Hi, Michael!
<< There's more than aesthetics to a tip top wrap. The main reason for
wrapping a tip top is to add strength. Same for wrapping the female
ferrules---the length of the male insert. >>
Back when rod blanks were of lower quality and construction, I'm
sure this was true and necessary. However, now that the rod blanks are so
well made, I've wondered if these wraps were necessary, and over the last
couple of years I have stopped doing the female ferrule and tip top wraps.
Knock on wood, I haven't had any problems since eliminating those wraps. It
also seems to me that the performance and feel of the new, super-lightweight
rods is influenced more than in the past by any extra weight one adds to the
blank. I try to eliminate extra weight by eliminating the female ferrule
wrap, the tip top wrap and going to single foot guides instead of double
foot guides. If a new rod blank these days weighs 3.125 ounces (for a Sage
VPS 9 foot 5 weight), it seems to me that it doesn't take many extra wraps
to alter the feel of the rod. I'm certainly no expert on this, so I'd be
interested in the experience of others on the list.
Tight lines!
Rex
