Having access to lots of new rods and reels is wonderful. I almost feel guilty when I look into my "rod room".....almost.

I have a sad story to pass on. About 5 years ago (or so) I built a GL2 1083C just to build. I built it, which is different from other TH custom rods that are built by my father, so it wasn't prefect, but very nice. I took it out one morning in January, and wouldn't you know it, I had the best day steelhead fishing of my life. 24 for 29 in one morning on the Millicoma River. Since that day, the rod has never been left at home, usually landing more fish than my IMX or GL3 rods that I have. I don't know why? I have always told everyone that comes into the shop, that all of the rods are for sale, except that one.

Here is the bad part, while rumaging around in a corn last night looking for a certain rod, I turned around and tripped, breaking the old 1083 above the fore cork. With tears in my eyes I sat down and sulked for over an hour. Even though, it wasn't the most expensive rod I have ever built, it was my favorite, and It will be missed.

I know that through all of this I have learned a valiable lesson. PUT THE RODS BACK IN THE ROD RACK WHEN I AM DONE WITH THEM!!!

Thanks for being part of my threapy.

TH

My sympathy. I lost my 20 year old "Orvis" to a garage accident a few years ago.

My condolences. To break a rod while fishing is one thing, to break it under peace-time conditions is a crying shame, particularly an old reliable.

I haven't broken any rods at home (yet), despite having two boys under age 6 who like to mess with my fishing gear. I think it's because I store the rods in a safe place -- above my bed. My wife bought a fancy canopy bed a few years ago. The canopy got dusty/ moldy so she took it off, leaving a wooden frame. I talked her into letting me put my fishing sticks up there.

It's not quite as stimulating as a mirrored ceiling in a low-rent motel, but I find that staring at a favorite rod can sometimes put me in the mood . . . usually for fishing . . . . Anyway, the kids haven't been able to reach high enough to break a rod.

The best broken rod story I've heard lately happened to one of my Hong Kong-based buddies. Jeevan stopped in Singapore en route to see his family in Sri Lanka and bought an 8' graphite light action offshore trolling rod. He couldn't wait to show the rod off to his brother, a notorious heavy tackle angler who used broomstick rods and cable line.
Brother 'X' (don't know his name) no sooner had the rod in his hands when he did what we all do when we handle a new rod: he made a casting motion to flex it. Bro' 'X', used to 6' boat rods, forgets there's a ceiling fan overhead and THWAPP!!!, a graphite dart goes hurtling across the room.

Without saying a word, he hands the now-six inches shorter rod back to Jeevan (who is turning purple) and deadpans "Too soft in the tip. You should shorten it by 6" or so."
Jeevan didn't kill him as he's his only brother, but it was a close thing.

I don't think I'm going to kill Max or Bart if I find out (nightmare scenario) that one of them grabbed a handfull of Loomis mid-sections while jumping on Mom and Dad's bed, but I might put them up for adoption or sell them to a Pakistani child labor rug maker.

Depends on the rod, I guess.




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Two tips. never walk through woods without breaking down your rod first. learned the hard way. Never lay a brand new rod anywhere where someone stepping in the boat can stumble and @$&%$*. Also, if you are that someone where a life jacket.

LOL, ROF (Rolling on Floor). You're killin me Snagly!

If I were to start hanging fishing rods above the bed, my wife would be the one to break them.

I landed a nice 15 pound native steelie last year on the Sol Duc and as I was removing the hook to set him free, he flopped, right across my 10 ft Lamiglas.....the whole thing is on video tape, even the cussing....

From what I hear and know, Brad is the only one to be able to pull this off. Rod above the bed?? :-)

I have a special room in my house for fishing, but the rods stay out of my wife's bedroom.

TH and Mike L: hey, you guys were supposed to support me on the rods-over-the-bed routine. My wife can read and just might be able to find this on the Internet (she sees me reading the chat room often enough at night). If she does, my fishing rods might end up in the storeroom. That would definitely lead to insomnia -- right now I count rods to get to sleep.

As for Randy's fish breaking his Lamiglas, this sounds like a video clip for the Fisherman's Heaven TV show (airing from December this year on the Outdoor Channel).

I've never even met (FBI, please note) hosts Mike and Kevin but from our lively exchanges of Emails I know that they will have a very entertaining and unorthodoxed show. They are also looking for amateur video tapes to screen. I'm pleased to report that two Snagly classics are set for TV stardom:

1) Tackling a hooked King in a foot of water (sucker wouldn't be beached, so I pounced on him)

2) Beaching (Bob, I know, I know!) a green steelhead and having it slither back into the water between my legs, leading to the rather entertaining view of my cramming an 8 foot rod up my rear trying to untangle the line.

I can't be the only person who gets stuff like this on video, so you other guys should contact the FH people via Email and get the details first hand: www.everett.com/users/kevtrout/

Might also check out their website (though it's a pale patch on it's raunchy predecessor) on www.everett.com/fish-heaven

in continuance of this thread.....anyone have a reel blow with a fish on? My Shimano black bantam, which had brought hundreds of steelhead to bank, blew two years ago with a nice nate on. Just disintigrated and all parts went in the drink. Lost the fish. They don't make the parts anymore and there is one special screw on the fighting star drag you can't find anywhere. Every time I look at that reel I get depressed.