When you purchase a new rod the cork handle is usally covered in plastic,
Iwas told to remove this as water gets inbetween the cork and the platic
causing the cork to rot is this true? In the past when I.ve purchased new
sea fishing rods I,ve left it on as long as poss simply to protect the handle
from all the **** it gets covered in (usally the handles on sea rods are made
from man made materials anyway.

Steve................

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It is wrapping. Take it off. It is only there to keep it nice in clean while in the shop and during transit. Do you use anything else with the wrapping still on?

possible personally i rip em off as soon as ive got my hands on the rod, it just dont feel right!!! its like the plastic cover on say like a new dvd, ****** pointless

It's going to get dirty sooner of later, and a rod with plastic on seems a bit sad to me. I love to feel the cork and you can't get a proper grip with plastic on the handle surely.
Be a devil, rip it off and live dangerously.

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Ti's here beneath this sturdy bridge,where bats and moths do fly,
That the wily trout of the smallest size, against a rock doth lie. SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

An old tooth brush and some soap will clean the cork up once it gets dirty, or a light rub with very fine sandpaper should do the trick.

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It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

Not Now But I DID about Thirty Years Ago

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Calm down Dear it,s only a question

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I WILL KEEP ASKING UNTIL I CAN ANSWER

Thanks for that mate, I did think of spraying the cork with a Polymer spray
but decided not to. to be honest I,ve only got one other rod with a cork Handle and I never botherd much with that.

Steve............

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I WILL KEEP ASKING UNTIL I CAN ANSWER

Rods izz a bit like wimmin - real pretty when wrapped in something glossy - more fun when not.

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Plusnet/Madasafish > Liars to the internet community

Dirty, stained cork on a rod is a badge of honour. Wear it with pride.