. Is
there any way that I can get it down without using pliers?

Answer
Hi Theo,

I'm not sure if you mean collapsible as in telescopic (one section inside the next) or as in mulitple sections with ferrule joints.  It's probably not too important as the fix may be the same in either case.

I would not suggest using pliers on any rod except as an absolute last resort and then I would expect to ruin the rod section or the ferrule and be faced with a repair or replacement issue.

If the rod is multi-piece glass or graphite and has built-in ferrules that slip one section over the next to join the rod, the usual cause of sticking is dirt or grit getting into the joint and creating problems.  The problem would be the same if the ferrules are telescopic in nature, they still slip together to form the joint.

If this is a glass rod with metal ferrules or a bamboo rod with metal ferrules, the usual cause is a build-up of lubricant that has attracted dirt or grit and created a problem.  When we werekids our dads told us to rub the male end of metal ferrules along the side of our nose to get natural oils to lubricate the fitting.  Turns out this is not a good idea.  Those oils attract dirt and grit and can lead to serious problems.  

Modern techniques include the use of commercial ferrule lubricants that work very well (typically silicon based), or keeping the ferrules dry, or another trick is to dry out one of those slivers of soap left over in your shower and use it to lube the male end on the ferrule.  The soap may prove to be a bad as natural oils soem day, but I carry a small soap sliver in a plastic baggy in my fishing vest and have had pretty good success with it thus far.

At any rate, the fix is the gentle application of heat.  Use a hair dryer on the lowest setting.  Gently heat up the ferrule connection.  Be very careful not to overheat the area and damage the rod blank or the ferrule itself.  Heat will make the ferrule sections expand which will provide you with an opportunity to get them to move enough to unstick.  If heat alone does not work, try applying ice to one part of the ferrule joint (one of the rod sections) while heating the other part.  Cold will make one section contract, heat will make the other section expand...you only need a tiny bit of change to allow you to move the sections.  Once again, be careful not to overheat things, go slow and use low heat only.

I just read your qeustion again and your rod does sound like the telescopic type.  In this case I would probably hold an ice cube along the upper (or smaller) section for a few minutes to let that piece get good a cold, then apply some gentle heat to the lower (or larger) section and see what happens.  My guess is you will be able to move it and unstick the joint.

Once you get it unstuck, clean the rod sections good and apply some commercial ferrule lubricant and you should be in good shape.  Always inspect the joints when you get ready to put the rod up at the end of a day of fishing.  Clean the area around the joints to make sure you don't introduce any dirt or fish slime that could contaminate the joint and cause it to stick next time out.

Thanks,  Joe