Ever Lost A Rod? 2024

Eric Buck reply :

So yesterday I was throwing a red eye shad into a big school of white bass that were busting shad on the surface. I put down the red eye shad and had it dangling in the water as I switched to top water. As I casted I looked over to see a white bass had grabbed the red eye shad and drug my pole into the water. I quickly ripped off my glasses and dove in but managed to keep my legs in the boat so as to save my cell phone. Think god I have a skeet Reese rod because the yellow helped me see the rod and saved me $200. Word to the wise don't hang your baits in the water. Anyone have any similar stories?

DILLY07 reply :

Its happened to me to catfishing with a pal. I was on the jonboat with 90 hp on it. Didn't loose it but heck close call.

I was looking other direction seeing this beautiful speedboat flying by us as that time, I was packing my can of chew tobacco and I put it in my lip. All the sudden, I see my rod hopping towards the current. I was like oh snap, chased after it. Smacked my knee on the edge of jon boat seats which are metal. I managed catching the 8 pound flathead.

Nuffsaid23 reply :

Fishing for catfish on a 30 foot peer in a private lake with huge catfish. I heard a huge splash and I saw my rod going under. It was about 15 feet where I was so I couldn't get it no matter what I tried. I was bass fishing the next day and felt a huge strike in my crank bait and I had hooked my rod and on the end of the rod was a 10 pound catfish. My pb catfish from a rod and reel

iabass8 reply :

I just got married so...yes.

geo g reply :

If you fish a lot jt happens to everyone. I have lost them and found them. I was running the rim canal at Okeechobee wide opened and did not tie down my rods. STUPID!!!!!!! I watched a 200 dollar rod and reel go over the side. I have also accidently kicked one over the side, in six feet of water in the reeds, but big gators were in the area. Not worth the risk! Came back a few days later with a big three hook gaff, but no luck .

Then one day while fishing I pulled in my line, and someone's line came in with it. I kept pulling in about 200 yards of braid and a nice rod and Team Diawa reel came up at the end of the spool. I was able to use the rod but the $250 reel was beyond help. That was an expensive set up, I know someone was ticked!

OntarioFishingGuy reply :

On 7/18/2014 at 8:55 AM, geo g said:

If you fish a lot jt happens to everyone. I have lost them and found them. I was running the rim canal at Okeechobee wide opened and did not tie down my rods. STUPID!!!!!!! I watched a 200 dollar rod and reel go over the side. I have also accidently kicked one over the side, in six feet of water in the reeds, but big gators were in the area. Not worth the risk! Came back a few days later with a big three hook gaff, but no luck .

Then one day while fishing I pulled in my line, and someone's line came in with it. I kept pulling in about 200 yards of braid and a nice rod and Team Diawa reel came up at the end of the spool. I was able to use the rod but the $250 reel was beyond help. That was an expensive set up, I know someone was ticked!

Lucky you, i once did that but i found an old Zebco with half a reel seat...

Jtrout reply :

Last year I was fishing at a pond by my house and I was catfishing and bass fishjng at the same time. I had my old pole from when I was a kid baited in the water and walked 29 feet away making some casts with my bass rod and I heard a big splash and was like big fish jumped. So I run over and before I realized it I noticed the end of my pole being taken into the depths lol. Wish it wasn't that rod i had it a long time

Snakehead Whisperer reply :

Capsized my boat while underway last year and lost 8 complete setups (St. Croix rods and Shimano/Abu reels.) Also lost a large tackle bag full of hard baits (no clue what the value was, and some of the lures were priceless to me.)

It was a really hard blow, but I'm alive to tell the tale thanks to my life jacket and another boater who rescued my friend and I.

Catch and Grease reply :

My grandpa cast my curado and it backlashed and he lost his grip and off it went rod and all!

everythingthatswims reply :

On 7/18/2014 at 9:38 AM, Snakehead Whisperer said:

Capsized my boat while underway last year and lost 8 complete setups (St. Croix rods and Shimano/Abu reels.) Also lost a large tackle bag full of hard baits (no clue what the value was, and some of the lures were priceless to me.)

It was a really hard blow, but I'm alive to tell the tale thanks to my life jacket and another boater who rescued my friend and I.

How did you turn over/where? Good to hear that no one was injured.

