Broke A Rod This Morning... First One In A Long Time! 2025

desmobob reply :

I headed out extra early this morning for a "blast and cast" outing... it was opening day of duck season. I laid the Beretta 390 on the deck alongside the rods. If anything happened to fly over, I'd drop my rod and go for the gun. :-)

After I launched, I was removing the dock line from one of the forward cleats on the boat. When I tried to pull the loop through the center of the cleat, it hung up. It was still pitch dark out and I had taken my headlamp off after I got the boat started up. I gave the line a tug and heard a little "snap." I didn't think much of it....

After it got light out, I found out what the sound was. It was the sound of me turning my brand new, only-used-twice, Kistler KLX 6' 3" ultralight spinning rod into a 6' .5" ultralight spinning rod. :badlanguage:

There's always a lot of talk about rods breaking here on the forums. Looking back on something like forty-five years of fishing, I can only remember breaking two other rods due to carelessness: I shut a spinning rod in my truck tailgate many years ago and, when I was a teenager, I dropped an anchor on my then-favorite spin casting rod (a Berkley Cherrywood).

I only remember two rods breaking during normal use: I had the butt section of an Orvis 8-wt. fly rod snap (more like "explode") while fighting a bluefish, and I had the tip of a Bass Pro Shops downrigger rod break the first time it was used. It seems like there should be more, but that's all I can remember.

So, I guess I really don't have anything to complain about except my own occasional carelessness. And I had a pretty fair day of fishing, considering the 55*-56* water temperatures. I caught several large and smallmouth bass, including one very nice example of each type, along with some white crappies and yellow perch. And I shot a drake mallard and a Canada Goose, who paid the ultimate price for their carelessness. I guess I got off easy....

Tight lines,

Bob

Dwight Hottle reply :

Call Trey & see what he can do for you.

WPCfishing reply :

You're new nick name; Buster!

Long Mike reply :

In all my many years of fishing, I have broken only one rod, or rather had it broken for me. When I was about 10 or 12 I was showing the rod I had received for my birthday to a friend. I told him it was made of fiberglass. He was very exited to tell me that "Wow, those rods are unbreakable!" He then proceeded to demonstrate, and splintered the top six inches off my new rod.

bigbill reply :

I was so careless as a teenager I broke one rod per year. Luckily a cheap spinning rod. I picked up a expensive flyrod setup at Kittery trading post while on vacation to Maine.

On clearance. What a nice 3/4 wt rod. They filled the reel with line and tied the leader. I took it one evening panfishing. First time out I had a blast. I never used a flyrod before. In the dark I put it in the hatchback. I didn't see the tip sticking out the window. I put the electric up and heard that crack that sounded like it went around the lake. That was an expensive crack.

I feel for you bro. I saved over a $100+ on this buy but lost $100 to replace it.

I do not purchased rods that cost more than $100 now. I haven't broken a rod in over a decade but if I listen hard enough I swear I can hear that costly crack noise faintly.

MickD reply :

Do nothing with the rod until you read this: http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/repair-oquinn.html

There is a high probability that your rod can be repaired to work as well as it did before, just a little section of mismatch that you will probably not notice when you get used to it.

Catch and Grease reply :

On 10/11/2015 at 9:17 AM, Long Mike said:
In all my many years of fishing, I have broken only one rod, or rather had it broken for me. When I was about 10 or 12 I was showing the rod I had received for my birthday to a friend. I told him it was made of fiberglass. He was very exited to tell me that "Wow, those rods are unbreakable!" He then proceeded to demonstrate, and splintered the top six inches off my new rod.

I would have choke slammed him after that... Haha

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

On 10/11/2015 at 9:55 AM, MickD said:

Do nothing with the rod until you read this: http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/repair-oquinn.html

There is a high probability that your rod can be repaired to work as well as it did before, just a little section of mismatch that you will probably not notice when you get used to it.

This is true. In fact I have one right in front of me. Not sure if the retail value of that Rod but if it's worth $25 plus shipping I'll take care of it for you.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

On 10/11/2015 at 9:55 AM, MickD said:

Do nothing with the rod until you read this: http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/repair-oquinn.html

There is a high probability that your rod can be repaired to work as well as it did before, just a little section of mismatch that you will probably not notice when you get used to it.

This is true. In fact I have one right in front of me. Not sure if the retail value of that Rod but if it's worth $25 plus shipping I'll take care of it for you.

*Hootie reply :

Did I read that right? You broke it and now it's 2" longer?

Hootie

DirtyDeuceGoose reply :

I thought the same thing Hootie, but it lost 2.5". I missed the decimal place the first time through.

*Hootie reply :

On 10/12/2015 at 12:21 AM, DirtyDeuceGoose said:
I thought the same thing Hootie, but it lost 2.5". I missed the decimal place the first time through.

The devil is in the details. This old man needs to look closer....lol.

Hootie

WRB reply :

It's also,worth contacting the rod maker and check on the warranty for rod replacement.

