NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

I went to one of my favorite lakes again today to pull crankbaits for crappie from my kayak. The gate to the lake normally opens at 6:00 AM and I was shocked to see the parking lot full and several boats on the water at 6:02 AM on my way to the boathouse. I figured there was a night tournament going on and the guy at the boathouse confirmed it.

Since the ramp was tied up with another boat, I took my kayak over to the kayak launch dock closer to the boathouse. I couldn't lean out far enough on the floating kayak launch to put all four rods the their holders, so I left two rods right beside the kayak, then would load them as I got in to launch. I drove my truck up to park and saw some of the tournament fishermen bring their boats up to the kayak dock to get to the boathouse faster. By the time I got back to the kayak, the bass boats were gone. As I was loading the rods, I noticed slack line on my favorite rod. I turned the reel handle and the tip top guide and the top six inches of the rod slid down to the line keeper, just as broken as it could be. :banghead

I seriously doubt anyone broke my rod on purpose. I set it far enough out of the way so it couldn't be kicked in by accident. I saw footprints in the dew on the dock where somebody besides me walked over to look at my kayak and ultimately stepped on & broke my rod.

I know I can't cry over things that can't cry over me, but I believe a swift kick might have been less painful than losing my favorite rod. It is a 6'6" light action All Star Rod made in Texas, USA that has literally brought tons of fish to the boat. I bought it new in 1992 and they quit making that model in about 1997. The light action rod worked great with braid because it had enough give not to pull hooks on the smallest crappie and absorb the pull of the heaviest slabs. I caught an 8 pound bass on it a couple weeks ago, a 11 pound channel cat ten years ago, and my personal best crappie 2 lbs, 10 oz.,which won a tournament in 1994. We had some history together.

It is my fault for leaving the rod where it could be stepped on, even though I never expected anyone else to use that dock. I'm looking into replacing it with a rod designed for kokanee as the the most similar light action rod I can find.*heavy sigh*

Jim

:Doh::Doh:

Sorry to hear about the loss. I know that once you get "attached" to a rod, you actually "need" it to feel confident enough to be successful. However, I'm sure the next rod you get will generate enough confidence that you'll be riding high once again soon. Sorry state of affairs to think that someone would actually do that on purpose.

That's tuff.

That's a shame, and I would not be happy either if my favorite rod got broken even if I did it!

Skip

:yikesSorry to here your favorite rod was broke. Maybe you can buy another end section from Grizzly Jigs.:dono

Don't all star rods have a lifetime warranty?

That's a bummer,hopefully you can find one to replace it that you will learn to like just as much as that rod.

I feel your pain. My favorite green carp rod is a medium action All Star bait caster that I bought at about the same time you bought yours. It is a great rod that I hope I never lose. Ironically, I bought it to replace my former favorite, a Skyline Graphite rod that was purchased in the late 70's and was stolen from me in '91 long after that company had gone out of business.

Sorry for the pain you're feeling and hopes you will find one that feels great for a replacement.

Sorry for your loss. I feel your pain as we are highly attached to our favorites. Best of luck finding a replacement that serves you well.

similar thing happened on a brand new rod I bought on sale at academy this spring, except worse. first time I had it out I stupidly laid it on dock off to edge but when I was pulling in several slabs in row i stepped back and broke the tip off myself and I really liked that rod! I keep it next to my computer to remind me to be smarter about where I put my rods.

Sorry for your loss. In difficult situations I often have to remind myself " it's not cancer" that brings me back to reality.

I have 2- 6'6" all star rods one fast medium heavy, the other classics he third is 7' which one do you want?


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Also, they are in good shape and I just used them to catch fish ( smile)


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I appreciate the sympathy. I'm certain everybody here has felt my pain. If you haven't broken a few good rods, you haven't been fishing long enough. I'm choosing to use the loss as an opportunity to find a new favorite (like I have a choice).

I have 5 other All Star rods from my bass fishing days, though that 6'6" light action was a rare & special thing.

I used to have several of those Mitchell Zero Gravity rods that were a serious blast to fish with, but they were pretty fragile and broke too easily. I'm down to two Zero Gravity rods left that I save for cold weather fishing with minnow tipped jigs. I hope there's something similar made by the time those two are done.

Jim

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yak Fish

I appreciate the sympathy. I'm certain everybody here has felt my pain. If you haven't broken a few good rods, you haven't been fishing long enough. I'm choosing to use the loss as an opportunity to find a new favorite (like I have a choice).

I have 5 other All Star rods from my bass fishing days, though that 6'6" light action was a rare & special thing.

I used to have several of those Mitchell Zero Gravity rods that were a serious blast to fish with, but they were pretty fragile and broke too easily. I'm down to two Zero Gravity rods left that I save for cold weather fishing with minnow tipped jigs. I hope there's something similar made by the time those two are done.

Jim

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Jim ... I, too, have had the misfortune to break a favorite rod (operator error) ... a 5'6" ESP UL that I used for many years as my jig casting rod & especially for dock shooting. Luckily I had a 6'6" ESP PowerLite to take its place ... and it's done a great job of doing so.

You can find out about the ESP line here : https://www.norsemenoutdoors.com/pro...gory/esp-rods/ .... but, I would purchase them through Grizzly Jig, as they are less expensive there.

All of "my" ESP rods were given to me to field test by the designer (and eventual VP of Marketing at Norsemen Outdoors) ... and the main reason the loss of the 5'6" UL was so traumatic to me was that it was number 0001 of the initial batch. :banghead

I, too, have a couple of Zero Gravity rods ... so I know what you're talking about with them. They are sweet UL's (more like micro-lites), that's for sure. They were my "original" light action jig casting rods, that I used when I first changed over from minnows to jigs, and prior to getting the offer to field test for ESP.