Daniel My Brother reply :

My first car was a 1972 Pontiac Catalina with big rust holes in the rear quarters. I must've cornered too fast coming home from a fishing trip, because when I got to my driveway all of my rods were either busted or had the tips grounded off. It was quite a sight seeing them dangling out of that rust hole.

Kevin22 reply :

Had it happen once while carp fishing with a doughball. Ripped that sucker right out of the rod holder. After a dozen or so casts I caught the line and brought the rod in. Reeled up to find the fish still attached. A 14-15" pacu. Yes I said pacu. Those fish are STRONG. He ripped that rod out of a rig that held up to several 20-25# carp.

Eric Buck reply :

Man I feel for you guys. I'm also curious how you sank your boat snakehead.

Snakehead Whisperer reply :

On 7/18/2014 at 10:34 AM, everythingthatswims said:
How did you turn over/where? Good to hear that no one was injured.

Thanks. Was cruising beneath the 14th St. bridge here in Washington DC and hit a barge wake at over 30mph in a flat bottom boat. The boat didn't turn over until it was completely swamped. When I came to my senses, I realized that I was probably 100 feet from the boat. This happened last November and water temperatures were in the high 40's-low 50's, and the air was cold. I started to experience mild then moderate symptoms of hypothermia and probably would not have lasted very long out there if I had not been rescued. Now I drive much slower when it's cold. Promised my old lady that I would wear the life jacket, and it saved my life.

Despite the lost gear the boat and motor were fine after towing them to land. Just had to get the water out of the cylinders.

There's a thread detailing the accident here.

edit: This also speaks volumes about level flotation in boats. I've made a lot of safety mods to this boat since the accident, and now it's back on the water and serves me well.

On 7/18/2014 at 10:44 AM, Eric Buck said:
Man I feel for you guys. I'm also curious how you sank your boat snakehead.

Boat didn't sink (thankfully.) See above.

Darren. reply :

When I was a kid, my Dad had a boat and we were fishing out on a lake. I was not paying attention to his brand new UL rod/reel and *zing* it was gone to the depths of Davy Jones' Locker. That is the only one I've lost so far!!!

AK-Jax86 reply :

Never lost a rod before but my girlfriend left one at a spot for a few hours and then we had to back track and finally found it at the last pond. It was a Pflueger Patriarch spinning reel with a St. Croix mojo bass 7' rod. We left the spot went to the mall, got something to eat, then were heading back to our side of town to hit ponds by us. We get there and noticed there was 2 rods not 3. Thank god it was sitting there right next to the water when we walked up. Grass was kind of high so I don't think if someone was walking by they would have noticed it unless they were by the water.

Slipknot_Fan666 reply :

When I was a kid we used to always go catch catfish in my Uncle's pond to take home and fry. One time I wasn't paying attention and then my parents started yelling, I turned around in time to see my youth Zebco setup go into the water. I was pretty crushed that I couldn't fish any more. My parents bought me the same setup if I remember right and I didn't like it because it wasn't mine. Lol

bassboy107 reply :

Just a few weeks ago i was fishing in a very small johnboat with my friend. I was in the back with my three rods. I as casting a jig and i caught one of the guides on one of my other rods and flung the it into the water. we were in 20 feet of water in a river. I was lucky enough to jab and catch the 2nd to last guide with the rod i had in my hand. In the whole process, i only filled half the boat with water. That was the closest i have ever came to loosing a rod.

EmersonFish reply :

I'm another one who didn't secure a rod. The lake was rough, and a Falcon Lowrider I hadn't even got to use yet bounced off the side. That was back when a rod like that, plus the Quantum reel on there, was a lot of money to me. It was ay Table Rock Lake in about 60' of water, so I just kept on trucking.

Knocked my spinning rod in the water stepping out of it at the dock a few weeks ago, but was able to fish it out.

Have almost lost a few rods bank fishing for catfish and not securing my rod very well.

ATX reply :

I forgot a rod and reel at my house on the porch one morning. Fished all day then when I came back to the boat ramp a old man was fishing off the dock. I made small talk with him while my buddy fetched the truck. In about five minutes he managed to talk me into giving him all the big bream we caught when the bass bite was slow and out of a few beers. I did not mind because he looked like he did not have much. However; I noticed he had a rod and reel just like the one I left at my house. It was not until we got home an hour later that I learned my buddy saw the rod and reel on my porch and put it in the back of my truck. Needless to say, the old fart got my fish, beer, rod and reel!

