I've had two rods break in recent years. I bought a St. Croix Clouser 8 wt to use at the first session of a casting class that was starting that evening at the local high school. I took the rod out of the tube, put it together, installed the reel and line, made my first cast, and the tip snapped off about six inches down from the top. wasn't even using a fly, just a piece of yarn, hadn't even taken the rod out of the tube before.
Bought a short two weight rod from a small builder at the Somerset Show. They put it in it's sack and tube. I took it home and opened it up to look at it and show it to my wife. The tip was broken off. Turns out the tube was the wrong one, it was too short, but they crammed it in anyway.
Both companies made good quickly and with no problems.
Ain't life grand?

Bob

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There is a fine line between fly fishing, and standing in the water waving a stick.