If you ever only target little 6″ to 8″ trout on your tenkara rod like the Zen Suzume, then you’ve probably never run into this situation. But if you ever target or accidentally get into a bigger fish, 20″ on up, or intentionally chase more powerful species like sockeye, coho salmon, steelhead or saltwater species like bonefish, then you’ve probably experienced the “tip jam”. The Tip Jam is just what it sounds like; it’s when your first two sections on your tenkara rod, your tip, are overextended from excessive pressure and they jam. As a result, you’re unable to collapse those two sections or completely put your rod away. Some tenkara anglers then break the sections in order to collapse their rod. Before snapping your tenkara rod tip and having to purchase a replacement, try this instead:
Push and twist. Sometimes adding a twist along with a push will release the two sections allowing you to collapse the rod.
Make sure to hold just above and just below the jammed joint when doing the push and twist.
Use the rubber pad that came on your Zen Tenkara rod tube. This pad will allow a better for a better and tighter grip on that super thin tip section.
Try the Rod Tap method by collapsing all section but the tip (since it is stuck). Then hold the tip with the rubber pad just above the last section opening (widest section). While holding the rod vertically, tap the bottom of the rod on a rock or hard surface. Sometime this will dislodge the stuck section.
- If you tip section is still jammed tight, don’t despair. It is still salvageable.
- Undo the over hand knot in the lillian cord
- Unscrew the butt cap in the bottom of the handle
- Remove the two stuck tip sections from the rest of the rod.
- Replace the butt cap and the tip plug to secure the rest of your tenkara rod.
- Place in your rod tube
- Lay your jammed tip sections along the outside length of your tenkara rod tube and secure it in place with either rod tie downs or rubber bands, or a neck Buff – whatever you have that will hold it in place securely.
- Head home and grab a blow dryer
- Use the blow dryer to heat the bottom, larger section of the two jammed pieces. Heat about 2 inches below the jam. DO NOT HEAT THE JAM OR JOINT ITSELF (by doing this you will expand both pieces and we want to ONLY expand the bigger, lower section of the jammed tip). Apply the heat for 30 seconds to about a minute by gently waving the blow dryer across the lower section.
- After heating, attempt the Push and twist using the rubber pad. Remember to hold about an inch just above and just below the jammed joint. The stuck sections should release. If they don’t, reapply the heat and repeat the push and twist until the pieces release.
You might have to apply the heat several times, but I promise, eventually it will work. Just be careful while pushing and twisting that you don’t inadvertently snap the thin sections. The rubber pads will help keep this from happening.
The Push and Twist. The Rod Tap, and if all else fails, the Blow Dryer Method. These handy tricks will be useful as you continue your tenkara adventures. I hope my tips will help save yours.