Jar11591 reply :

Came VERY close to losing my favorite setup last night. I had a large Northern Pike go after a brush hog boat-side, so without thinking I dropped it back down. Well as soon as I did, that pike crushed the brush hog, and I wasn't ready. He pulled so hard that the trigger on my casting rod nearly broke my pinky finger, and of course I had my drag locked in with 40lb braid. Luckily the pike cut through the braid before my whole setup and pinky finger when down with him. My pinky is very sore today. Exciting though.

Phelptwan reply :

Was setting up some dough balls and chicken livers on some big rods and sticking them in rod holders. I flopped one out when another line started bobbing. I went to pull the other line and when I came back to the rod I set down it was gone. Never got it back.

JellyMan reply :

Lost a Mojo Bass and a Revo STX. I was shuffling for my cranking rod after I spotted a school of huge bass smashing bait on open water. I must have dropped it in the shuffle. Pretty unfortunate.

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

On 7/18/2014 at 1:23 PM, ATX said:
I forgot a rod and reel at my house on the porch one morning. Fished all day then when I came back to the boat ramp a old man was fishing off the dock. I made small talk with him while my buddy fetched the truck. In about five minutes he managed to talk me into giving him all the big bream we caught when the bass bite was slow and out of a few beers. I did not mind because he looked like he did not have much. However; I noticed he had a rod and reel just like the one I left at my house. It was not until we got home an hour later that I learned my buddy saw the rod and reel on my porch and put it in the back of my truck. Needless to say, the old fart got my fish, beer, rod and reel!

That's a good story. Nice guys really do finish last don't they?

KHOOKS reply :

My dad lost a Shimano fight rod and a shimano black magnum reel back in the mid 80's. We were fishing three people in the 19' astro glass fish and sky combo. My dad up front my uncle in the back and me in the middle. As my dad and I both went to cast my dad puased and the treble hook on his shad rap hooked into the end eye of the rod. Note my dad had lost his ring finger on his casing hand. As he went to make the cAst ther rod just rolled right out of his hand. I heard the spalsh right at the side of the boat and notice what had happened and I went in right behind it. Itouched the grip of the rod but at the same time my dad grabbed my by waist of my pants so I didn't go over borad as we where in a stump bed. I still think I could have caught that rod. But better safe than sorry. Needless to say my dad went and bought a exact mact rod and reel that night. We where at a family easter weekend trip at a rented lake house, we had brought the boat and gear from Atl. GA. and the lake was Lake Martin in Alabama.

B@ssCrzy reply :

Never lost a rod, but was out fishing one day and saw a kid across the pond bobber fishing. He left his rod on the bank with the bobber in the water. Sure enough saw that thing start moving and straight into the water before he could get back to it. He of course was pretty dejected. Ran off home after that hanging his head. So I keep fishing and about twenty minutes later I move around to the side he was fishing and start casting under a tree in the same corner. I notice there is a bobber that keeps going up and down under the surface and moving around. So I cast out and snag the line and pull it in. On one end is about a 7 lb catfish that breaks the line when I pull it out of the water, and on the other end was the kid's fishing pole with a broken tip. At least I was able to recover it for him. Did commit my Iphone to Davy Jones Locker.....that was more expensive than any of my current rigs. :cry4:

moguy1973 reply :

I had it happen over the 4th of July weekend. I was at my wife's sisters house that has a small pond behind it that is full of catfish, a couple big carp, and some decent bass. I was fishing with my wife and 2 year old daughter for catfish with some nightcrawlers with a bobber. We bought one of the little Barbie fishing poles for my daughter but she decided she had enough fishing for the time and went inside. So I continued to fish with my wife, with her using her pole and me using my daughter's small pole. My wife had caught a smaller catfish and was having trouble getting the hook out, and I was down the bank a bit from her. So I tossed my line out and put the rod on the ground. The last thing I thought of before I headed over to my wife was to prop the rod up behind a log I was sitting on in case a fish were to bite while I was away helping my wife, but I just left it on the bank for some reason. Went to help my wife and on the way back to my pole I noticed my bobber was under so I ran over to get the pole, and, well, it was gone too. I'm guessing that once the fish spits the hook or it rusts away the bobber will pop back up. The pond is about 12' deep and I was fishing about 10' from the bank so eventually we should see it and possibly retrieve it although it won't be in any sort of usable shape by then unfortunately.

fishballer06 reply :

Lost a Curado on a BPS Extreme rod before. Was driving down the lake about 70 mph. Hit a big wake. The rod strap velcro was no good and didn't hold, and the rod blew into the lake in about 40 feet of water. Sad, sad day. I was only about 17-18 at the time, so that was a very expensive setup for me at the time.

