Ever accidently leave a rod and reel somewhere? UPDATE!

[DaveT63]

I stop to fish at a small local pond every day on my way to work.  I usually take a couple rods out of my truck and lean one against a picnic table while I fish with the other.  Apparently, yesterday morning, I walked off and left one leaning and drove off.  I didn't realize it until I looked for the same rod this morning to fish.  It wasn't anywhere to be found at the pond, so someone must have picked it up.  I remember the old like of "finders keepers, losers weepers" and can only blame myself.  I left a note pinned to the picnic table tonight with my number and the offer of a reward for it's return, but my hopes aren't high.  I wasn't all that attached to the Avid MM cranking rod, but I LOVED that little purple Alphas on it.  Gonna miss that until I find another, or a Sol.

[bigturtle]

when i carry 2 rods with me, 1 is in my hands and the other is on my back. I dont trust myself to remember my rods if i lean them against something.

[fishballer06]

You should have cast a line out and buried it in some dirt and rocks... 

Sorry, I couldn't resist. That thread was too funny. 

 

Sorry to hear that. Sounds like a nice setup that any fisherman would love to have back if they lost it. 

[fishnkamp]

Just think how excited its new owner is!    Sorry I know it is painful  

[frosty]

I've never left a rod anywhere, but I did leave a small box full of Ned rig hooks and other technique specific terminal tackle laying on a picnic table not to long ago. I went back the next day when I realized what I had done but it was long gone. 

[Jar11591]

Left 5 rods/reels in the grass at the boat launch a couple years ago. I forgot to throw them back in boat before I took off for the night. When I got home and started to unload the boat I realized what I had done. I absolutely panicked, as the value of this was well into the thousands of dollars. I flew back to the launch as quick as I could, and I really lucked out because someone had found them and put them in a safe place. Now I always quadruple check everything before I drive away from the lake. 

[DogBone_384]

Sort of.... I left my Villain/Supreme XT combo at the bottom of Ponkapog Pond a couple weeks ago.  It got snagged as I grabbed my tackle bag from the back of my kayak.  It was dark, I missed it, and it got away from me.  I didn't have a flashlight with me but went back the next day and gave it an honest effort to find it, hoping it landed at an angle.  All for not.  

I'll put in more OT and grab some side work and replace it with something else...  cursed Tackle Monkey ...

[EllisJuan]

That sucks.  The question is, do you blame the guy for picking it up?  I would have been torn.  I hate the thought of taking someone else's setup, but I also hate the idea of some kid sword fighting with a Avid/Alphas.  Would have you taken it if you found it?

[THE_Vue's]

I had a older guy walk off accidentally and was gonna put my nrx rod in his truck before I stopped him

[lmbfisherman]

Not yet, but I'm also super aware if I'm bank fishing.  I don't want to lose my babies.  They are constantly on my mind, like my children. 

9 hours ago, EllisJuan said:

That sucks.  The question is, do you blame the guy for picking it up?  I would have been torn.  I hate the thought of taking someone else's setup, but I also hate the idea of some kid sword fighting with a Avid/Alphas.  Would have you taken it if you found it?

I probably would've taken it and left a note. 

[fishballer06]

I would suggest calling your local police department (or the park where you left it) and see if someone turned it in. I would also check your local Craigslist and see if the guy who found it posted it up. 

[DaveT63]

I don't blame whoever took it.  I personally would have taken it and left a note, or taken it to the command Lost and Found (it was on a military base), but not everybody is the same.  I checked the local pawn shop to see if someone took it there, and checked craigslist, but no luck.  Hopefully whoever found it just hasn't been back yet and hasn't seen my note with my contact info, but will call if/when they do come back.

I have to just consider it gone, and from now on I will only take one rod out of the truck at a time when bank fishing.

[buzzed bait]

man that sucks! hope they see your note and give you a call.

[Gundog]

16 hours ago, EllisJuan said:

That sucks.  The question is, do you blame the guy for picking it up?  I would have been torn.  I hate the thought of taking someone else's setup, but I also hate the idea of some kid sword fighting with a Avid/Alphas.  Would have you taken it if you found it?

Of course the OP would have taken the setup. He just lost one of his.... Sorry Dave. 

[rippin-lips]

I've walked off forgetting a combo  that I laid down but luckily I didn't drive off before I remembered. 

[S. Sass]

23 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

You should have cast a line out and buried it in some dirt and rocks... 

Sorry, I couldn't resist. That thread was too funny. 

No doubt it ranked highly on the wth did he just say list. 

As to the question at hand I haven't left one that I am aware of. But I am probably just so tight. All I see is $ and I work to hard to let one get away. Ill probably lose 3 this week now that I said I hadn't lost one. 

[DaveT63]

I got a call last night from a guy who said he had my combo.  He found it that day, but hadn't been back to that pond since.  One of his friends who knew he found it texted him a picture of the note I left there with my number yesterday, so he called.  I met him this morning and got the rod and reel back!  He said he had been praying he could find the owner because he knew someone would be missing it.  He wouldn't accept any money, and he wouldn't tell me his favorite charity to make a donation to.  But I am going to take him out fishing on the local lake soon.

It's good to know there are still honest people in this crazy world we live in.

[frogflogger]

I've done that many more times than I'm comfortable admitting to -

[YakPirate]

On 8/3/2016 at 11:43 PM, EllisJuan said:

That sucks.  The question is, do you blame the guy for picking it up?  I would have been torn.  I hate the thought of taking someone else's setup, but I also hate the idea of some kid sword fighting with a Avid/Alphas.  Would have you taken it if you found it?

it depends, if left in a high traffic lake/pond, i may take it and leave a note with contact info , or if in a desolate area, i probably leave it thinking the owner will return once realized. 

[U-boat Aficionado]

That's good to hear considering I just saw a boat load of people steal a canoe that had drifted away. Just threw it in their boat and took off. 

[buzzed bait]

2 hours ago, DaveT63 said:

I got a call last night from a guy who said he had my combo.  He found it that day, but hadn't been back to that pond since.  One of his friends who knew he found it texted him a picture of the note I left there with my number yesterday, so he called.  I met him this morning and got the rod and reel back!  He said he had been praying he could find the owner because he knew someone would be missing it.  He wouldn't accept any money, and he wouldn't tell me his favorite charity to make a donation to.  But I am going to take him out fishing on the local lake soon.

It's good to know there are still honest people in this crazy world we live in.

that's really awesome man!  glad you were reunited!  

[Gundog]

I'm glad this story had a good ending. I sorta know how you felt when you realized you left your rod behind. I've done that with many tackle boxes, stringers, nets and other accessories. 

[Master Bait'r]

Dude you got LUCKY!

[crypt]

left 3 combos in a hotel in Okeechobee once.

[DaveT63]

59 minutes ago, Master Bait'r said:

Dude you got LUCKY!

Yes I did!!!!