My worst was having my spool fall out of the reel. Fellow next to me asked if that was the way we were supposed to fly fish. I hadn't even noticed it. Then when I tried pulling it in it just spun in the current. What a mess. That was about five years ago. I happened a second time about two years later. Same spool on the same reel on the same rod. Now I make certain before I start casting. What would probably save me the most agrivation, though, would be a stripping basket. In the canoe it isn't a big deal for I just put a towel over my lap and my legs are pretty much straight out. In a boat I find the most incredible things to tangle the line. Don't even get me near a trolling motor apparatus! JGW