On another note, earlier this year, I was throwing crankbaits in front of the dam at a local lake. I managed to hook someone's rod and reel it in. Got kind of excited whenever I was reeling in and saw it was a rod. After pulling it out of the water, I realized it was a cheap Wal-Mart setup with a broken tip and the reel was pretty rusty.

jhoffman reply :

One time before I owned boats I took a girl fishing. I just bought a new reel for the rod like fifteen mins prior. I baited, casted out and turned around to help her. There went the rod, still had the receipt in my pocket.

Dropped a very expensive fly rod in a creek when I took a spill, got it back a week later broken, manufacturer replaced it.

NathanW reply :

Thats a pretty badass story. I have never been around white bass those fish are something else!!

Lost a setup a few years back in about 10 foot of water. Was able to fish it out. Luckily it somehow landed tip sticking straight up and I could just barely see the tip about 5 foot down. Have had many close calls. Luckily they dont sink that fast.

00 mod reply :

I have had a few instances.

Last year lost a Stradic ci4 2500 on a Pinnacle Perfecta Rod when I didn't strap it down good in a buddies boat. Got to the lake and it wasn't there. After fishing, drove the whole 1hr 45min home slowly looking roadside. Somebody got a nice combo.

Couple years ago, I knocked a buddies Abu combo off the coleman 2 man. Replaced it, and then a year later the pond levy broke. We went out and retrieved it. Rod was shot and so was the reel. He sent it in to Abu to see about cleaning and repair, and for $20 they replaced it. He ended up with a better rod and 2 reels.

Jeff

gulfcaptain reply :

Have had to wade in after a rod taken by a wisker fish, glad that my blank was blue and had a swimbait rod in the car to snag the line. Only thing I could see was the handle of my spinning rod. Got it back and cleaned it up. Also had a bass rod slip out of my hands fishing in the ocean off a boat. Went to make an underhand cast and the rod slipped out of my hand. Oops, picked up a different rod and just kept fishing although everyone that new me thought I was about to blow up and loose it.

Team9nine reply :

Never lost one myself, but I did once kick my buddies Loomis/Daiwa combo off the front deck into the lake. Couldn't retrieve it - a costly mistake for me I have pulled a couple combos from off the lake bottom over the years, but none have been anything worthwhile.

-T9

Tyler B reply :

I was fishing for carp one time with my brother and dad (at a family friends cabin) and it was slow so we decided to do some pan fishing to pass some time and left the carp pole sitting on the dock (this was our first mistake). The the pole started to move so my dad stepped on it and the line immediately snapped. He decided to rig it back up and throw it back out set it down again and keep pan fishing (second mistake). A little later my mom called to see how it was going and my dad started to talk about what had happened earlier with the pole when suddenly the pole flew into the water like a bullet. It was my dads natural reaction to go after the pole and with his phone between his ear and shoulder and his panfish pole in hand. His phone and sunglasses flew in the water and he managed to save the sunglasses but the phone sunk to the bottom. We went on fishing and almost landed a nice carp(we would've had it but we didn't have a net and we tried to grab the line to get it in)

A couple weeks later we went back to do the same thing with more knowledge and we didn't set the poles down on the dock when fishing. We were doing alright but then my brother had to go to the bathroom. The friends cabin was locked and we just had permission to fish off his dock. Luckily the neighbor was out and we could use his and he starts telling this story of how he was on his dock when this boat went by and hooked something. They though it was something big and when they got it up to the boat it was a pole. The neighbor told them if they wanted it they could have it but they said no and gave it to the neighbor. It turns out that it was our pole that flew into the water. I think it is cool that they happened to catch it when the neighbor was outside because if he wasn't outside than they probably would've kept the pole and we would never have got the pole back. That is my story of a lost rod. We never recovered the cell phone though.

