How to Avoid Breaking Your Fly Rod

Good flyfisher’s that fish a lot, and care for their rods, go decades (or a lifetime) without breaking one. They understand how a rod is designed to bend - and how it’s not designed to bend.

Yes rods have warranties and guarantees, but it’s bloody important you look after them for a few reasons.

1. The high cost in going through the rod section replacement process if you do bust one. Worst case scenario is $350 - best case is around $200. Yep - it’s a lot.
2. It can take up to 12 months to have a Sage repaired, or a minimum one month with the major brands. Being without a rod for that long absolutely sucks.
3. Think of the environment. You’ve broken a perfectly good fly rod and the section you’ve broken is now headed to landfill. As well as that, there’s the carbon producing miles your rod will travel in order to get repaired - as well as its protective packaging material it will be delivered in.

If a rod breaks, it’s basically never the rods fault. Every fly rod is stress tested before supply and so it’s highly unlikely you have a lemon that’s broken.

Rod breakage can be so easily avoided, and so here’s some rules to follow so it doesn’t happen to you.

Refrain from touching the rod blank. In the heat of the battle with a good fish, some anglers try to 'strengthen' the rod by grabbing it above the handle. Unfortunately, this weakens the rod as the butt section isn't utilised. Stick to holding onto the cork so the whole rod can absorb the pressure.

Keep an eye on your ferrules. Frequent casting can cause them to loosen throughout the day. Loose ferrules WILL crack when casting. The edges of the female ferrule are typically thin and if the male ferrule is loosely knocking around in there, damage will occur.

Avoid 'high sticking' when reeling in a fish OR trying to yank a snagged fly free. When you're trying to bring a fish closer to net or it's right under the boat, the natural inclination is to pull hard on the rod, which can stress the delicate tip. Use a net with a long handle instead, it's much safer for your rod.

Be careful stringing your rod up. The temptation is to pull on the leader to yank your nail knot or loop connection through the guides so you can start casting. It's never a good idea to have one hand on the handle of the rod, and one on the leader to pull it through. 

Avoid assembling your rod indoors. It might be tempting to show off your brand-new 4-weight in the lounge room to your buddy, but it's not a good idea. Remember, don't walk through doorways with a fly rod, be cautious around ceiling fans.

Keep your rod stored in its tube whenever possible. The safest place for your rod is snug inside its tube. Only take it out when you're ready to set it up for a day of fishing. Too many people lean their rod against the car while they prepare, risking accidents - someone knocking into it, the tip getting squashed in a tailgate, or the wind causing it to fall. After fishing, wipe it down and place it back in the tube, even if you plan to use it the next day. Bouncing around in the back of a truck or being squeezed into your car can lead to damage that might cause problems later.

Avoid laying the rod flat on the ground. A fly rod lying around is hard to spot, especially when everyone's wearing sunglasses. Someone is likely to step on it, if you don't do so yourself first.

Be extra cautious when in boats. Boats are naturally unstable, and people tend to lose their balance. If your rod isn't protected, an accidental hand, foot, or slip could ruin your fishing day. I've seen clients in Alaska break all three of their rods just by sitting on them the moment they got into the boat. Also, be mindful if your rod is hanging off the boat; ensure it doesn't catch on overhanging branches as you float downstream.

Stay alert and pay attention. Most broken rods occur in situations where a bit more awareness could have prevented a mishap. Keep an eye on your rod tip and be mindful of where you place your rod when you're not actively fishing. This will significantly reduce the chances of breakage.

We hope we’ve saved the lives of some cherished fly rods by publishing this.

If you've been unlucky though, we can help.

What to do When you Break Your Fly Rod