Just remember to keep a very loose drag at first, then tighten as needed & do NOT lift fish with the rod, use a net or grab the fish by the fishing line & lift. Use 2 or 4lb test mono line.
Fishing Line Preference on a Pen Fishing Rod:
2 or 4lb test Trilene XL = XL Extra Limp
Braided Line:
We don't suggest any braided line because it does not stretch like mono & your chances of damaging the rod increase with the amount of pressure on the rod & not the reel's drag system. The less stress on the rod & the more on the drag system the better. It doesn't matter if the 25lb braided line is the same diameter of 4lb test line, it's still 25lb braided line, we don't suggest you use it.
Spooling up your reels.
If you did not purchase line from us, you will undoubtedly need to put line on your reel or "spool" up.
Do it by hand. Do NOT put a plastic spool on any automated spooler, you will crack it in half. There is a manufacture line on almost ALL molded plastic components that are identical on both sides. We don't suggest you spool a mini aluminum spool on a machine either. We put all line on hundreds of reels by hand. There isn't enough line capacity to have to put any pen reel spool on an automated machine.
Remember, these are miniature scaled down models of your favorite rods & reels so you have to operate & treat them like scaled down models..
When Opening:
1.) Remove cap.
2.) Open manually or tilt down in a 30º angle to let tubes open automatically.
3.) DO NOT flick your pen rod open like a sword, you are NOT a Jedi Knight!
4.) Align titanium guides to your preference & GENTLY snug tubes into place one at a time.
5.) DO NOT put the cap on the handle of the pen rod when you open it, you will scratch up the handle & it cannot be returned.
6.) DO NOT attempt to pull the tubes open too tight as to emulate a single blank rod, it is NOT a single blank rod. If you pull the tubes out too tight, ESPECIALLY the tip, you will NOT be able to close them. If you break the tip, you did NOT follow directions. Do not come up with stories about HUGE FISH breaking the rod tip or UFO's flying by & snapping the tip off. Watch all the videos ESPECIALLY Fish Fighting Basics with Penfishingrods.com & Penfishingrods.com for Dummies. If 9 year old kids can catch 15 lb fish on a pen fishing rod without breaking it, then anyone can.
7.) DO NOT lift fish with the pen rod, you can damage the tip of the rod. Use a NET, or pick the fish up by the line.
8.) DO NOT let the tip of the rod bend independently of the other tubes.
9.) When you open your pen fishing rod, you will notice that there is a slight wobble in the main tube. This is normal. There is no locking mechanism to hold a pen rod tube inside the handle, except a piece of electrical tape. If there was a locking device, there would be no room to close it and it would no longer be a telescopic rod because it would never close. You will also notice that the cap barely stays on & the only thing keeping it on is a clear plastic O ring. The O ring is the widest,thickest, largest diameter on a pen fishing rod. If there was no O ring, the cap would fall off. The cap's only purpose is to protect the guides from becoming bent or damaged. These 2 features are NOT defects. There are no locking mechanisms in a pen fishing rod whatsoever. None of the tubes lock in place. Don't compare a pen fishing rod to a single blank rod, one goes in your pocket, the other your trunk. A pen fishing rod is 10 sections that are fit together & made to be snugged gently together as you set it up & the parts may move with usage & continued casting. Pen rods are NOT made by machine or on a jig. They are hand assembled & the rings may not be 100% straight once they dry. If the main tube was any tighter it would rub each time you opened it & scrape off the primer, the paint job, the clear coating AND the logo which is a small sticker, as well as slowly damage your pen fishing rod. You may have to adjust your tubes every once in a while while casting. The pen fishing rod you have in your hand is the same exact pen rod in all the videos. The main tube also spins during usage. They are made to close up & fit in your pocket. If you email us to say that the main tube is defective, since it's wobbly or loose, or that the cap is loose I will probably not even answer because you didn't read these directions like you should have. If I do answer, you are going to read exactly this as a copy & paste. We try to answer each email, but when small genius kids start analyzing products & asking 100 questions in 100 different emails, we have to draw the line. 10,000 kids emailing 100 emails a day is a bit much. If you are old enough to use a pen fishing rod, go online & email us, then you are old enough to read these directions. We are very busy & we don't have time to answer customers who decide they don't have to read directions or these FAQ, but we still love you, just not as much as we did before you emailed us! =)~
When Casting:
ALL CUSTOMERS, ESPECIALLY GOLIATH™ CUSTOMERS... Read the following.
If you have a pen rod Goliath™, don't force the cap all the way down on it because you may bend the tip & force the small insert out of the tip & top guide which will have to be replaced. Goliath™ rods barely fit in a pen rod housing so close the cap gentl;y.
1.) DO NOT use lures heavier than 1/4 of an oz lures, baits to cast or you may damage the tubes or snap the tip.
2.) DO NOT use heavier line than 2 or 4 lb test monofilament due to the stretching capabilities of the line.
3.) DO NOT use braided line of any kind regardless of the diameter being the same as 1 or 2lb test because it doesn't stretch & with a miniature rod you need a loose drag & stretch.
4.) DO NOT rely on the whipping action of the rod to propel your lure, bait etc. You must keep at least 3' lead when casting anything & catapult the hook as opposed to reeling the hook/lure up to the tip & relying on the rod to whip it. Use common sense & have fun when using a miniature pen fishing rod. =)
When Closing:
1.) Remember to close your pen fishing rod by holding the main supportive or fattest tube first, then close all the way up to the skinniest tube last. (Remember that the tubes are only to be snugged open with your thumb & pointer finger so you can close them with ease when it is time to close the rod.)
