The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I hesitate to jump in here as it might jinx me. I cannot even come close to either Greg or Ed. I have broken one rod, a three weight trying to fish it over fish that were too large for a three weight, in water not designed for a three weight on the Madison River in Montana on the rod's inagural trip after dad custom built it for me for my birthday. Man I was sick!

I have witnessed several rod breaking's. Let's see, GM on the Kisaralik not far below the lake on the first day of the float on a nice Silver......believe that has been commented on already in this thread. I think I got that one on film, but can't recall. I was nearby when Ed's 6 weight went over the side on the same trip, and was just downriver when another in the group broke one on a snag during a tricky section of the river navigating a tight log jam. Greg got the aftermath of that one on film. It was commented on earlier in this thread. I was also close by when GM lost the tip off a rod he had been loaned by Pappy on the same trip, also commented earlier in this thread. Last season Dad and I were returning to the truck from the DC Bridge on the Trinity and he was taking apart his 4 piece and a piece fell off the tailgate and he promptly stepped on it with studded boots. Sage replaced it. Another time I was with a friend at Pleasant Valley Creek and he had taken his $1000 Hardy six piece two weight upstream way up the valley. We spotted a nice 18" rainbow, which he hooked and landed with his new seven piece rod after snapping off the tip (for the fourth time with this rod). I got that one on film. It was a nice fish and a justifiable way to break a rod. Hardy replaced it with a different rod, since this one clearly was too light for a ferule in the tip. I also broke a salmon rod after hooking a deadweight jellyfish, but that was a long time ago and an old rod and not fly fishing, so it doesn't count. That's all I can think of for the moment!

On a side note I've seen your backpacking list.....you might want to consider adding a roll or two of duck tape

Pete

Not enough to make me stop trying!

Paul

Pete,

The duct tape is in my 'possibles' bag, but I almost always have two fly rods. Now you know why!!!

...that a sewing kit is a good thing to have too! That tent now has a little more "character" to it.

-Greg

...a couple of tips, and coincidently I just broke my G.Loomis GLX
5wt last week. I've had it for years. Total dork manuever- pressed the wrong
electric window button with my rod hanging out my car. Snapped it like a twig.

^%$#@@!!!&*^%$#

Sent to G.Loomis last week. Waiting for either a replacement tip, or perhaps, just perhaps
their new upgraded model It looks sweeeeet.

Anglernut

Three. The first was a Sage 6wt that snapped clean as a whistle on a back cast double haul.

I use schedule 40 pvc as rod tubes (cheap, durable, strong). When I unpacked my rods in Terrace, BC I found a note from customs acknowledging thier inspection of the tubes contents (the only time my rods have ever been inspected) and a broken tip on my 9wt Reddington as proof positive of their handywork.

The third one, I propped my brand new, first time fished Scott 4wt against a rock on the bank of the American before wading out to help my wife work on slowing down her casting rhythm. After a few minutes I heard my dog chewing on what sounded like VERY dry twigs. Nah, it couldn't be.....

Scott replaced the rod but I'm still fishing with a circumcised line.

Two...both the same way. Casting and a loose ferrule allowed the caused a snap in the forward section of the rod. I am soooo worried about this when I spey cast.

Greg

greg wrote:
I am soooo worried about this when I spey cast.

Greg

Tape the joints! Winston has expensive tape that's marketed for spey rods but I use electrical tape.

Paul

You know...I always remember about that trick when I'm knee deep in a river. I've got to tie some string on my finger or something.

Greg

no/msg