Walking with the rod behind you/God Fly Fishes

[Wild One]

(Couldn't decide on the subject title, you pick)
Walking with the rod behind you. I always thought this was a good idea. That way you don't dig the tip in the dirt, break it off, get it stuck in the trees and bushes, etc.
Well, after tomorrow I may change my opinion a little bit. I was making my way back to my truck after a long, slow afternoon on the river. The banks of this river at this stretch are very overgrown and thick. I was making my way downstream, then saw another angler. I decided to try to leave him some water to fish and walk down through the bushes and trees, rod tip behind me.

When I got about 200 yds away from the truck I looked down and realized I was holding half a rod. Needless to say, I freaked out. I knew that I would never find a 4 foot, thin stick in a forest of sticks and twigs. I backtracked, searching franctically for 20 minutes. Now, I am convinced that God is a fly fisherman because I finally asked for a littl help to find the tip half of my favorite rod. I finally made my way back down stream, my heart in my boots to where I got back in the water. To my amazement there was one green vine in the entire forest where everything else was dead. This green caught my attention and...holy crap, stuck to that one green vine was the top half of my rod!! While trying not to be religious, I am convinced that God totally understood how important that rod is. I think he must spend a fair amount of time on the water.

Wild one;
God was truely with you that day. I never unstring my rod when leaving the river, that way I can follow the backing back to the errant tip!
See you at the Michigan Fish-In!

[perch]

Havent you heard the one that goes like
"God watches out for foolish anglers and little children" ?
Im figuring that you are over 12?
I can use this quote 'cause as another phrase goes
"Been there an done that " too.

[Wild One]

That quote probably applies to me, in both cases. Yea, my driver's liscnece says I'm over 12, but in my head...that may be another story.

[Bear742]

You are lucky.

In spite of your story I will continue to walk with the rod behind me adding a second rule. If the rod not strung, I will break it down to carry it.

[Jonezee]

In "The Movie" Brad Pitt is hop,skipping and jumping down the trail to the river, and you guessed it...the rod tip is in front of him....it hurtss to watch that segment.

[Gringo]

You did it all right - except you have to have it strung for that very reason!

Another point in having it behind you is where you walk up to a stream, first thing that appears over water is the rod tip. I have spooked a few that way, so behind is definitely best.

[bob--o]

OH the memories!!! PA still has the tip of one of my rods. Had to fish the morning my plane left, ran out of time to look for it.

Unstrung NEVER again.

[matt26]

been there done that

[JZ]

One day my dad took me to the shooting range and... well my brother shot way to close to my ears, and i wasn't wearing ear plugs. When i got back home i decieded that i wanted to go fishing. after a short but succesful trip, i pointed my rod back behind me, and started walking back through the woods. for some reason i always leave just a little line out...

When i got to the woods, i glanced back to see about half my line and backing...

Now, i always keep my line in.

JZ