 |
| Me, Early Days |
At Lake Okeechobee back in the 1980s, I stowed my fly rods in their under-deck rod holders of my Maverick skiff. The rod holders, with their little bungee holders, worked perfectly. Unfortunately, a heavy cooler with ice wasn’t tied down, and it slid across the cockpit during a bumpy ride back to the ramp, snapping two fly rods.
People and things move around in odd ways sometimes.
Fishing in the Savannas, south of Fort Pierce, I once allowed my fly line to get caught in the trolling motor propeller. Not only was the line stretched beyond repair, the rod tip was snatched into the prop before I could react. Snappo!
Anyone who’s done much fly fishing has seen a rod busted when an angler tries to snatch a fly from a rock, piling or tree. Graphite is strong, but it likes to shatter. Snatching is not good. Never snatch! Don’t ask me the technical reasons, but it’s the same force that will pop a rod the very instant it’s required to bend too far, as when an angler “high-sticks” the rod with a stout fish at boat side. The loud snapping sound of a breaking rod doesn’t happen when you’re catching bluegills, but it can with big fish like tarpon and mahi and tuna. Be cool with a Big One near the net. Lower your rod tip, and put the strain back closer to your hands.
Experienced, sober fly fishermen do not string their rods in motel rooms with paddle fans. Of course they don’t. Fans can reach out, there’s no question about that, and who can resist a testing “waggle” once a rod is put together? Oops! You see the fan, but does your pal when he takes it in hand while you’re making another drink?
A fly rod leaning against the side of a car looks safe. It’s just when a gentle wind blows it to the ground and someone steps on it, or when a car door is innocently opened and closed from the inside, crushing the rod, that the cussing begins. Never lean your fly rod on the side of a vehicle.
Once in Colorado, in a rustic parking area far back in the woods, I found a $500 Sage 4-weight fly rod and reel with line and fly attached, all in perfect order. The video ran through my mind of the angler leaning his rod against the car while he took a pee. The rod slipped to the ground where he couldn’t see it. He drove away. Sad story. Now it’s a fine Florida bluegill rod. (I left a note on a tree with my phone number, but never got a call.)
Solomon Dave says, when you’ve finished fishing, put the rod away in its case. I know. I know you simply put yours in your SUV, like I usually do, fully assembled with the tips facing forward. It’s really dumb. At least break ‘em down so you can protect the tips, and maybe roll a towel around the parts.
Beginners hike with their rods pointing forward. Better is the rod butt forward. Instead of having the fly line go from the reel through the stripping guide, tuck it behind the reel. That reduces its profile and makes it less likely to catch in the bushes behind you. (There are two easy ways to let a salt water guide know you’re a novice: Take two or three fly rods out of your car already strung and walk toward him with their tips forward. Then, step uninvited into his boat at the dock wearing your gritty shoes.)
These are just a few reminders. Today I sent a rod under warranty back to Sage. I won’t tell you which of the “never-dos” I did to break 10 inches off the tip, but the shipping was $12 and the warranty is $75—the price of an entire Wind River graphite rod, reel, line, backing and case from Cabela’s. I’m too careless for fancy rods and, in reality, I’m not skilled enough to appreciate the difference.