Preventing Rod Breakage - Best Practices ? 2025
ChrisD46 reply :
As a number of us graduate to newer , lighter , more sesitive AND expensive rods I thought it would be a good idea to review best practices for preventing rod breakage and rod damage :
The first one for me that comes to mind is : "High Sticking" which is to suggest fighting a fish with your rod held past 11:00 o'clock is the quickest way to over stress a rod and cause it to break .
Let's here from you based on your experiences what tips and suggestions you have to offer to keep that prized one - piece rod from becoming a new two - piece rod !
bigbill reply :
I was on vacation in Maine one September when Kittery Trading Post was having there fall clearance end of summer bash. There prices are unbelievable. I purchased a #5 fly rod list $400 that's rod, reel, line and leader ready to go. They put the line on and tied the leader too for $125.
The very first time I fished a fly rod was this setup. I had a blast one evening. I targeted pan fish. It was dark by the time I got to the car. I put the rod in the back hatch. Not thinking I opened the front door and closed it and heard a snap. One of those it's not a tree branch snap. Being tired I cut 6" off the top of my new Awesome fly rod. It was the most expensive rod I purchased to date.
This is one reason I didn't purchase very expensive rods I'm careless with them. I have gotten better lately.
Be careful when handling our equipment and how we store them.
smalljaw67 reply :
The number 1 reason for rod breakage while fishing is boat flipping fish. I made a post like this awhile back, I know a guy that was breaking rods and thought a better rod was what he needed and when that broke he couldn't figure it out. So, he gets a new rod and makes a video and sure enough the rod breaks and I told him the reason why. He caught a nice fish and he boat flipped it and the rod broke, when I told him it was wrong he said he watches the pros on T.V. do it all the time and there is the problem. Yes, with proper technique you can boat flip a fish with any rod but I will not do it, not even on small fish, so remember the next time you boat flip a 4 pounder and the rod snaps 6" below the tip, don't blame the rod, it wasn't designed to do that.
Smallmouth Hunter reply :
Don't boat flip anything over a pound.
Don't use the rod to pull off a snag.
Don't use the rod to break off.
Don't use the rod to pull in a stick or log you snag.
Don't bring the rod up to past 10 o clock or so when fighting a fish.
Use rod sleeves.
Jar11591 reply :
I have a feeling more rods are broken by loading/unloading them into a car/truck, than they are fighting a fish or snag.
*Hootie reply :
On 4/27/2014 at 9:32 PM, Jar11591 said:I have a feeling more rods are broken by loading/unloading them into a car/truck, than they are fighting a fish or snag.
I have a feeling you're right...lol.
Hootie
Jrob78 reply :
Don't allow your weight to clang off the rod blank while the rod is being transported/stored.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 4/27/2014 at 10:38 PM, Jrob78 said:Don't allow your weight to clang off the rod blank while the rod is being transported/stored.
Now that I never thought of. I guess that is why bait/lure covers are worth it. HRM.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 4/27/2014 at 9:11 PM, aprw1 said:Don't boat flip anything over a pound.
Don't use the rod to pull off a snag.
Don't use the rod to break off.
Don't use the rod to pull in a stick or log you snag.
Don't bring the rod up to past 10 o clock or so when fighting a fish.
Use rod sleeves.
I agree with everything here, I don't ever really find me fighting a fish past 10 o'clock too...I usually fight them right or left to apply pressure and adapt when they go one way or another.
Teal reply :
On 4/27/2014 at 9:11 PM, aprw1 said:Don't boat flip anything over a pound.
Don't use the rod to pull off a snag.
Don't use the rod to break off.
Don't use the rod to pull in a stick or log you snag.
Don't bring the rod up to past 10 o clock or so when fighting a fish.
Use rod sleeves.
