Ask MidCurrent: How Do I Put My Rod Away at the End of the Day?

April 30, 2025 By: Phil Monahan

When you put the rod in its sock

Question: This may seem like a silly question, but what’s the proper way to put my rod back in its sock and tube when I’m done fishing?
—Mark from Hanover, MD (via the Ask MidCurrent form)

Answer: When you’re new to a sport, there are no silly questions. And, frankly, I bet many long-time fly fishers wouldn’t get every step of this process correct. Before I knew better, I would just put the parts of my rod in the sock any which way, jam it into the tube without thinking about it much, and go about my day. But if you’d really like to take care of your fly rod—often your most expensive piece of equipment—it pays to store it properly.

In the video below, Orvis’s Pete Kutzer walks you through the process, although I would argue that he leaves out one important step: drying your rod before you put it away. Sealing moisture inside the rod tube is never a good idea, so keep a rag or small towel handy to give everything a good wipe down before you put the rod into the sock. That said, here are the steps to putting your fly rod away just like the manufacturer intended. Although this may seem super basic, it’s something every angler should know how to do.

Step 1: Reel Up Your Line

Clip off your fly and reel the line up under tension, so it goes onto the spool nice and tight. This keeps the line from overlapping itself and forming one of those knots that makes you say, “How is that even possible?” Leave 8 to 12 inches of your leader outside the spool, so you don’t have to search for the end of the tippet the next time you head out.

Step 2: Remove the Reel

Take off the reel and put it somewhere safe, not on the ground or on the roof of your vehicle, where you may forget it. Ideally, it goes in a pouch and then into your gear bag.

Step 3: Take the Rod Apart

Carefully separate the sections of your fly rod. Grasp the rod above and below the ferrule, and pull the sections apart, making sure that you are pulling straight. If you flex the rod as you pull two sections apart, you can break one—especially the fragile tip section. Twist your hands slightly as you pull. If two sections are stuck together, which happens occasionally, don’t panic and start yanking on them. Click here to learn how to get stuck sections apart.

Step 4: Dry Each Section

Using a small towel or a rag, give each section a quick wipe to remove any water or debris.

Step 5: Slide the Rod Sections Into the Sock

Most rod socks have pockets of different sizes, one for each rod section. Start by carefully sliding the tip section, tip upward, into the narrowest pocket. Continue with the two middle rod sections. It’s important that the top three sections of the rod are inserted tip upward. Then insert the butt section, tip downward, so the handle is at the top. This way, when you roll the rod sock, the handle of the rod provides rigidity that protects the more fragile tips of the other sections.

Step 6: Roll the Rod Sock & Secure It

Grasp the two sides of the rod sock, and roll them together, toward the middle. Some rod socks have laces to tie everything together, while others have other kinds of closures. Secure the rolled-up sock.

Step 7: Carefully Slide the Sock in the Tube

Slide the rolled-up sock into the rod tube, so the rod handle is at the top. Be careful that, as you grasp the rolled-up sock in one hand, the sections don’t splay at the bottom, making it difficult to get the rod in the tube. (Note that, in the video, Pete accidentally says “tips down,” as he slides the sock in correctly, with the tips up.)