Tom

bigbill reply :

I've taken a steel rod and insert it inside the rod with glue halfway in one side. Then glue the other half together line it up straight for a cheap fix rather than throw the rod out. Or just add a new tip.

Dwight Hottle reply :

On 10/11/2015 at 9:17 AM, Long Mike said:
In all my many years of fishing, I have broken only one rod, or rather had it broken for me. When I was about 10 or 12 I was showing the rod I had received for my birthday to a friend. I told him it was made of fiberglass. He was very exited to tell me that "Wow, those rods are unbreakable!" He then proceeded to demonstrate, and splintered the top six inches off my new rod.

With friends like that one I would hate to see your what your enemies do to your gear.

desmobob reply :

On 10/11/2015 at 9:55 AM, MickD said:

Do nothing with the rod until you read this: http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/repair-oquinn.html

There is a high probability that your rod can be repaired to work as well as it did before, just a little section of mismatch that you will probably not notice when you get used to it.

Thanks very much for that most excellent link! I believe I have a suitable fiberglass rod tip section I can use for the repair.

On 10/11/2015 at 1:19 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:
This is true. In fact I have one right in front of me. Not sure if the retail value of that Rod but if it's worth $25 plus shipping I'll take care of it for you.

Thanks for your offer... I appreciate it. The rod sells for $200, so it's worth it to me to get it repaired I'm going to do the repair myself. I have the materials I need (I've built a couple of fly rods) and just enough skill to really get it F-"ix"-ed up. :-)

If I chicken out at last minute, I'll send it to you!

Thanks,

Bob

Racerx reply :

Broke a rod, today, as well. Was only a $25 Berkley Cherrywood HD, so it's not major loss. Still, it ticked me off, majorly, since it happened on a snag, and I barely got any force on it when it happened. Looking at the inside of the break, I'm not altogether impressed. Seems very thin, IMO. I'll buy a replacement, come payday, but it won't be another Berkley.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

On 10/12/2015 at 7:34 AM, desmobob said:

Thanks very much for that most excellent link! I believe I have a suitable fiberglass rod tip section I can use for the repair.

Thanks for your offer... I appreciate it. The rod sells for $200, so it's worth it to me to get it repaired I'm going to do the repair myself. I have the materials I need (I've built a couple of fly rods) and just enough skill to really get it F-"ix"-ed up. :-)

If I chicken out at last minute, I'll send it to you!

Thanks,

Bob

If you want to chat or compare notes feel free to call.

MickD reply :

No no no, don't even think of using steel. Read the link I've posted and/or talk to Delaware Valley Tackle. If $25 + double shipping is too much, read the link. You may want to take a shot at it yourself. It's not that difficult. Or a local repair guy could do it. Or do the sleeving yourself and have a local pro do the wrapping.

WRB reply :

Kistler rod warranty cover "accidents" for 1 year, you might want to look into it.

Tom

WIGuide reply :

I broke a rod a few weeks ago when it got caught under my tie down cleat as I stepped up to the front deck. Although it's not in two pieces yet, I'm sure it would be if I made a cast with it, or set the hook.

desmobob reply :

On 10/12/2015 at 12:08 PM, WRB said:

Kistler rod warranty cover "accidents" for 1 year, you might want to look into it.

Tom

That's not the case. Anyway, it was totally my fault.

From the Kistler warranty page:

"The warranty is not intended to cover accidents, abuse, neglect or normal wear and tear. Kistler Rods reserves the right to void any warranty claim. Obviously we can’t cover tailgate, rod locker or clumsy feet damages, so that we can cover legitimate claims for valued customers for years to come."

Tight lines,

Bob

MickD reply :

WiGuide, if your rod is a special one you'd like to fish with again, it most likely can be repaired. Check the link I posted earlier. Based on your description of it probably not being sound, the best way to treat it is probably to cut it cleanly at the damage and sleeve it as described in the link. If you're lucky and no guide is involved, you only have the reinforcement wrap to do after the sleeve process. Be sure to scuff the outer surface before applying epoxy, use no alcohol or other spirits.

MickD reply :

Racerx, keep your Berkely to use for sleeve parts if needed in the future.

ogbfishing reply :

I had an light action Abu and snapped it clean in half setting the hook on a lgb

WRB reply :

On 10/13/2015 at 5:49 AM, desmobob said:

That's not the case. Anyway, it was totally my fault.

From the Kistler warranty page:

"The warranty is not intended to cover accidents, abuse, neglect or normal wear and tear. Kistler Rods reserves the right to void any warranty claim. Obviously we can’t cover tailgate, rod locker or clumsy feet damages, so that we can cover legitimate claims for valued customers for years to come."

Tight lines,

Bob

Did you have VIP warranty?

It's your rod, your choice, good luck with the repair.

Tom

5864

Broke A Rod This Morning... First One In A Long Time! 2025

related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic