How to Repair a Fishing Rod Cork Grip

After a long winter, which may not have included many fishing trips, it’s a good idea to make sure your fishing rods are in good working order. Cork grips are particularly prone to wear and tear. Repeated soaking and drying can cause the cork to weaken, chip and develop holes.

If you don’t repair the cork before it’s too late, it may break entirely.

One way to repair a fishing rod cork grip is by filling cracks and small holes with Elmer’s Carpenter’s Wood Filler. You can then easily sand the cork to a smooth finish, and it’s easy to clean up with water.

You can also try these four easy steps:

  1. Find a clean, dry wine cork. Use 220- to 240-grit sandpaper to make about a half-teaspoon of cork dust.
  2. Mix the dust with wood glue, creating patching material that is the consistency of cookie dough.
  3. Clean pitted areas of your cork grip with a sharp tool and fill them with the patching material. As the patching material shrinks when it dries, you will need to repeat this step several times.
  4. Once the cork has dried, buff it with 220-grit sandpaper, clean it with soap and water and then seal it with gunstock finish or U-40 Cork Seal.

Once you’ve repaired your fishing rod cork grip, it’s time to book a fishing trip! For an exciting expedition that combines the joy of the great outdoors with modern comforts, book a lodge room or outpost cabin at the Lawrence Bay Lodge today. Located on Saskatchewan’s Reindeer Lake, we’re among Canada’s top accommodations for fishing vacations. Call us at 701-262-4560 to find out more!