Guys I have my 908 Swimbait rod in my truck and because it is very long, Part of it expose to elements and now we have rainy days and I was thinking if the neoprene cover can protect my fishing rod from rain or I need to go and bring it inside home.

Neoprene is waterproof, but unless it has sealed zippers it will still get wet inside. 

Neoprene reel cover?  (they certainly don't seal)

They do make good sealed zippers, and maybe I'm not familiar with the rod cover you're talking about. 

The 6th Sense sleeve is made to protect a rod from impact, not really from weather

If what you're asking about encases the rod and reel and has sealed zipper, no worries. 

If they're not sealed zippers, could be made worse by slow drying and mildew. 

If you've ever opened a tube for multipiece rod and smelled sour milk - the sock and rod inside is on its way to biological rot. 

If you're talking about driving to fish and bring the rod inside at home, I wouldn't worry about it getting wet. 

 

@Big Rick - yes, long-term storage in the weather is UV, wet/dry - everything that cracks plastic. 

With long term moisture in a closed environment, once you get biological cheese going, it's no longer just water, it's ammonia,  hydrogen sulfide, organic acids....

Think about the things your rod brings back with it when you take it out for a day on the water.  You're bringing back algae and bacteria for a base, mold spores last for millennia. 

 

Here's the bow hatch on my kayak - I have tethered dry bags, a small light one for fly rod fanny pack containing the reels and fly boxes, and a 4'-long for multipiece rods - back-up rods and fly rods.  These are to protect the gear from saltwater, but dry bags are just imperfect enough, they have to be aired out in the garage after after every trip.  My back-up bait reel and spinning spool are in a pelican box in the lap hatch. 

 

Don’t chance it…bring it in.

 

ATA, I don’t want to hijack your post but your question brought up 2 questions I have had, 1 is related:

 

1.  If a rod goes in wet or if there is some wetness inside, how quickly does it dry and does it potentially matter (worried about the mildew you referred to)?

2. Does the weight of the Neoprene cause any bend in the upper portion of the rod?

 

I would prefer Neoprene for hook purposes but have hesitated.  Apologies…it didn’t warrant it’s own thread and seemed somewhat appropriate here.

I'm a bit confused. Rods are used in the water. Often time submerged when fighting a fish or unsticking a lure. Surely rain won't hurt it. On the flip side, any equipment left to the elements will have issues mostly from the sun and UV rays. 

These are not to be stored in anything that  is wet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MOLD Loves wet cork in a sleeve of anything.

Do you not fish in the rain ? I've had rods get soaked, never hurt them.

2 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

Do you not fish in the rain ? I've had rods get soaked, never hurt them.

Yes I do< but this situation is different. I fish in rain then you'll have water all drain and your rod is not holding any water, But the reel cover is another story.

Just a thought, but for a quick Cheap fix, wrap the rod in saran wrap. Done right it should keep the water out, the bad part is unwrapping it. lol 

Next time buy a 2 piece rod that fits inside the truck body ?  There is zero need for a 1 piece rod. 2 piece can do anything a 1 piece can do.

For the short period that it gets wet I wouldn't worry about it.   I would be more concern about it getting banged around and broken. 

It appears he's asking about long-term storage in the truck bed, vs whether he needs to bring it inside. 

That's a daily wet cycle plus UV - if the rod in long-term weather is covered with a neoprene sleeve, it may never quite dry. 

A neoprene sleeve is great for travel, where it does its job protecting against impact. 

My surf rods hang in the garage in multipiece neoprene sleeves (and travel in them) - that's not a concern,  The concern is long-term weather exposure.

 

Anything that keeps water out, will also keep water in.  And that's going to lead to mold and mildew.  And neoprene isn't fully waterproof.  It's water resistant.  Anyone who's been swimming in a wetsuit will tell you that the purpose of the wetsuit isn't to keep you dry, but to keep you warm.  So in a heavy rain, it'll absorb the water and not let the water out for a very, very long time.  

 

I second the advice on a two piece rod.  I keep a two piece rod in my car for this reason.  Plus, if you leave your rod in your truck bed all of the time, eventually, it's gonna get stolen.  

If the rod tip is sticking out of the truck I would be concerned about theft then the elements. The reel covers allow air to circulate and as long as the rod dries out from rain no issues.

Air circulation is your friend.

If the rod is hanging out the back or the truck I would be concern of NOH2 Nitrous acid from exhaust when wet.

Tom

Not to worry.  If the rod is indeed sticking out the truck, soon enough it will be a 2 piece maybe even 3 piece rod. 

I think the question is will the neoprene cover protect his rod from the elements, not is it ok for a rod to get wet.  Comments regarding mildew and moisture trapped in the sleeve seem to be valid concerns.  At least that’s my reading of his question.

6 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

Next time buy a 2 piece rod that fits inside the truck body ?  There is zero need for a 1 piece rod. 2 piece can do anything a 1 piece can do.

Yes but this dobyns 908 kinda unique rod for the job, Even I am a brand freak and all my rods are conquest, I couldn't ignore that and that was almost my only option.

I   HAD a 1 piece 7' .   Now 2 piece. No longer need to always fold down the backseat anymore.