DIY Wine Cork Fly Dryer
It hasn’t happened to me yet but I’ve heard some people complain that while fishing, the end cap on their tenkara rod loosens up and sometimes fall off. While they’re easily replaceable from Tenkara USA, the loss of the end cap could pose some problems in the field when you want to collapse your rod.
But have no fear. If you suffer from Chronic ELS (Endcap Loosening Syndrome), there is a cure. Simply head down to your local hardware store and ask for a small roll of 1/2″ thread seal tape.
1. Unscrew the endcap from your rod.
2. Wrap 3-4 fairly tight turns of thread tape around the threads of the male end and cut off excess.
3. Screw the end cap back into the rod.
The thread sealer should tighten up the threads enough to prevent the cap from coming loose. If it’s too loose or too tight, try more or fewer wraps. After a while, the tape will wear out. But luckily, it’s easy to replace and a couple of bucks will buy you a lifetime supply. Don’t be a victim of ELS! Fight back!
Have you ever lost a cap to ELS?
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This is great advice. I’m surprised it took this long for it to be on such a great site to be noticed. Great idea.
Randy Knapp
Thanks Randy!
does anyone have a suggestion for loose tip plugs? the caps on all my rods are ok, but the tip plug on both my iwana 12ft-ers are loose.
C
There is a small slit in the plug. Maybe you could wedge something thin in there to tighten it up?
the end cap on my rod is made differently than shown above. the threaded part fits over a protrusion the size of the largest section of the rod. onto that is screwed the endcap. my ELS occurs by the entire threaded piece AND endcap falling off. a quick fix to this type of ELS is to buy a small cork plug & carry it in your vest. When it falls off, put the cork in the protruding tube.
Place an o-ring on the last thread of the plug. It will be semi permanent and easy to replace or revert to original condition.