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Fishing-Rod Fails: 10 Videos

You can blame the rod, and you can blame the fish, but in most cases, it comes down to user error.

Good rules of thumb for the end game, when a big fish is at the boat: (1) loosen your drag and (2) keep more than a rod’s length of line out. Here’s what happens when you don’t do that.

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Apparently this rod was done in by a champion tackle-buster, the giant trevally. But when the fish starts going under the boat, the angler maxes out the pull at a pretty extreme angle (the more so when he holds his right hand above the foregrip).

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An older rod is subjected to more strain than it was ever intended for — and shatters. Watch it in slo-mo.

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Once a big red gets behind this kayak angler, it’s all over (toward the end of the video), when the fish forces the rod to bend in a way similar to high-sticking.

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In this video, watch a snapper (as this large species of porgy is known Down Under) precipitate a busted rod long after the angler has it in the boat and in his hands.

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Nice Florida Keys tarpon puts a hurtin’ on this skipper’s fly rod when placement of his right hand far up on the rod changes the stress-curve dynamic on the blank.

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Apparently this angler was testing a prototypical rod. Moments after hooking an express train of a goliath grouper, it’s evident that this rod design will need more work. Watch for the second break after another angler or crew attempts to salvage the situation.

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Great timing: Skipper says to angler fighting fish, “Just hold that rod down.” [SNAP!] “That’s why.” Ironically, though, when the rod snaps, the angler is in fact holding the rod down; he may have simply been outgunned on tackle too light.

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Watch at about 3:20, when, if you’re quick, you can see the top foot or two of rod snap off. Note that the rod’s at about an 11 a.m. angle — the dreaded high-stick position.

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As this angler puts his back into it, straining to turn a big fish, the rod shatters loudly; watch how insult is added to injury right after!

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