nicks in the handle

Rap,
    When I am restoepairing an old one I will take an old piece of cork, wine bottle is best, and then chop it up really fine, mix it with some good waterproof glue and then put that mix in the chunk out.   Then sand to match.  May not be an exact match but it will be close and it will keep the chip from spreading.  Or you can just carve a matching piece out of the wine cork and try to splice it in.  Either way works. the color may be a little off though.

Does the cork catch the fish or does it catch the angler????

You can use Elmers ProBond wood filler or just throw the entire rig in the brush.