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Everyone gets a bad “Bad Break”
It seems that every so often, someone submits a post on a fishing forum about how brand X,Y or Z fishing rod broke. Some compliment the rod company for their customer service. Some criticize the quality of the rod and vow never to use again. Rod breaks are nasty business. It is financially draining, as well as emotional. Who wants to be at fault when a customer looses a 9 lb. Trout?
The greatest source of anxiety for a rod builder or angler is rod breakage. A rod builder puts his name on every rod he/she sells. Every broken rod is a break in that builder’s reputation, and is a huge source of frustration for both parties involved. However, rods do break and there is no way to eliminate that possibility, but if we take a little time to care for our rods properly, we can prevent these catastrophes.
According to some blank manufacturers, new manufacturing technology and quality control has reduced “non compliance” blanks to less than two percent. The repeatability of the manufacturing process assures us that blank number 3006 is identical to blank number 9 on the assembly line and so on. All things considered equal, then ninety eight percent of all rod breaks can be prevented with proper customer care.
Now I am not saying that that there are no material defects. I am just saying that reputable blank manufacturers make great strides to ensure the quality of their product and spend thousands of dollars to implement quality control procedures to prevent such breakage.
The truth is no rod is indestructible and I can prove it. Not too long ago, I saw a man driving 80+MPH with his rods flapping in the wind in the boat’s rod holder. “Man I hope those weren’t any of my rods.” These rods were whipping backing and forth from Port Lavaca, all the way to Houston. “I guess that is what the lifetime warranty is for, huh?” I wonder who will be the first person he thinks of when he breaks that rod on a 27.5” redfish or a 30” trout?
About Rod Blanks
We have had numerous technological advances since the first graphite rods came out. Without going into the whole evolution of graphite, each new advance in graphite technology brings a new set of challenges.
In layman’s terms, the construction of a graphite rod blank is wrapping woven graphite cloth around a steel mandrel, coating it with epoxy and baking it. Now it is far more complicated than that, and each blank manufacturer has their own proprietary recipes. But this is it in a nutshell.
Each new generation of graphite is the introduction of thinner diameter carbon fibers into the woven graphite cloth (scrim). Although these fibers are smaller in diameter, there are more of them and the synergy of all of these fibers produce a stronger, lighter blank than the previous generation. Thus, you have IM6, IM8, IM10, etc.
Now by having smaller, thinner fibers in our scrim, the blank requires less epoxy to hold it all together. Less epoxy equals less weight and greater sensitivity. But, less epoxy also equates to less protection of the carbon fibers as well.
The synergy of all of these small fibers gives us greater strength, lighter weights and improved sensitivity. Less epoxy for protection provides a greater opportunity for breakage. Should one fiber break, the mechanical integrity of the rod is compromised. Thus, we have a break when trying to turn a big redfish.
So it is important to understand that the more you pay for a rod, the more fragile it actually is. Increased strength and sensitivity comes at a price. Regardless of the manufacturer’s warranty, it is much easier for both parties if the rod is taken care of properly.
Rod Care Tips
Most custom rod builders ship their rods in PVC pipe. Please use it when transporting your rods. Do not travel with an unprotected rod in the bed of your truck.
Never high stick your rod while setting the hook, fighting, or landing the fish. Use a net to land big fish instead of picking the fish straight up with the rod. You can easily break your rod if it is bent in an arc that is tighter than its design will allow. The heavy Bass rods the Pros use are designed for that.
Do not place your hand above the reel seat while fighting the fish in order to get more leverage. This will cause the rod to break at that point of excessive pressure, rather than allowing the rod to distribute the pressure of the fish over the entire length of the blank.
Use your flat hand, instead of your finger and thumb, when flexing a rod tip. Using your thumb and finger will snap the tip off.
Do not exceed the recommended line rating for your rod. Doing so will void your warranty.
If your lure becomes snagged, do not pull the rod back as if fighting a fish, but rather pull straight back while pointing the rod tip at the lure. By putting the stress on the line instead of the rod tip, you will never break a rod on a snag.
Avoid the fish tales
Regardless who your rod builder is, use the following rod care tips and avoid the frustration of a true fish tale. They will do their part but they need you to do yours as well.
I hope you find these rod care tips helpful.
I wish each of you a very safe and happy Christmas.
Charlie
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