Broken Rods

[Hammer 4]

So, getting back in the game, I looking at new rods, reels, ect. I get most of my gear from tackle wharehouse. In looking at the reviews for budget minded rods, i.e. 100.00 to 150.00 I see an awful lot of folks saying their new so and so rod either broke or the guides have come off. In fact I bought a well known spinning rod from them, and about 1 1/2 hrs of light fishing, i.e. mostly dropshot, I tied on 3/8 oz. jig, and the second cast 8" of the tip broke clean off.

5, 6 or more years ago, seldom did hear or read about new, or newer rods snapping. I know TW will refund, or exchange them, but it's pain when you only a 1 or 2 set ups, and ya wanna go fishing. In my 40 + years of fishing, which includes some salt, I've never broken a rod. So I have to ask, is this due to process they use nowadays or what..?

[Glaucus]

If you're light fishing, using a dropshot, that tells me you're using a lighter power rod, likely with a max 1/2oz lure weight, possibly less. A 3/8oz jig only accounts to the jighead weight. Add the hook, skirt, and weedguard, plus the trailer, and you've doubled the weight. That could be why it snapped. A dropshot rod and a jig rod are 10000000% different.

[Hammer 4]

13 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

If you're light fishing, using a dropshot, that tells me you're using a lighter power rod, likely with a max 1/2oz lure weight, possibly less. A 3/8oz jig only accounts to the jighead weight. Add the hook, skirt, and weedguard, plus the trailer, and you've doubled the weight. That could be why it snapped. A dropshot rod and a jig rod are 10000000% different.

I'm well aware of the uses of different-rated rods. In the past, I've thrown heavier baits than what the rod was rated for, but in this case the rod was rated for up to 1/2 oz. And as I said in 40 + years of fishing, never broke a rod. Just seems that I'm reading about far to many rods that have broken for no apparent reason than that they are defective.? It makes putting my faith in any given brand a bit difficult.

[Glaucus]

10 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

I'm well aware of the uses of different-rated rods. In the past, I've thrown heavier baits than what the rod was rated for, but in this case the rod was rated for up to 1/2 oz. And as I said in 40 + years of fishing, never broke a rod. Just seems that I'm reading about far to many rods that have broken for no apparent reason than that they are defective.? It makes putting my faith in any given brand a bit difficult.

You overloaded your rod and somehow the rods these days are defective? I'm not following. 

[TOXIC]

So many things could have happened here.  Your rod could have been damaged in transit, you could have damaged it before you got on the water and not known it, you could have overloaded it with the jig.  But I will say this......"Normally".......you trade off durability for sensitivity and a lot of new rods swing more to the sensitivity.  The only one that I found to be tough as nails and still be sensitive were/are my CastAway rods.  I used them for years in my guide service and they took a beating.  Literally had clients step on and flatten guides and I just bent them back out.  Never had one of their rods break or lose an eye insert.  I also don't swing fish and that's another cause of breakage.  

[CrankFate]

What rod was it?

[NHBull]

Like @TOXIC said, to many variables to explain the break, but it is the exception, not the rule.  Over the last couple years, we have seen more high end rods with tip breakage (MB)

[dodgeguy]

Buy a Falcon buccoo or a. Bass pro shops Johnny Morris signature series.In my opinion Toray blanks suck. I've snapped a bunch of them.for 150$ I'd go bass pro. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Modern rods are made from higher modulus graphite which provides a higher stiffness to weight ratio translating to improved sensitivity. The trade off is that they are intolerant of high sticking or rough handling which comprises the fibers. Avoid any motion that bends the tip beyond 90* to the butt, keep sinker and jigs secure from flapping and be overall conscious of handling and you’ll be much happier with them. Loose guides, seats or grips are another story. Those are QC issues. 

[Hammer 4]

9 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Modern rods are made from higher modulus graphite which provides a higher stiffness to weight ratio translating to improved sensitivity. The trade off is that they are intolerant of high sticking or rough handling which comprises the fibers. Avoid any motion that bends the tip beyond 90* to the butt, keep sinker and jigs secure from flapping and be overall conscious of handling and you’ll be much happier with them. Loose guides, seats or grips are another story. Those are QC issues. 

This is what I was looking for. My post was not about how or why my rod broke, but the number of rods in reviews on TW that broke. So it's the material that may cause the breakage..As for how I care for my rods, they Never get abused, nor stored with the tip bent, ect And apparently mine wasn't the only one that broke. Anyway, thanks DVT for answering my question. 

[CrankFate]

13 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Modern rods are made from higher modulus graphite which provides a higher stiffness to weight ratio translating to improved sensitivity. The trade off is that they are intolerant of high sticking or rough handling which comprises the fibers. Avoid any motion that bends the tip beyond 90* to the butt, keep sinker and jigs secure from flapping and be overall conscious of handling and you’ll be much happier with them. Loose guides, seats or grips are another story. Those are QC issues. 

I’m just glad the last thing in the world that I’d be able to catch more fish on is a thin, stiff, brittle rod.

[Shimano_1]

While I assume "over loading" a rod could cause damage, I dont see a 3/8 oz jig doing so. If any rod I own breaks cause I'm throwing that I'm gonna assume it was defective or I've damaged it somehow.  Like said above I think the materials used to make the new rods so light and sensitive are the culprit.  I fished for years and had never broke a rod but the last few years I've snapped a few. It's just the nature of the beast in my opinion.  This is the main reason I fish cabelas and basspro rods now. I have one close so I can go swap it if need be. 

[Hammer 4]

4 hours ago, Shimano_1 said:

While I assume "over loading" a rod could cause damage, I dont see a 3/8 oz jig doing so. If any rod I own breaks cause I'm throwing that I'm gonna assume it was defective or I've damaged it somehow.  Like said above I think the materials used to make the new rods so light and sensitive are the culprit.  I fished for years and had never broke a rod but the last few years I've snapped a few. It's just the nature of the beast in my opinion.  This is the main reason I fish cabelas and basspro rods now. I have one close so I can go swap it if need be. 

Just to clear up the " overloading" issue..The cast I made was about 40' If that, just an easy toss. 

[BoatSquirrel]

After watching Brett Chapman snap a Kastking on MLF last week, I learned what high sticking is—when you point the rod too high under load—and thats how my frog rod broke.  Some lessons are more expensive than others!