Ned rig for smallies

[PaulVE64]

I lose tips way too often and always in low branches.

[Junk Fisherman]

3 hours ago, Bdnoble84 said:

Uts for rock. A small wire guard makes a world of difference. Weedguard is deceiving, its really a im sick and tired of getting wedged in rocks and breaking off or bending out sort of deal

Im not convinced that the stress from that method on the rod isnt significant. I just inexplicably had my st croix snap and i feel like its maybe that i introduced stress fractures from popping the braid repeatedly

 

That's interesting and I definitely wouldn't want to risk breaking an expensive rod over a 50 cent presentation.  But the rod is under much more pressure when fighting a fish.  When applying the bow and arrow method, the rod doesn't curve as much as when catching a 2-3 lb fish.  

[MickD]

While I have done no testing/ have no data, it is my opinion that the pulling the line tight and tweaking it has negligible effect on a rod.  If rods are breaking, and breaking after having been used a good while, it is because they were at some time damaged.  A blow on the gunnel most likely.  I've aggressively snapped many rods with braid getting snags out without having a rod fail.  (Knock on wood!)