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How to Fix a Loose End Cap on Your Tenkara Rod

September 21, 20116 CommentsDIY & HacksBy Jason Klass
Tenkara End Cap

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.

 

Tenkara End Cap 2

 

3. Screw the end cap back into the rod.

 

Tenkara End Cap 3

 

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?

 

About the author

Jason Klass

Jason is an avid fly angler and backpacker. As a former fly fishing guide originally from Western New York, he moved to Colorado and became an early adopter of tenkara which perfectly suited the small, high altitude streams and lakes there. He has not fished a Western-style fly rod for trout since.

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6 Comments
  1. Reply
    September 23, 2011 at 4:50 am
    Randy Knapp

    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

    • Reply
      September 24, 2011 at 1:24 am
      Jason Klass

      Thanks Randy!

  2. Reply
    October 26, 2011 at 3:29 am
    craig price

    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

    • Reply
      October 26, 2011 at 5:27 pm
      Jason Klass

      There is a small slit in the plug. Maybe you could wedge something thin in there to tighten it up?

  3. Reply
    May 20, 2012 at 4:48 pm
    Mr David R. Jackson

    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.

  4. Reply
    February 24, 2016 at 9:06 am
    Todd

    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.

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About Me

Jason Klass is a former fly fishing guide & casting instructor based in Colorado. He was an early adopter of tenkara in the West and has been fishing the method for a variety of species since 2009. Read more >>

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