Jd_Phillips_Fishin reply :

My dad lost a Shimano Calcutta last year in Lake Norman

Fisher-O-men reply :

Was dough bait fishing for trout with my sons and the guy next to us has one of his rods jerked in the lake. A while later my 10 year old gets a bite and reels in this guy's setup with the fish still on it. Without saying "thank you" the fella takes the fish and says "well, that's my limit" and walks to his car. Amazing!

basseditor reply :

Yep, lost two rods when I hit the wake of a big boat crossing in front of me. It was back when the hot rods of the day were Browning boron rods. Two combos in 100' of water at the bottom of Lake Powell.

That was a lot of money to me back then.

Jeff H reply :

I am lucky, have not lost one yet. Did have one stolen when I was a kid. Left it leaning against the tree at the base of our dock one night, gone in the morning. Was my first baitcasting rig.

moguy1973 reply :

On 7/19/2014 at 1:03 AM, moguy1973 said:
I had it happen over the 4th of July weekend. I was at my wife's sisters house that has a small pond behind it that is full of catfish, a couple big carp, and some decent bass. I was fishing with my wife and 2 year old daughter for catfish with some nightcrawlers with a bobber. We bought one of the little Barbie fishing poles for my daughter but she decided she had enough fishing for the time and went inside. So I continued to fish with my wife, with her using her pole and me using my daughter's small pole. My wife had caught a smaller catfish and was having trouble getting the hook out, and I was down the bank a bit from her. So I tossed my line out and put the rod on the ground. The last thing I thought of before I headed over to my wife was to prop the rod up behind a log I was sitting on in case a fish were to bite while I was away helping my wife, but I just left it on the bank for some reason. Went to help my wife and on the way back to my pole I noticed my bobber was under so I ran over to get the pole, and, well, it was gone too. I'm guessing that once the fish spits the hook or it rusts away the bobber will pop back up. The pond is about 12' deep and I was fishing about 10' from the bank so eventually we should see it and possibly retrieve it although it won't be in any sort of usable shape by then unfortunately.

I actually got my daughter's rod back tonight. I was dragging a jig near where it went in and up popped the bobber. Pulled the line in and out came the rod. It was all covered in slime and was pretty nasty. It cleaned up well though and still reels like it never happened. The LED lights in the handle don't light up anymore when you push the button though.

Snakehead Whisperer reply :

On 7/20/2014 at 4:56 AM, Fisher-O-men said:
Was dough bait fishing for trout with my sons and the guy next to us has one of his rods jerked in the lake. A while later my 10 year old gets a bite and reels in this guy's setup with the fish still on it. Without saying "thank you" the fella takes the fish and says "well, that's my limit" and walks to his car. Amazing!

That's terrible, especially considering it was a child who caught their rig. Could've been one of those really cool moments if the guy had been the slightest bit thankful. I'm guessing your 10 year old handled it more maturely than the other guy did.

Bluebasser86 reply :

Had a Zebco 33 jerked into the lake by a carp. They were eating mulberries dropping into the lake so I put a couple on a small baitholder hook and flipped it out. Turned around to take a leak, heard a clunk, turned around to see the rod airborne. Wasn't worth enough to even try to recover it.

I've knocked a couple overboard but always been able to retrieve them.

notevenanibble reply :

Last summer a bass took my trick worm and I set the hook, this was a big fish and my canoe swung around, I was standing and lost my balance, the next thing I know my rod and reel are flying from my grip and over the side of the canoe. This is not a pond you want to be in the water, so I spent the next ten minutes trying to dredge it up with my anchor to no success. Terrible day, terrible story to tell, and I'll never know how big that fish was

livetofish28 reply :

Almost lost my St Croix LTB lew's combo earlier this year in a tournament. I was pitching a jig along a wall on the infamous Lake One fish Anna and as I was swinging the jig like I always do my rod flies out of my hand in 20 foot of water. I hit the deck as fast as humanly possible and by shoving my arm up to my shoulder into the water was able to grab the butt of the rod. Talk about relief lol turns out I had not pushed the button to free the spool lol talk about feeling stupid I did end up winning the tourney with ONE 5 pound largemouth. I guess the lake lives up to its name lol

tight lines

Andrew

FrogFreak reply :

