Dad bought me my first fly rod about 25 years ago. It was an orvis clearwater 7'6" 5 wt, 2 piece. I used it exclusively until two years ago when I bought an 8 wt for salmon/steelhead (and then another, and then another...)

I wanted to wet a line early this spring and was hoping to catch some bluegills that might have moved onto the beds. I grabbed the 5 wt and headed out about sun up. Second or third cast I heard an odd sound and felt some sort of thump that made me think I hit the rod with my fly on the backcast. It was a dry fly and the thump felt like I had hit the rod with a some weight. The same thing happened on the next cast. I waded back to shore to look at the rod, line and fly. The rod had shattered about 2/3 the way up the bottom piece.

Orvis replaced the rod. I like the replacement, but its not the same as using the old 5 wt. I wish I had been able to hang onto it, if only to look at the scratches and remember how each one got there.

Phishtales