Thanks for the tips Buddy.
I've also read that someone use that coil of spring wire on the end of a safety pin for an emergency tip top guide. Might be worth a try in an emergency.
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The only rod tip (so far) that I've broken was while building a 6 foot, 3 weight, tiger eye blank. I kind of torque gripped the rod with my gorilla hands and snapped about 5 inches off the tip. The accident actually turned a 6 foot 3 weight into the fastest 5' 7"-4 weight I've ever cast. Can hardly wait to fish it.
That's a good idea.
I've known enough people that have lost sections of rods, usually returning to the car at night, by either trailing a rod that's not strung up, or by disassembling it at carrying a bunch of sections, that it's always worth pointing out the possibility.
.....I like the ceiling fan move... it's more creative than the "ramming the rod into the tree" method. I've tried both. However, my personal favorite was having my mom shut my brand-new Loomis 9' 5wt in the tailgate of my truck many years ago, before I ever threw a single cast with it..... made a two-piece into a four-piece in a microsecond.
I just told her "no big deal mom, it's just a fishin pole" and saved my tears for later...
Being an old catfisher, with a cane pole & a bobber, she'da thought I'd gone around the bend if she had any idea how much I'd spent on that Loomis...............MoodocDan
That's when a TFO rod comes in very handy. ;)