2.) Close one section at a time & DO NOT let the guides slam/push/touch/bang together or you may knock off a guide & break the glue seal & have to re-glue them. DO NOT let metal hit metal when closing. We will not fix a knocked off guide, you will have to re glue it & here is the video to show you how.
How to repair your pen fishing rod .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I54FazRkRmA
3.) DO NOT close the pen rod from the tip, you can damage the rod.
4.) Apply the reel that you received with your pen fishing rod by placing the reel seat into the appropriate grooves & fasten the reel seat to the pen rod by turning the circular screw.
5.) Set the drag according to the size of the fish you are going for or attempting to catch. KEEP A LOOSE DRAG!!!!
6.) This is NOT a Shark or Tuna fishing rod. If you make the DRAG TOO TIGHT & it doesn't allow the fish to take line when you finally hook one, you will break the rod tip or the main tube! However, you CAN purchase a replacement by emailing us at the link provided. Learn about the drag system on a fishing reel, how to use it & how it allows the fish to take line off the reel & PREVENTS the rod from breaking. There is a link in the email directions to bring you to sites online that will teach you how to use a drag or clutch system. You may also do your own search by looking up "How To Set Your Drag System".
7.) Below are two examples of what can happen IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.
A.) is what happens to the tip when you lift fish with the rod or let the tip tube bend independently of the other tubes.
KEEP A LOOSE DRAG!!!!
B.) is what happens if your drag/clutch is too tight.
Setting your drag system on your reel:
Set it to LOOSE!! If you exceed 10 PSI on these reels you will experience "stickyness" or "Hesitation" from the reels where the line will come out & "studder". This means your drag system is too tight & you are pushing it to the maximum working strength & the reel's drag system will eventually wear down. Follow the directions!!! These reels can handle thousands of small fish & that's what they are for. :)
Here's a picture to dispute all the pen rod snappers who claim they had a loose drag when they damaged their pen rod. This customer has the rod bent in half. Yes, he is working at the breaking strength & pushing the rod almost beyond its capabilities, but his drag system is paying out line as the fish runs straight down peeling line off his reel, which is relieving stress off the rod & placing it on the reel's drag system. He has a VERY loose drag, 4lb monofilament line that stretches & the ENTIRE rod is bent with each tube supporting each other to work as it was intended to. If the rod is bent at the tip or by any single tube in between first & last independently it may break. We will not replace it. We stand behind our products, not the validity of each boasting angler's claims they are pro's, yet they never used a miniature microlight rod & reel. If other anglers are catching 1 - 35+lb fish on our rods ON video, then anyone can. There's no defects so don't try that angle either. There's a 3 part inspection process on all products. That's 6 eyes & hands & I inspect & wrap each rod personally before they go out. You may think we're being mean, but you will thank us in the end if you follow our directions because YOU will become a better angler. After you catch several dozen fish on microlight tackle, you will be ready for any kind of fish with any tackle or line class.
WATCH THESE VIDEOS!!!!!!!!!
HOW TO PLAY FISH WITH YOUR DRAG
"How To Set Your Drag" Search Results.
Online Photo Album
How to Repair Your Pen Fishing Rod
Replacement Repair Tip for Pen Fishing Rod. Specially sized replacement tip to fix broken rod tip guides on pen fishing rods. Fixing the line guide on the tip is a low cost way to get back out there fishing. Includes complete instruction sheet and installation tips.
The end segment of the rod is tapered and increases in diameter toward its base. This replacement part will work for breaks within 2 inches of the rod end. Tip breaks are caused by stress exceeding capacity, careless closing, rough handling, inadvertently stepping on the tip, or just a simple failure due to not having a loose drag on your reel.
What you will need:
* Replacement Tip from http://www.penfishingrods.com - contact
sales@penfishingrods.com for details
* Strong Sharp Scissors
* Krazy Glue or Clear Epoxy/Nail Hardener (apply lightly with wooden toothpicks or nail brush)
* Lighter or matches
* Small rag
Remember that we only include the replacement tip and instructions. The other items must be provided by you.
How to repair your Pen Fishing Rod - Step By Step Instructions:
1.) Using Strong Sharp Scissors, make a swift clean cut below the break. Dull weak scissors will crush and flatten the rod fibers. You need a sharp clean cut.
2.) Gently test fit the replacement tip onto the rod. If you miss the hole in the tip it may cause the rod fiberglass to fray, forcing a re-cut. To prevent fray, briefly pass the cut fiberglass tip over a flame two or three quick passes. If it catches fire, blow it out immediately. You don't want to melt fiberglass into a blob, rather just bond the tips of the fibers together. It only takes an instant.
3.) The replacement should slide over the tip and have a little bit of play (air space for epoxy or glue) If the replacement is too loose - look at the taper in the rod and calculate a position for a new cut. Cut a little at a time, if you go too far, you will not be able to install the tip.
4.) Once you have determined a suitable location and are satisfied with dry fitting the replacement, it is time to affix the tip to the rod.
5.) Put a small light coating of Krazy Glue or epoxy, or nail hardener as on our video in the fiberglass rod tip and about 1/8" down around the rod.
6.) Gently slide the replacement tip in place. Hold replacement tip in place and wipe any excess glue or epoxy from the base. So that when it is dry the tip will close & slide back into the next tube.
7.) Suspend the rod tip so that it will not stick to the surface.
8.) Let Dry completely before use.
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18 lbs 
