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Caught some streamside foliage on the backcast last winter, and broke the tip of a Scott SAS 9' for 5 wt when I unknowingly followed through on the forecast. Figured I had probably nicked the blank with a beadhead at some point and weakened it ??
Scott was a bit slow on the warranty replacement, but did provide a new tip section ( it was a two piece rod ) so the rod was virtually new when returned.
Somehow, shortly after I started fly fishing, I happened across JC's article ( the one that he republished this week ), and took to heart the lesson about fighting fish with the tip low and landing them with as little bend in the rod as possible. Have landed some pretty good size fish on smaller rods, and credit JC for the fact I haven't yet broken a tip fighting or landing a fish.
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I broke an Orvis 12-weight while hooked up to a big tarpon. Orvis had a good warantee program. Inadvertanly broke an Orvis Zero Gravity 8-weight that I won. Called Orvis to get the repair number. Was told it would cost $30. Combine that with $26 shipping and it's a whole lot more than it use to be.
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Two rods, both while fishing. Neither with a fish on. My 7 wt St. Croix Legund Ultra must have been clipped with a bead head at some time since the top 6 inches just came off on a cast one time.
Broke the butt section of the same rod (after fixing the tip) while trying to free a popper from the lilly pads. Insteaqd of pointing the rod at the snag and pulling on the line, I tried to "lift" it free like I was fighting a fish. Sounded like a gunshot. Won't make that mistake again.
Kevin
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Yep, broke a brand new Winston BII-t this summer. It was about the 5th or 6th time I had fished the rod.
I had been out all day and guess I didn't check the fitting and the first ferrule above the butt section must have started slipping loose over the course of the day. On my forward cast, I heard a snap and the top 3/4 of the rod landed in the river right at my feet.
I fished the rod out of the creek and thought wow,I was OK. When I got home in better light, I noticed the crack. Sent it back to Winston and in about 4-5 weeks, I got it back all fixed. I reckon they replaced the section that was cracked.
Anyway all ended well.
Jeff
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Its funny, this site is over 12 years old, I have written about not putting your hand above the cork grip when 'fighting' a fish, not pulling the leader all the way out when stringing your rod, not bending your elbow when landing a fish and many other ways to keep from breaking a fly rod and still I talk with guys who have never heard of these things. Things like 'making sure' you have enough paraffin on your rod sections so they don't come apart. Oh,,, sorry, I forgot about the guarantee. Never mind. :)
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Nope! Never have broken a fly rod fishing. Many years ago I broke a Lew's Speed Stick spinning rod the first cast on the retrieve & immediately got it replaced as was a problem with the blank. I guess I've been lucky...either that or I don't fish enough!
Mikey
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broken rods
Broke a fairly good condition Tonka prince cause I am getting older. Lined the rod and somehow missed the eye just above the ferrule and first cast I heard that unforgetable snap. nLooked down and realize I missed an eyelet changed the strees curve of the rod and snapped it, now have a three piece rod. Nick
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Never had that happen
Fatman
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Oh yeah, I've personally heard that unforgetable snap and felt the pain in my stomach as the $500 stick's tip snapped. It probably would have been much, much different if I had been fishing by myself, on a stream by myself. There I could have had a personal fit, in all it's glory and savored the moment, BUT I was fishing with my son and his friend and it was the first time taking them out fly fishing on a nice stream. I hung my head, gathered my thoughts without saying a word and walked back to the van where I had another 4 wt with which to play.
Even though the rod wasn't under warranty, St Croix fixed it in a hurry and only charged me $50 for the repair and the return shipping which I thought was a steal.
The details in their condensed verstion are as follows. I was snagged in a pool just feet in front of me but too deep to reach with my hand. I popped the rod like I had done many times before when caught on obstructions and it was a matter of too much force and the extreme angle of the snag at my feet. Lesson learned. After that I figured out that the very good deal that St. Croix provided for $50 could buy a lot of fly tying suppies and I donated a whole lot of flies to snaggs after that. It just wasn't worth trying to get them back.
Rick
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This summer I broke both a 5 wt. and a 3 wt. within an hour of one another in the BWCA. The 5 wt. when "trolling for walleye with a weighted line and a clouser. Hooked a rock and before I could get the canoe stopped in that wind it snapped in half. It was like almost instantly. Rather than gamble with the 3 wt. I paddled into a weedier area for gills, and started catching some dandies on a Skip Morris. After unhooking my last one I was getting ready to cast and realized the tip had broken. I have no clue on how it happened. Fortunately a friend named Gene Bethea in Texas offered to repair them, and he did a marvelous job. You would have to look on the 3 wt. to see his repair. IT's that good. The other one required an outside sleeve and is quite noticible. A bit more top heavy and unbalanced, but still casts okay. I'll likely replace it this winter. Despite the great day of fishing (two walleye trolling, ten very large bluegill ? one returned would have covered a dinner plate. Largest bluegill I've ever caught, and was probably 20 years old. I mean, who knows.) it was a kick in the gut. I did catch a nice smallie in October on the 3wt and it held up, but even greater, you really couldn't tell it'd ever been broken and repaired. JGW