1) I break that rule often, use common sense, can't flip a 4 lber with a ML rod
Other are pretty common sense
I have broken three BPS rods years ago on the hook set, but I have damaged rods more by stepping on them and slamming a livewell closed on them.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 4/27/2014 at 11:58 PM, Teal said:1) I break that rule often, use common sense, can't flip a 4 lber with a ML rod
Other are pretty common sense
I have broken three BPS rods years ago on the hook set, but I have damaged rods more by stepping on them and slamming a livewell closed on them.
I flip fish daily but there is a limit of course. I do a lot of fishing from sea walls and jetties, height varies up to about 10'. I can comfortable land a fish using the spring technique 8 or 9#, I know whether I can do it by the fish's head in the water. I'm using a mh rod, a 7'6 works a lot better than 7', more spring to it, not all rods are created the same, that said I don't this practice with all my med heavies. In 10 years I've never broken a rod springing. When I'm on the boat, any rod not being used is above in a rod holder out of the way.
Tywithay reply :
Most rods have been through extensive stress tests and can handle boat flipping, high sticking, etc. Most rods break because they're improperly transported. All it takes is one little nick, or slightly crushing the fibers, to weaken a blank. That can be a big sinker bouncing around on it, stepping on it, laying something down on it, etc. Then, next time out on the water "the piece of crap rod" will snap on the hookset and we'll read about it online how cheaply made it was.
If it doesn't break the first few days out, then it's manufactured properly. Anything past that is because it's misused.
WRB reply :
Bass anglers have a misplaced belief that reel drags need to be tightened down to the max so the drag will not slip. IF bass anglers learn to set their drag to no more than 1/3rd the rods rated line or equal mono line strength they are using, most rod breaking during fish fighting will be eliminated. Bouncing bass into the boat is a problem all the way around, for the bass, line and rods...it's just wrong!
Store your rods in rod sleeves and treat them as if they can be damaged because they can be broken when over stressed.
Breaking rods in locker covers, car doors, running the tips into trees and stepping on them cause most rod failures.
Be careful.
Tom
ChrisD46 reply :
All good replies - a couple more good ones :
1 ) Periodically check your rod tip for any abnormal line wrap which could lead to a broken tip while fighting a fish.
2 ) While walking down a wooded trail , travel with your rod backwards (butt first) - the rest of the rod will safely go where you go.
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
Turn ceiling fans off before any movement with rods in house
tbone1993 reply :
I have to disagree with a few people on here. First off rods come with bait keepers for a reason. Second, most rods can handle an over 1lb flip. Third, if I snag a stick or log that is free floating it isnt more pressure than a fighting fish. The real issue is either neglecting your rating or human error. If you fish a jig on a medium crankbait rod you risk snapping it. If you throw your rods in the truck you risk breaking them. Things like a weight hitting wont cause any not cosmetic damage. If that was the case most rods would be damaged when you let them fall on anything because of the weight of the reel.
In summary : As we graduate to better gear we learn to respect the fact that with quality gear comes a quality warranty. Use it.
Tywithay reply :
On 4/28/2014 at 8:25 AM, tbone1993 said:I have to disagree with a few people on here. First off rods come with bait keepers for a reason. Second, most rods can handle an over 1lb flip. Third, if I snag a stick or log that is free floating it isnt more pressure than a fighting fish. The real issue is either neglecting your rating or human error. If you fish a jig on a medium crankbait rod you risk snapping it. If you throw your rods in the truck you risk breaking them. Things like a weight hitting wont cause any not cosmetic damage. If that was the case most rods would be damaged when you let them fall on anything because of the weight of the reel.
In summary : As we graduate to better gear we learn to respect the fact that with quality gear comes a quality warranty. Use it.
A 1oz Carolina rig sinker can nick a blank, with enough force.
Jrob78 reply :
On 4/28/2014 at 8:49 AM, Tywithay said:A 1oz Carolina rig sinker can nick a blank, with enough force.
