Skip to Content

Do Fishing Rod Sleeves Work? (Explained for Beginners)

You wouldn’t want to repurchase fishing rods quite often, therefore, the best way is to protect them with proper maintaining methods and you may have been suggested to use fishing sleeves to protect your fishing buddy.

However, as an angler, it is normal to think of do fishing rod sleeves actually do work effectively or not. 

Do Fishing Rod Sleeves Work? 

Definitely yes, fishing rod sleeves are an affordable product that just slips on and covers up from the rod tip to the bottom of the reel. Also, prevents the fishing lines and eyelets from tangling with each other, mainly fishing rod sleeves protect the rods from getting wear out and corrosion.

Fishing rods sleeves are a cost-effective rod storing product that is easy to glide on and glide of a fishing rod. It covers the bulk of a rod from the rod tip to the bottom of the reel and sets the rods together nicely so that they don’t get entrapped with other fishing rods, lines, and eyelets.

 Moreover, they safeguard the fishing rods from wearing out or having corrosion, some are even humidity resistant so the rods will not get any rust on them too. 

What Is A Fishing Rod Sleeve?

Fishing rod sleeves are woven sheaths designed and manufactured for storing and protecting fishing rods.

These are capable of covering up the entire rod length including fragile fishing guides and rod tips, also prevent the fishing lines from getting enmeshed and abrasions when baits are tied on. 

Moreover, rod sleeves keep away dust and humidity when stored, therefore, there are fewer chances that your fishing rods will be worn out anytime soon. So you can use them for decades without worrying a bit.  

What Are Rod Sleeves/Socks For? 

Fishing rod sleeves/socks are primarily made for preserving and storing fishing rods in a proper manner so that they don’t get worn out or corrosion and the fishing lines also don’t get tangled up with other things. 

Another purpose of fishing rod sleeves/socks are, it keeps the dust, dirt away as it is a tightly woven mesh sheath. Also, some sleeves or socks are humidity resistant so your rods won’t get rust on them. 

Mostly, rod sleeves/socks are an affordable product that is easy to organize and access, therefore, you can store them anywhere, even can take them with your while traveling, and sleeves will keep your rods upright and organized. 

Do Fishing Rod Sleeves/Socks Work?

Yes, Fishing rod/sleeves excellently work for storing and maintaining your fishing rods properly without causing any erosion, rust, or tangling up, and keep the rods organized in a perpendicular manner so that they don’t bend. 

However, to convince you a list of benefits of using a fishing rod sleeve has been added below with proper explanation.

Cost-effective 

Fishing rod sleeves are an affordable option for preserving and sheltering your rods at a cheap price. You don’t have to shed blood, sweat, and tears building up separate sleeves or don’t need to spend extra bucks on buying expensive rod tubes/cases. Just simply buy a rod sleeve and store rods in it without worrying much. 

Keeps the rod organized 

Another benefit is, rod sleeve keeps the rod organized vertically and doesn’t let it bend at all in any condition. So even if you store your rods in a garage or basement or a narrow place, they will not bend. 

Eliminates tangling 

The most important benefit you can get using a fishing rod is, it eliminates the chances of getting all tangled up. It prevents the rods and guidelines from tangling with other rods as sleeves set each rod separately.

Gives full coverage 

Fishing rod sleeves/socks provide a great benefit by covering the entire rod up. From the rod tip to the bottom of the fishing reel, you can cover-up and it will protect the rod from twisting and bending. 

Provides protection 

Some fishing rod sleeves/socks are cushioned inside, therefore it provides an extra protective layer from getting scratch or slight breakage. 

Keeps dust/humidity away

Since fishing sleeves/socks are tightly woven and mesh sheaths, it keeps dust or dirt to latch on rods also some are even humidity resistant so your rods won’t get rusty at all too. 

Travel Friendly 

Rod sleeves/socks are highly traveling friendly, you can just pack your rod in a sleeve/sock and simply keep it beneath your car’s backseat or hang them up with the support of bungee cords.

How To Use A Fishing Rod Sleeve?

Fishing rod sleeve/socks are the easiest when it comes to using them. All you need to do is simply glide on the rod sleeve onto your rod covering the rod tip to the bottom of the fishing reel. Rod sleeves are expandable so you don’t have to struggle while putting it on. 

But ensure a few things such as you shouldn’t pull a rod sleeve till the end to cover up the reel as well, it will highly damage the rod, and don’t even try to put two rods in one sleeve because it will tangle up the guidelines with each other. 

You can use fishing rods for both storing and protecting purposes, also can use them while traveling with your fishing rods. 

How Do You Make A Fishing Rod Sleeve/Sock? 

Although fishing rod sleeves/socks cost a very little amount of money but if you still want to make your own fishing rod sleeves/socks then you can follow the below step-by-step procedure. 

You will be needing 4 easily available items to make your own sleeves/socks. And the materials are- 

Materials 

  • PET braided cable sleeve 
  • Rope cutting knife/ rope cutting machine
  • Small propane torch
  • Heat shrink
  • A heat machine as a heat source 
  • Thread and needle to sew 

Cut off the cable sleeve with a hot knife/blade 

The very first step is to cut the braided cable sleeve in an adequate size by warming up a good cutting knife with a small propane torch or better use a good cutting machine as it cut the sleeve in the best way possible.

Quickly open up the sleeve 

Then quickly open at least on side of the cut sleeve as you have cut it with a hot knife so it if you don’t open it quickly, the ends may stick to each other. 

Sew the folded bottom 

Once you got your desire sized sleeve next up is to fold the bottom in creasing with your fingers, keeping 1/4  inch outward, and do it two or three times. And there you get a nicely wrapped end. And to secure it, take a needle and thread and make loops through it and sew it nicely.

Shrink the tip

Now the very last step is to shrink the tip, for that take a heat machine and seal the tip with a 3/4  inch heat shrink. And that is how you will secure the tip as well. 

All these 4 steps will certainly help you to make a good fishing rod sleeve/sock all by yourself. 

How To Protect Fishing Rods?

The simplest way of protecting fishing rods is using fishing sleeves/socks. Or if you want you can use a fishing rod rack or else build separate shelves with a storage bin in your house or in the garage. 

Fishing sleeves or socks are the absolute first recommendation as they are cheap yet beneficial.  It keeps away dust and dirt, also, prevents unwanted tangling up. You can store your rods learning in them in a dry place for a long time. 

Fishing rod rack and home-made shelves are also a great option for protecting fishing rods but one requires extra money and the other requires extra effort. Both of the methods will provide a little bit more protection than rod sleeves so the preference is yours which one you want to adopt to protect your fishing rods. 

How Do You Keep A Fishing Rod From Getting Tangled? 

You wouldn’t want to get your fishing rods to keep tangling with each other because it can break a guide or a rod tip. So to keep your fishing rod from getting tangled you can adopt these two methods given below. 

Use rod sleeves/socks 

This is the best ever option, just use a rod sleeve or sock to keep your fishing rods inside it, it is expandable and keeps your rods vertically, also, organize them perfectly which prevent tangling up. 

Use hook bonnets 

It’s also a savior, hook bonnets are good at storing lures while securing your bait on the fishing rod. All you need to do is make a modification with scissors, cut one side and expose one hook to protect the bait and you are good to go. 

How To Carry And Protect Fishing Rods In A Truck Bed?

Carrying and protecting fishing rods in a truck bed might be tricky but not difficult. You can adopt these 3 methods given below to carry and protect your rods in a truck bed.

  • Build a rod pod/ tube
  • Tie the rod tips with a strap and let the handles test on a PVC made base
  • Create a rod rack

Fishing rod sleeves/socks work excellently when it comes to safeguard and store fishing rods, even for long-term purposes.

Also, these are very travel-friendly. If you want to enjoy using your fishing rods for a long time, just grab fishing rod sleeves or socks and keep them away from all kinds of risks. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why do fishing rods have split grips?

Why do fishing rods bend?

Can a fishing rod bend both ways?

Are fishing rods hollow?

Can fishing rods get wet?

Do fishing rods go bad?