Donated a 2 wt Thomas and Thomas with a very small stainless hardy reel to the state of TN last weekend. Can you believe I just walked off and left it laying on the ground??? Was trying to teach my son how to mend and set the rod down on a patch of grass along the rocks and forgot it. Senior Moment? Call it what you will. It was a gift to my father from the TVFF several years ago before he died. Went back looking for it and nothing to be found. SIGH
Sad Day
That is very, very sad and I can only hope and pray that someone turns it in to someone and you end up with it back. Please keep us posted. What body of water were you fishing?
This is very sad…
Below the dam at the Elk. About half way down between the bridge and the turn. Lost but not forgotten. Oh well…he only had about ten other rods, just really enjoyed that little 6’ 2 wt.
Thanks,
wade
Waders,
You are not alone. This past Memorial Day, I was fishing for Bluegill and set down my Cabela’s Stowaway (7 1/2’, 4 wgt). I was fishing with my 3 sons who were doing very well. When I got home, the rod case was empty and no sign of my Orvis Battenkill reel.
I’m sure I had it when I went back to the van, but I must have placed it on the roof so that it wouldn’t get stepped on. Some how I forgot it was up there.
I checked with the owners of the pond (private ponds here in New Mexico) to see if anyone turned the fly rod in. The place was very busy and it looks like someone picked it up. I sure hope someone will use it and not just put it in a corner of their house.
Anyway, I got a new rod and reel on order.
Vinny
It happens to more people than you might imagine. I left a new 3 wt outfit on top of my van and drove off last year. I returned within 15 mins and it was gone. I contacted the police to see if anyone turned it in - NO. I made myself feel better by ording 5 more rods last year after that event.
One step forward …
It can’t hurt to leave a note at the local shops and on the site if possible. I know that I would certainly turn in a rod if I found one (and have done so), and so far, most of the stuff that I have misplaced has been returned to me once I asked around and someone knew who to give it back to (nets, wading boots, canoe paddles, you name it).
Dennis
Thanks I will post a note with Tims Flies and Lies and the red caboose. Maybe something will show up. Not likely but maybe.
Nice to know I’m not the only one but I feel everyone’s pain with misplacing a rod!
On morning some years back, my buddy and I were fishing the south county, Rhode Island beaches
When lunch time came around we headed off to Micky-D’s… which included a stretch on busy US RT 1… a total of about 6-7 miles
Imagine my surprise when we got out of the van and my fly rod was still perched upon the car roof :rolleyes:
Ever since, I’ve learned to put my rod on the windshield when getting prepared to move.
I find that I’m less likely to drive off when the rod is right there in my face
I left a good fly rod and reel leaning against a bush at a local lake. It was one my son uses. We left for home never missing it. The next trip to that remote lake two weeks later we parked and set up the tent where we always do. As I was pounding in a tent peg, Mike, my son said hey Dad look here. There still leaning into the bush was that fly rod and reel. It had a spider web on it but otherwise it was just as I had left it. Lady Luck favours the Dumbo’s of the world I suppose.
That windshield comment reminded me of an incident at the fish in.
A Certain party and I were planning a short 200 yard drive over to a different lake. I began to take down my 5wt so it would fit in the car when He said
" Just put them under the windshield wiper blades I do it all the time and they ride perfectly".
Who am I to disagree? I did as he did put my rod under the wiper and got in the car. Now the problem was it was spitting a very light rain. As he started down the road He automatically started the wipers. Both rods flew off the car. No damage except to His ego.:mrgreen:
The rod was found! And I have it back safely in my possession.
stories with good endings are the best.
Praise God indeed!!! I am so glad you now have it back! Who, what, where, when…
I still miss your Dad, but, I still can hear his humor in some of the things he would say! He was a hoot!!
Have a great Christmas!
Congrats on being a lucky fellow.
Wow, GREAT news!
Jeff
Good for you Waders, glad you got it back. Merry Christmas 
Sadly but somewhat humorous it was never left at the river!
My middle son had taken the rod apart, put the rod in the bottom of a rod case (2 wt 6’ rod just kinda disappeared in that tube) and the reel was in his vest. He thought I had misplaced another rod and never put two and two together. I must say I was just very happy to discover there was something else in that rod tube.
Miss Dad too. He always had the best advice even when I didn’t want to hear it. I miss being able to ask him the difficult questions of life and the often dry humor that followed.
LOL! Oh man, that’s funny! Thanx for that!
Few years ago I hit a stream an hour and a half away, had a bang-up day catching trout and talking to jealous on-lookers. Got back to the car in the evening, packed up, headed home.
Grilled some steaks and jabbered about my great day to my smiling wife (smiling because she was thinking about anything other than what I was saying). Then I had a moment. My face went pale enough that she asked “what’s wrong?”
“I don’t remember putting my rod in the car.”
Now, that rod had been my friend for almost 7 years. We’d shared a lot. It was the first rod I ever bought and it was my friend.
Hour and a half drive… did it in one hour back to the stream in the dark to look for my rod. I pulled into the park spot and the headlights lit on it lying in the grass and leaves. I figure some poor ole southern boy found it, couldn’t figger it out, and threw it to the ground as “wot in tarnation?.. don’t work!”
I was elated to have my friend back.
On another note, a buddy and I finished a float and I discovered I didn’t have my streamer wallet. Must have left it on the rocks at the put-in. Probably fifty nice streamers in there, and a nice leather, fleece-lined wallet. Had to donate that one. Oh well, now I get to retie and restock without the annoying pang of guilt of getting rid of some old favorites.
How neat is that? Any details?
Hugs,
LF
Alright waders!!! … 