Do you wonder why your fishing rods break? There are a few reasons a rod breaks. Almost all the causes are user errors. A few rods come from the factory with defects. Shipping is a problem for some online vendors. You will find even the best fishing rods can break under certain conditions. In this article, we will discuss the most common reasons why fishing rods break and how to prevent them from happening.
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Packing a rod for shipping needs to be done right. This is a tube with some padding inside. If the rod comes in another package, inspect it closely. The rods tend to have small cracks at the tip section. This is the usual cause of non-user rod failure. These rods break after little use and will be under warranty.
User Storage Mistakes Causing Fishing Rods to Break
A typical cause is if you store or transport rods carelessly. As a result, the chances of damage increase a lot. Tossing a rod in the back of a truck or van is a bad habit. The rod needs to be secure. If it slides around it will get broken. Another cause is having other stuff fall on the fishing rods.
In your trunk or truck, the areas with your rods need to be clear of objects that can move also. Secure the other items or clean out the area with the rods. A small item hitting the rod’s blank will cause fractures in the material.
Storing the rods at home is another problem area. Leaning rods is not proper storage. The rods can fall, getting some type of damage. Plus leaning puts a curve in the rod’s shaft. A vertical rack is the safest and best method of rod storage. Find an area with little or no traffic. This is a garage or a basement in the corner.
In some instances, vertical storage is not possible. If stored horizontally, have enough support points to prevent sagging or bowing. This is about every 12-18 inches. A shelf is fine also.
User Mistakes While Fishing
You never lift a rod past 45-50 degrees with pressure on it. This is high sticking, the leading cause of why fishing rods break. A rod is not made to bend to extremes. People try lifting fish with their rods, jerking out of snags, or going berserk with a hookset. These acts will break a rod at some time.
Use a net or your hands to lift a fish. If the rod bends to 90 degrees or more, it likely will break. When you get a snag pull on the line without the rod. Point the rod at the snag. Then grab the line and pull. Using the rod or reel puts too much pressure on the gear.
You do need the macho-man hooksets. They make good TV or videos but are not good for a rod. Use sharp hooks and keep slack in your line to a minimum. This is how you get a good hookset, not being He-man with a hookset.
Avoid setting the drag too tight. This results in breaking the rod or line. The drag is an important part of your fishing setup. Use it to control a fish and prevent rod breakage. You never over-tighten the drag exceeding the rod strength or line. Whichever of the two is lighter.
Avoid Poor Practices with a fishing Rod
Avoid hitting the rod on rocks and other hard objects. Do not bang it off of branches. If placed on the ground, pick a place without sharp or hard objects. Take care not to step on the rods also.
People tend to not inspect a rod. As a result, another common reason for fishing rod breakage is weak points. A weak point on a fishing rod can be caused by a manufacturing defect, damage, or wear and tear. To prevent this, it is important to inspect your fishing rod before each use and to look for any signs of damage or wear.
If you notice any weak points, it is best to stop using the rod and have it repaired or replaced. An example is a damaged guide. The line catch and overloads the rod when fighting a fish.
Mismatching Tackle is Why Fishing Rods Break
One of the most common reasons for fishing rod breakage is overloading. This occurs when an angler applies too much pressure to the rod, causing it to snap. This can happen when casting a heavy lure or fighting a large fish. To prevent overloading, it is important to choose the right fishing rod for the type of fishing you will be doing. It is also important to pay attention to the weight and strength ratings of the rod and to never exceed them.
When a company designs and builds rods. The amount of pressure it withstands is one of the tests. There is a margin for error. Exceeding the line rating or lure weight is a common problem. Today’s modern super lines are thinner and stronger. You can load more of the line, plus get longer casts. These are good aspects of the lines.
But, the stronger line places too much pressure on the rod. Using braids is a popular choice for many anglers. The line does exceed the rod’s rating most of the time. You need to set the drag for the rod’s line rating and not the line strength. You never over-tighten a drag to match a stronger line.
A reel that matches the rod is best. The line ratings are equal or very close. The reel will balance with the rod in power and for use. An unbalanced rod and reel increase fatigue if casting lures. Plus you will cast farther and more accurately.
Throwing lures over the rating overloads a rod also. Use lures within the lure rating. A heavier lure may cast farther but it overstresses the rod during the cast. As a result, this is the same as high sticking the rod. Besides, it leads to poor casting accuracy.
Conclusions
The reasons why fishing rod breaks are preventable. Seldom is a rod defective from the manufacturer. It is either the result of poor shipping, storage, or use. Taking good care and using the right techniques prevent rods from breaking.