*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The reason a market even exists for 2 piece fishing rods, is to meet the challenges of transporting and storing such a long item. And, for surf rods, these challenges are amplified due to the over sized nature of them. Since long rods are the accepted tool of choice on the beach, let’s look at why you might want your surf rod to come in multiple pieces.
Are 2 Piece Surf Rods Good
The short answer is an emphatic YES! You’ll certainly run across anglers that have differing opinions. But, when it comes to surf fishing rods, there are great 2 piece options on the market. All I use these days are 2 piece rods on the beach, and I’ve had no issues.
While it’s true that, in the past, the connection joint of 2 piece rods used to be pretty bad. Many of them were made of metal, and would separate easily when you didn’t want them to. This is no longer the case. With modern production capabilities, they can now achieve excellent ferrule connections between 2 sections of a rod. Just stick with a reputable brand name and you’ll be surprised how good 2 piece rods are now.
Rod Connections
The connection of a rod is called it’s ferrule joint. In modern rods, that connection is accomplished in a couple different ways.
Tip over butt ferrule – This is the most common joint for 2 piece rods. I have a lot of 2 piece rods, and I believe every one of them is tip over ferrule. This is where the top section of the rod simply slides over the bottom section. In modern rods, this makes for an excellent connection. This type of connection could actually be in reverse as well – where the butt section of the rod is what slides OVER the tip section.
Spigot ferrules – This type of joint consists of a separate piece of material that is used to mate the two rod pieces together. There is a sort of tube that is permanently affixed inside one of the rod pieces. The other end of the rod slides over this connecting point. It’s important to know that spigot ferrules are not meant to fit flush. There should usually be a gap of sorts when you slide the 2 pieces together. This is normal, and by design, as it allows some wear over time and thus extends the life of the joint. So, don’t try to cram a spigot joint all the way together.
Both connection technologies are excellent, but you’ll generally only find spigot ferrules on high end or custom rods. I wouldn’t pay much attention to the type of ferrule connection on modern rods. As long as you buy something reputable, both types are very good, and you’re unlikely to be able to tell the difference in a surf rod anyway.
Are 1 Piece Rods More Sensitive
Technically speaking, yes, 1 piece rods are probably slightly more sensitive. However, I’m not convinced that such a small increase in sensitivity is even noticeable by most human hands, much less when fishing the surf. I believe as long as you buy quality, you will not be able to tell the difference between a 1 piece and 2 piece in the same rod.
2 Piece Rod Pluses And Minuses
Let’s further break down 2 piece rods vs 1 piece rods, and find out what you actually gain and what you give up with each.
Transport – The primary reason you would want a 2 piece vs a 1 piece surf rod is rather obvious. Because surf rods are typically so long, the ability to break them down into a smaller package helps with transport. A shorter package allows you to travel with it more easily without breaking the tip. I have broken more 1 piece rod tips in my tail gait and garage door than I’d like to admit.
Storage – While storage of a rod is not usually as big of an issue as transporting it is, it’s still nice to be able to break a long rod down for storage purposes. Anything over 9 feet starts to take over an entire garage wall. I prefer to separate my rod halves, and store the pieces together inside my house.
Security – Another nice benefit of multi-piece rods is that you can break them down and put them in an enclosed locked area, such as a car. When I’m traveling with my fishing equipment, I like to keep everything locked inside my vehicle at all times. I’ve invested too much money to have things walking off when I’m inside a gas station.
Assembly and care – A negative of a 2 piece rod over a 1 piece is that you will need to take proper care of the joint. There is a correct way to assemble and care for a 2 piece rod to ensure you have no problems. More about this below.
Unintended separation – The biggest negative most people think of when they think of 2 piece rods is unintentional rod separation. While it’s true that a rod could separate when you do not want it to, such as when casting, that is not a common occurrence. It seems that it’s still hard for the industry to shake this bad reputation of yesteryear. Modern joints are far superior than they used to be. As long as you don’t buy off brand junk, this should not be an issue for you.
