I have seen lots of rods broken in lots of different ways. The vast majority were preventable. What follows are a few tips to keep your rods from suffering the same fate.
ROD STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION
• Beware of leaving unwashed sea-fishing rods in cloth bags for long periods, particularly if the bag has been soaked in salt water (it sounds weird, but a light lick will tell you!). Any metal rod components that are not truly salt-resistant will corrode, bubble and stick to the bag.• When preparing to load rods into a vehicle, never lean them up against the the car, especially between open doors or the hatch/boot lids; a gust of wind can see your expensive tackle crashing to the concrete or bitumen, potentially cracking rod guide inserts, while• Rigged outfits should be loaded into vehicles tip-first from a rear door or via the rear hatch, but beware of crevices and dashboard air vents that can trap delicate rod tips, snapping them. Some vehicles have fold-down seat backs in the rear that allow rods to be stored lengthwise more easily, but always load heavier outfits first with the lighter ones on top; use Velcro straps to strap multiple outfits firmly together to prevent damage from vibration and annoying rattling over long trips. Reel bags protect reels from damage.• Electric windows kill rod tips! If the rods are stored alongside the front passenger window, be very careful when opening and closing it!• If travelling overseas, use a proper rod-carrying tube – to fit more in, tape multiple rods together, alternating them top to tail, with the guides facing inwards. Place a T-shirt or pair of undies at each end, then adjust the tube length so the rod bundle is snug with no slop. Lock and/or tape the latches closed. (Be careful of whirring overhead fans when unpacking tour rods in tropical destinations, too!)• Once on board the boat, the rods need to be safely stored while underway. Bigger boats may have specialised rod lockers or internal racks, making life easier, but trailer boats and inflatables often struggle for safe rod storage.