Absolutely. One rough boat ride and an unsecured 1oz tungsten weight can damage a blank enough to cause it break.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
In short, avoid compromising the integrity of the blank with dings, dents and scratches; avoid any movement that flexes the tip beyond 90* to the butt (high sticking, boat flipping etc.) the deadlift capacity is much higher if the rod is held parallel to the ground. This is how guys get away with flipping fish up onto the piers.
So called "Quality Warranties" are really a type of insurance or replacement program and add dramatically and unnecessarily to the cost. 90% of failures are the result of user error or mishandling by not following the precautions above.
FishinDaddy reply :
I have broken 3 rods since Christmas. 1 on a toad hookset, 1 in a rod locker accident, and 1 on the deck.
If you don't want to break it, don't use it.
ww2farmer reply :
Keep them away from me.
SirSnookalot reply :
Flipping from a boat is more difficult than a sea wall or a 10' jettie, you have less room to spring them up. If I were bass fishing from a boat I'd have net with me. My boat fishing is in the ocean these days, sure we have a gaff and net with us, many times when we have smaller fish up to maybe 15# we grab the leader and lift them into the boat.
*Hootie reply :
On 4/28/2014 at 9:35 AM, FishinDaddy said:
If you don't want to break it, don't use it.
You mean I shouldn't use my rod if my intent is not to break the rod?
I'm sorry, but that doesn't even make sense. I don't want to break my rods and
I use them all the time. I wonder how many guys have said, I think I want go out
and see if I can break a couple of rods today...lol. Not trying to be sarcastic, just sayin....?
Hootie
Grizzn N Bassin reply :
On 4/28/2014 at 8:03 AM, Maxximus Redneckus said:Turn ceiling fans off before any movement with rods in house
hahaha!!!!ive done that before
roadwarrior reply :
On 4/28/2014 at 12:21 AM, WRB said:Bass anglers have a misplaced belief that reel drags need to be tightened down to the max so the drag will not slip. IF bass anglers learn to set their drag to no more than 1/3rd the rods rated line or equal mono line strength they are using, most rod breaking during fish fighting will be eliminated. Bouncing bass into the boat is a problem all the way around, for the bass, line and rods...it's just wrong!
Store your rods in rod sleeves and treat them as if they can be damaged because they can be broken when over stressed.
Breaking rods in locker covers, car doors, running the tips into trees and stepping on them cause most rod failures.
Be careful.
Tom
This pretty much how I look at the issue, too.
bigbill reply :
On 4/28/2014 at 8:03 AM, Maxximus Redneckus said:Turn ceiling fans off before any movement with rods in house
How did you know that I did this while respooling? Darn I thought I was alone.
I think breaking rods is due to stepping on them then they fracture on hook sets.
FishinDaddy reply :
On 4/28/2014 at 6:34 PM, *Hootie said:You mean I shouldn't use my rod if my intent is not to break the rod?
I'm sorry, but that doesn't even make sense. I don't want to break my rods and
I use them all the time. I wonder how many guys have said, I think I want go out
and see if I can break a couple of rods today...lol. Not trying to be sarcastic, just sayin....?
Hootie
90% of all rods that are used regularly will eventually be broken no matter the precautions taken. And it is usually your favorite one.
ColdSVT reply :
In my 30 years of fishing i have never broken a rod while actually fishing
I broke one rod in a car door and thats it.
Now i have brokena reel once as well...i fell in my face while dippin crabs for tarpon bait and ripped the bail off my reel somehow lol
NWBasslover reply :
Rod socks, rod socks, rod socks!
21farms reply :
the only time i've ever broken a rod is when i was doing a tip-down presentation (cranking) and my line got caught in the trolling motor and pulled my rod tip into the spinning blades. ouch.
on a related note, check out vid WEaKPqTq65U on youtube of a rod breaking while setting the hook on a 2 lbs., 14 ounce fish 
buzzfrog reply :
my first over 30 dollar rod, was a mojo, bought it at dicks, thank God with a warranty. next day snapped 6 in off by parking on a hill and door flying back, none since then, if I buy a nice rod, I usually do over counter no hassal warranty as well
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