Stuck rods – Another negative of 2 piece rods is the possibility of the halves getting stuck together. Proper assembly and cleaning should prevent this potential pitfall. More about this below.
| 2 Piece Advantages | 2 Piece Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Ideal for travel | Proper assembly required |
| Compact storage | Possible rod separation when casting |
| Less likely to break it | Possible rod separation during a fight |
| Great for foot travel | Potential damage to connection |
| Great for long rods | Rod could stick together |
| More secure – can lock in vehicle | Might slightly affect sensitivity and action |
| Ideal for people driving cars | More cleaning is ideal |
Using 2 Piece Surf Fishing Rods
Because of travel constraints, my only rod choices when I started surf fishing were the 2 piece versions. But, I really didn’t know what I was doing back then. I have since learned that there are some best practices to abide by when using 2 piece fishing rods. These might save you some headache, and possibly even some money long term.
Below are a few pieces of helpful info that I wish I had when I started using surf rods.
- Make sure to connect it properly
- Don’t put anything on the joint
- How to un-stick a stuck rod
- How to travel with 2 piece surf rods
Properly Assembly Of A 2 Piece Fishing Rod
Assembly of a 2 piece rod is very easy, but there is a correct way to do it. First make sure the connecting parts are very clean. Then, simply connect your rod sections with your guides at a 45 degree angle to the reel and twist to get the guides to line up with the reel. It might seem intuitive to just stick the pieces straight together with the guides lined up with the reel. That’s not correct. You will want to twist it into place instead, in order to get a good friction lock.
To disassemble, just do the opposite, and make sure to clean any salt or dirt off the connection afterwards.
Lou, over at Surfcaster’s Journal has a very short and simple video showing you how to do it properly.
Do Not Put Anything On The Joint
Don’t put anything on the joint of your 2 piece rod. No wax, chemicals, nothing. It only invites problems. Let’s say you put wax on your male end. Over time, debris will stick to that coating and create a sanding effect. It’s just best to not put anything at all on the connection. Instead, you should clean both connecting sections often with a clean rag or ear swabs and fresh water.
How To Get A 2 Piece Rod Unstuck
With proper rod assembly and proper care of the joint, you shouldn’t have any issues with stuck rod halves. But, if you do, there are a few things you can try to see if you can get a fishing rod unstuck.
- Get a better grip
- Freeze it apart
Get a better grip – Sometimes you just can’t get a good enough grip with your bare hands. It can help to have something rubberized to grasp the rod more firmly as you pull on it. Rubber kitchen gloves are a great item to keep in your fishing bag in case you need them. Rubber jar opener mats work as well.
Drop the rod temp – Another well known trick to un-stick a fishing rod is to get it as cold as possible, and then try to pull it apart. In a cold climate, you could leave it outside overnight, but lets be honest, most of us are not surf fishing when it’s super cold out. Instead, get a bag or two of ice and sandwich it around the ferrule connection. Leave it on there for 30 minutes and try to pull it apart. If that doesn’t work, leave it on there for a couple hours and try again.
Traveling With 2 Piece Fishing Rods
Below is how I currently travel with 2 piece fishing rods. There are lots of other options, and I’m certainly not saying mine is necessarily the best. But, what I do is sandwich them together using 18″ Nite Ize Rubber Twist Ties
. I make sure all the connecting ends are pointed the same way and lined up evenly on that end. Then, I place something over the connecting joints to protect them.
In the picture below, I’m using bubble wrap to protect the ferrule connection. The protection could be a sock, t-shirt, or anything soft and cushy. But, I would recommend protecting the connection in some way.
In another article I discussed additional options of how to travel with long fishing rods. If you’d like to know more about that, check out that article here – Long Surf Fishing Rods
Conclusion
I’m a huge fan of 2 piece surf fishing rods. But, that’s mainly because I like long rods on the beach, and I don’t want to mount a specialty rack to my vehicle. If you have the storage ability on your vehicle, go with a 1 piece. Otherwise, don’t hesitate, just buy a 2 piece and be happy.
If you’d like more info on how to choose a surf fishing rod, check out my other article here – How To Choose A Surf Rod.
Happy Fishing,
Augustus Clay
