Can Fishing Rods Float in Water?


The most dreaded and unexpected thing during a fishing trip is dropping your fishing rod in the water! It has happened to me before. The disappointment is unreal. 

Do fishing rods sink in water? Yes and no!

The density of the reel will determine if the rod sinks or floats. A higher-density reel will sink. Alternatively, a lower-density one will float. 

When you purchase your rod, conduct a sink or float test in a wide storage container or kiddy pool to see the result. If it sinks during this test, you will have to find a way to prevent it from sinking. 

Can Fishing Rods Get Wet?

Fishing rods may get wet during your excursions. You will have to clean and maintain your fishing rod depending on the type of water that wets the rod. 

If your fishing rod falls in freshwater, there is not much to worry about with cleaning and maintenance besides letting it dry after your trip. Dropping the rod in saltwater and not cleaning it could mean that the salt will corrode the material. 

So, rods can get wet, but it’s important to clean them properly. 

How To Clean a Wet Fishing Rod

Especially if it is salt water, you should clean your wet fishing rod immediately after your trip. Clean a wet fishing rod by following these steps: 

  1. Tighten the drag on the reel. 
  2. Spray your fishing reel down with fresh water from a hose. 
  3. Shake the rod to remove excess water. 
  4. Store it upright in your garage or shed for it to dry. 

The Sierra gear company touches on more conservation tips for a spring clean and full-service maintenance. Properly maintaining your fishing reel will help it last longer so you are spending less money on a replacement. 

Can Fishing Rods Float?

So do fishing rods float? The rods themselves normally do. It’s the reels that cause them to sink due to their high density. 

The density of the various materials that rods are made up of will decide whether a rod sinks or floats in the water. Since most rods have reels attached, there is a higher likelihood they will sink. 

Fishing rods measuring between seven to eight feet weigh three to four ounces without a reel. When you attach a reel, it increases the total weight to about 11 to 12 ounces. Hence, the reel alone adds another 8 to 9 ounces to the rod. 

A cork or foam fishing rod handle will help increase buoyancy in the water. The high-density reel will make a rod sink if it outweighs the fishing rod handle’s buoyancy

Fishing Rod Density

A fishing rod with a higher density than water will sink, and a rod with a lower density than water will float. Fiberglass, graphite, composite, and bamboo are the materials usually used to make fishing rods.  

Water density is 997kg/m3. If your rod is to float, it will need to be less than that.

The density rating for fiberglass is 1.7 kg/m3. Graphite has a density of 2.26 g/cm3. Composite rods are a combination of fiberglass and graphite. Since both materials are already low in density, a composite rod is still not as dense as the bamboo variety. 

Laminated bamboo measures about 686 kg/m3 in density in structural applications. The average range of density for bamboo is 500 kg/m3 – 800 kg/m3. Hence, bamboo rods are higher in density than the other materials. 

Do Fishing Rods Sink?

Do fishing rods sink in water? If it is a bamboo rod, it has more chance of sinking because of its much higher density than other materials. Bamboo is 403 times denser than fiberglass and 303 times denser than graphite. 

If you’re concerned about losing your rod, choose a lower density option so there is less chance of it sinking. 

How To Prevent Your Rod From Sinking

If you do have a high-density material fishing rod, you will need to attach something to it to lower its density and increase its buoyancy. 

(There is, of course, the alternative action of propping your rod in a safe location so that it does not fall into the water. But accidents do happen, even to the most experienced anglers).

Here is how to prevent your rod from sinking.

DIY Fishing Rod Float

Making a DIY fishing rod float is a cost-effective hack to prevent your rod from sinking. Some anglers use pool noodles and velcro straps to mimic the fishing rod floats sold on the market. Others use different materials to secure a tube-like product onto the fishing rod. 

You can make your own float for less than $5 using materials you may even have at home. Use insulation tubing since it is less thick than a pool noodle. After cutting the insulation tubing to fit the rod, secure both ends of it with zip ties. Cheap and effective!

Buy a Fishing Rod Float

If you do not feel like getting crafty and making a DIY fishing rod float, you can purchase one from a local sporting goods store or big-box market. Here is a video demonstration of how a fishing rod float from YakGear works. 

A basic fishing rod float looks like an open pool noodle with velcro strands attached at either end. Install the float near your reel, which is the densest part of your fishing rod. It is easy to install and remove when needed. 

Fishing Rod Leash

A fishing rod leash allows you to fish without interruption. Simply attach one end of the leash to your rod handle and the other end to something secure that won’t detach. If your fishing rod falls in the water, you can pull the leash, which measures an average of 15 feet long, until you retrieve it back into your possession. 

Rod Holder 

A rod holder looks like a cup holder. Attach it to the side of your kayak or fishing boat and place the rod into the holder when your attention is on something else. 

FAQs About if Fishing Rods Sink

Let’s touch on answers to other questions you may have about whether fishing rods sink or float in the water. 

Can you get a sunk fishing rod back? How?

If you’re unfortunate enough to drop your rod, you can use a metal fish stringer to retrieve your fishing rod from the bottom of where you dropped the rod. This hack will only work if you have an alternative rod with you on your trip.  

How do you make a rod leash?

Use carabiners, phone cord, heat shrink, electrical tape, wirecutter, scissors, and a lighter to make a rod leash. Refer to this tutorial to get started!

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