Rod Breakage

[BrianSnat]

Whenever I read consumer reviews for rods on retailer's websites, nearly every make and model of rod invariably has a bunch of 1 star reviews where people complain that the rod broke shortly after purchase on a cast or while reeling in a fish.

I've been fishing for close to 40 years and the only time I ever broke a rod was by slamming a car door on it. I never once had a rod break on a fish or while casting.

So has anyone here encountered problems with intact rods breaking while fishing? Or do you think most of these rods that people complain about, break because they purchased a rod that was damaged in transit or in the store, or was damaged by the consumer himself?

[islandbass]

I think your last question pretty much sums up my thoughts. Damage was probably caused by some oaf who manhandled and damaged the rod before the poor sap bought it.

Barring damage to a rod from whatever, in the role they were meant to serve, a rod is pretty tough to break. Rod makers wouldn't be in business long if they made rods that broke that easily. Although I haven't fished as long as you have, I can definitely second your firsthand expereince. The only rod I ever broke was my fault 100%.

[smalljaw67]

I have had a couple rods break when hooking a fish but it was more a defect in the rod than anything else,it is caused usually by a nick in the blank or someother defect. I have watched a lot of anglers, most of them younger, break rods and then curse but the reason was high sticking while landing a fish and it happens a lot. They bring the fish to the boat and as they are landing it they have the rod sticking straight up in the air in the 12 noon position and what happens is the top 6" or so of the rod breaks. You be surprised at how many people believe that high priced rods are better because they are more durable which we all know is most of the time the exact opposite. I fish good gear, I have a few high end and custom rods, 6 in total but the bulk of my rods are in the $150 to $250 range and for the most part they haven't even looked as if they were going to break. I had 1 Quantum tour edition break years ago, it was my fault as I was using braid with the reels drag locked down and was horsing a snag, and I had 2 St. Croix LE rods break in the same place which I assume was due to a defect in the blank but under normal conditions a rod should break.

[ripinthem]

If you are buying high modulus/sensitive rods, you are going to have some breaks. Listening to some of GLoomis's talks, its just the nature of pushing the blanks to the limits(ying/yang). I've broke some rods on the hook-set, and some flipping the bass in the boat. I've also broke one on a boat compartement lid(my fault). Its just apart of fishing, and always pushing the limit, which is whats so much fun.

[bigbassctchr101]

I've broken several rods. Cheap and high end. I think it has to do with a little bit of everything. The cheaper rods were usually tossed in the back of my truck and beat and banged around. Explains that. And I knew that when they broke. I was expecting it eventually.

The higher end rods though broke on me in much the same way. A hard hookset, once on a cast. I don't think this is from mis-treating rods, but could also be from a defect, or just the stress and vibrations rods take while on the water. Like the post above this says... its just part of it.

Knowing how to care for and handle your rod on and off the water can decrease this though.

[outdoorsman110]

I had a spinning rod break on a carp that got hooked on the fin, an then my beautiful fenwick Gary Loomis broke on a snakehead, 8lb was what the rod was rated for. Those are the only rods I have broken

[Dave P]

I've had one in thirty years that broke off right at the handle. Thanks to a deep diving crankbait, the reel and the rest of the rod was recovered from 8 feet of water. Fortunately, that's been it. I think most of the breakage issues are caused by improper usage (high sticking) or negligence. As has been pointed out the thinner the wall (lighter) the more vulnerable. Every time you bounce a bullet weight off that blank you are taking a risk on fatally weakening it.

[Raul]

In my 30+ years of fishing I´ve broken 3 rods, two of them were broken by my own stupidity ( improper use ), that leaves us with only one rod broken because manufacturing defect, the rod exploded, remember that sequence in Saving Private Ryan where they insert a block of dynamite inside those German cannons ? well, my rod looked like those cannons after it broke, took it to where I bought it and got a new one right away, after a time turns out that a small batch of those rods had the same issue. Have to tell also, I´ve fishe witn the replacement rod for over two decades without further issues other than my kid breaking away the ceramic insert of the tip.

[flippin and pitchin]

Iv'e owned alot of rods in the last 40 years and have broken 4. One was a window incident which I will lave alone. One was on a cast and I am convinced I bruised the blank previously. I also broke two of the exact same model in the exact same location during normal use. The manufacture made good on it and no longer manufactures the series. Guys I know in the rod industry told me more rods are broken from " bouncing" fish than any other reason.

[Tony Monticelli]

to add to this list of reasons rods break,

heat is a good one.

don't leave them in your car on that hot day, lean them up against a truck hood or hot leather boat seat etc etc etc that's of course hot from the sun beating on it and etc.. it will damage the blanks integrity.

doesn't take much, if you feel like testing it out... take an old rod that you are willing to break of course. take a lighter and run put the flame on the tip end of the blank for a second maybe less and then bend the rod and it should break. even just rubbing your fingers for a bit on the first couple inches from the tip and create a little friction heat on the blank and then bend it and it will probably snap.

the thinner the walls on a blank also doesn't help with heat either, takes allot less heat to damage thin wall performance.

[Tony Monticelli]

also don't try to break braid line with the rod, the rod has a better chance of breaking before the braid

LOL

how many people rip and pull and jerk and go nutty with the rod when there stuck to try to break loose there lure or try to break the line.

[tomustang]

Whenever I read consumer reviews for rods on retailer's websites....................................

The point of a random consumer giving their input is somewhat useless, since you have no idea what the guy does with the rod, how he fishes, or even how responsible they are. You are better off looking on forums for a better detailed review, at least then you can see a better background on the person giving their opinion

[Crookedneck]

Rod breakage is an issue all at some point everyone will probably deal with. To help minimize your rod breakage here are a few do's and don'ts.

1.) Don't Tuna Boat a fish into the boat. Use a net or retrieve the fish by hand

2.) Inspect your rods after every outing. Use a mild detergent (dish soap and water) to clean your rods on a regular basis. Prevents things like oil, fuel, other chemicals from damaging your rods. (Inspect your rods at this point also, look for signs of damage due to lure strikes ect.)

3.) When reeling in a fish keep your hands on the grip. The grip is there to provide a hand hold. Moving your hands up the rod to land a fish is putting undo stress on the blank.

4.) When using techniques that require a lot of twitching and snapping of the rod, keep the rod from striking the side of the boat. You shouldn't need to send Morse Code to the fish to trigger a strike. The repeated strikes in a general area will increase the odds of breakage.

5.) Use rod socks or gloves when storing your rods. Even in your rod locker they prevent alot of tangling and guide breakage.

6.) No High sticking

7.) When storing a rod when not in the boat invest in a rod rack or use the rod sock to hang the rod.

7.) Keep your rods away from windows, truck doors and feet.

If all of the above can not be avoided I recommend a broomstick or fiberglass rod. Ugly stik also comes to mind (also good for your kids, wife and buddies who forgot their gear).