HOW TO AVOID ROD DAMAGE
Fishing rods break. It’s a fact. Some breaks are due to manufacturing faults in the fishing rod, however the majority can easily be avoided.
Yes, at Rigged and Ready, we have the best guarantee in the world, that covers an angler from any error, however it is much better to know how to avoid the damage. This saves the hassle of a wasted fishing trip or having to wait for a replacement part.
MANUFACTURING FAULTS. Manufacturing faults are rare, but if there is a fault that affects the strength of the rod blank, it will normally reveal itself the first or second time the rod is used.
ROD BREAKS. Rod breaks after that are normally 99% down to angler error in some way, or accidents. Regardless how your rod breaks, we cover you (Other brands do not). It is still best to avoid unnecessary rod breaks and a wasted fishing trip, plus the inconvenience to you.
IMPACT DAMAGE. Impact damage is the cause of many seemingly unexplainable breakages. An invisible fracture can occur if a rod receives a short sharp impact during use, storage or transportation. The impact point may then cause a breakage the next time the rod is used. Care should always be taken to make sure rods are handled, transported and stored to prevent these problems.
EXCESSIVE ROD PRESSURE. Excessive rod pressure is the cause of most breakages, which comes down to accidents, angler error or what we call Rod Abuse (see below)
DEAD LIFT. Rods are not designed to dead lift big fish (or traffic cones). You should always have a net or handle the fish from the water.
HEAVY SNAGS. Rods are not designed to pull out of a heavy snag. Point the rod directly at the snag, put the pressure on the reel and walk backwards, looking away from the snag (to avoid, flying tackle).
REEL DRAG. Should always be set to give out line, before the line or the rod breaks. When using the super light Fish Rig 180, this needs to be incredibly light!
CORRECT CAST WEIGHTS. Going above the designed cast weight puts additional pressure on the rod blank it was not designed to handle.
UNNATURAL BEND. The rod is designed to bend with a natural curve, from the handle to tip, towards a fish or your terminal tackle. Changing the natural bend of the rod can cause breakages, mainly to the tip.
- Holding the rod up the shaft of the blank playing a fish or getting out of a snag.
- Pulling a lure or hook towards the handle putting the tip under pressure
- Holding a rod by the tip section
- Reeling in too far, or too fast, with braided line, with lures, or tackle hitting the end eye.
- Testing the rod bend by holding both sides of the blank.