I lost a Pflueger combo over the side. I was in my yak pulling my older boy (21 yrs old) back to shore, he was in a float tube. I caught the end of his rod with the paddle and it was gone. The boy wasn't paying attention at all because he was cold so when I yelled at him to grab it, he just looked at me like, 'grab what?" Same day I dropped my Oakleys in the water. Then we went to another spot and the boy lost his other road fishing from a pier. It was early in the year and the water wasn't very warm so he didn't want to jump in. Well, his younger brother (19 yrs old) had seen enough and he jumped in and dove down 10 feet and got the rod and reel after 2 attempts.

Fisherman) reply :

Left a small rod with a small shad in a makeshift rod holder on a dock and next thing I know the rod is missing!!

ColdSVT reply :

I lost a st croix premier in a move...no clue where it went

I still say my wife sold it lol

CeeJay reply :

Somewhat shockingly, no I haven't lost a rod to the water depths. Car keys, yes...as well as cameras, shoes (!), cigars, and of course plenty of terminal tackle.

The rods I did lose over the years were stolen from my garage....what kind of angler steals other angler's rods?? Oh well, there are knuckleheads in any sport/hobby I suppose.

Dwight Hottle reply :

Don't want to talk about it.

A-Jay reply :

On 5/31/2015 at 10:05 PM, Dwight Hottle said:
Don't want to talk about it.

I didn't think you'd be discussing that one . . . .

A-Jay

Bankbeater reply :

Almost had a catfish pull a rod into the lake one time. I did a dumb thing and just laid the rod on the bank, but I got to it before it went in the water.

scaleface reply :

I have dove in twice for rods when bass hit the dangling lure . Saved the rod both times. My uncle laid his rod down to help me get unsnagged . When he got back his rod was missing .

Danturner reply :

Some friends and I were dock fishing one night any my buddy threw a chicken liver out on a $300 brand new at croix, he grabbed another rod and was cranking for bass when the st Croix took off into the lake....always pays to either set your drag super low or don't close the bale....either way there's a st croix somewhere in the bottom of rocky gap state park lake in Maryland!

nosdog2 reply :

Not yet, but almost did a couple weekends ago. Went to take a fish off and 'set' my rod down behind me, had the bait and was readjusting it. after I finished I turned around to notice that I 'set' my rod over the side of the boat in the water, luckily it was closed so I just had to pull it out.

atcoha reply :

Never lost a rod, but when I used to play golf, I "lost" several clubs to the surrounding trees and occasional pond...on purpose.

I quit golf.

WPCfishing reply :

On 5/31/2015 at 10:05 PM, Dwight Hottle said:
Don't want to talk about it.

Me either.....................

bassh8er reply :

It took losing 3 ice fishing combos for me to figure out to leave the bail open when using a slip bobber and minnow.

I'll admit it is pretty hilarious to watch a whole rod, reel and rod holder go down a 6" hole so quickly; you wouldn't think it was possible to make it down the hole, let alone so quickly.

G8RBob reply :

If you haven't yet lost one, you will. It happens.

zachb34 reply :

About 5 years ago I lived in a neighborhood with a nice size lake. I had a little bass raider type boat, and another kid in the neighborhood with zero boating experience got a 10 foot jon boat. Him and about 5 other friends of mine piled in his little jon and where about a quarter mile off shore and one person decided to step on the edge. The entire boat flipped and he lost 4 rods, a battery, big tackle box, etc. I dragged my boat out and got his boat just as it was completely underwater and about to sink. I went back to the area the next day amd could see his battery in 15 feet of water on my lowrance DSI. Few months later I snagged one of his rods in 16 feet of water on a ledge, about 3 years later I snagged another rod of his. I was able to use the Shimano Sedona reel after I cleaned it up and is now my guest reel. The first one was an Abu Ambassadeur and was shot. There are still two rods and battery in that lake up for grabs lol

Sea Salt reply :

I was fishing off a dock in Florida and a catfish took my rod off the dock. The water had about 20 feet of visibility so I just hooked my rod with a jig and got it back. Eventually it will corrode internally but the rod should be fine. :/

KayakBasser reply :

I've lost a two hundred dollar combo that flew out of the back of a pickup truck....last time I ever did that.

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