| Most anglers who fly fish on a regular basis | | | | laid the reel at my feet and coiled up some |
| eventually break a fly rod. I have broken fly | | | | line beside it. I held the broken rod by the |
| rods more times than I’d like to admit. | | | | base section. I could cast and strip just |
| I suppose it will happen to all of us if we | | | | fine without ever needing my reel. I fished |
| fish hard enough long enough.Go ahead and | | | | all day like that and caught plenty fish.On |
| face the fact that your fly rod will | | | | another summer day, while fishing deep in the |
| eventually break at a very inopportune time. | | | | San Juan National Forest in Colorado, I broke |
| So, the question is what will you do when | | | | my rod tip. I had gotten my fly hung near the |
| this happens? “Keep fishing” is | | | | top of a small tree. I pulled my fly line and |
| the only acceptable answer. If convenience | | | | bent the tree over so that I could reach the |
| has provided, you brought a spare rod that | | | | fly. It was working just fine. Buy the time I |
| you can easily get to. I never go fishing | | | | pulled the tree over enough to reach the fly; |
| anymore unless a carry a spare rod. I know | | | | I had gotten enough slack in my line so that |
| how I am. I will break a rod. I broke three | | | | the rod was now lying down flat on the rocks. |
| rods in one week on a particular Colorado | | | | Well, I stepped on it. The rod broke just |
| trip. Fly rods are expendable to me. | | | | bellow the tiptop. Obviously I did not carry |
| I’ve stepped on them and sat on them. | | | | a spare rod. It was a little too inconvenient |
| I’ve broken them trying to pull the | | | | to pack a spare rod into where I was. You |
| sections apart. I’ve broken several | | | | know you just can’t cast a rod with the |
| tips buy trying to pull the fly line out of | | | | tip missing. So what was I to do? I broke the |
| the tip top. I’ve broken them buy using | | | | rest of the tip section off so that it was |
| them to break my fall. You name it and | | | | flush with the first snake guide. I bent and |
| I’ve probably broken a fly rod while | | | | reshaped the snake guide as best as I could |
| doing it.This is one reason why I buy rods | | | | so that the tip would be as smooth for |
| with a good warranty. Lifetime warranties are | | | | casting as I could possible get it. It was |
| great but not a necessity. All I need is a | | | | not the perfect fix but it worked well enough |
| good no-nonsense warranty that will allow be | | | | for me to finish the day fishing.I now |
| to send my rod back with a $25 or $30 check | | | | recommend carrying and emergency rod repair |
| for repairs.One summer, I was fly fishing | | | | kit with you wherever you fish. You can buy |
| from a boat on Lake Ferndale in East Texas. | | | | them or just assemble the supplies together |
| Somehow, the butt of my fly rod got wedged | | | | in a plastic zip-lock. A good rod repair kit |
| between my boat seat and the boat. The rod | | | | is a handy assortment of things needed to |
| snapped right above the cork handle. There I | | | | repair a broken rod in a crunch. The kit |
| was in the boat in the middle of the lake | | | | should include:- 1 Stripping Guide - 2 Snake |
| without a spare rod. I not only broke the rod | | | | Guides - 2 or 3 Tip Tops with different |
| but I broke my own number one rule. | | | | inside diameters- 1 Bobbin & 100 yd Spool |
| “Always carry a spare rod”. I was | | | | of 6/0 Tying Thread - 1 Bottle cement (I |
| certainly disappointed but was not going to | | | | prefer 5min epoxy) - Sharp knife or |
| stop fishing. So, I took the real off of the | | | | razorSo… good luck on your next |
| seat, threw the butt section of the rod in | | | | adventure… and keep on fishing no |
| the bottom of the boat and kept on fishing. I | | | | matter what. |