Has anyone ever had a rod break(that was not already damaged) on hookset? I've ready countless posts in other sections on here(ok the bass section) and I hear about breaking 3 or 4 rods a yr on a 3lb (average) fish? 1. What am I missing here? 2. Is that "squat down and Umph" hookset really necessary--sure it looks cool on TV when it works but do you need it? Havent really wanted to bass fish since I was a kid--but have never needed it on stripers, hybrids, sandbass, reds, catfish, carp, smacks, grouper, flounder, perch, triggerfish, red snapper, and spadefish?!??

ensignjason,

I have never broken a rod on a hookset. These guys that say that are either working with rods that have cracks in them from prior abuse or not doing something right. I'm not a huge guy, but I'm 5'11", 220lb and work out and to me breaking rods on hook sets is just macho nonsense. So your right, your missing cranked down drags, over dramatic hooksets and way too much testosterone! Boy how's that for stirring the pot!

When I set the hook on a bass I do kind of a run & set manuever. As I set the hook I am at the same time running to the back of the boat. Sometimes I've even had my bass hit me in the back of the head as I was running to the back of the boat. I break on average a dozen G Loomis a year but my tournament winnings more than take care of that.

i broke a brand new all-star once setting the hook on a stump lol. i blamed it on the braided line...

I think these are from people who probable fish a lot and with lots of different rods switching back and forth. I think when you guide or tournament fish or just fish a lot, you move your rods around all the time. Boat to boat, back of the truck, rod boxes bouncing around, and my kids do things to my rods that I dont even want to know about. But anyway, I think they get a lot of abuse that isn't noticed until they really bear down on a fish and then you get a snap. Some can be bad blanks, and if a guys is sponsored or buys several rods at the same time, there is a good chance if 1 breaks - more from the same batch will.

I can't remember ever breaking a rod on a hook set, but I did break a rod while fighting off a very upset racoon that trapped me on the Crappie wall at Calaveras.

If someone is breaking a rod while setting the hook on a 3 lb fish, than either A) the rod was already breaking or B) the rod was a Snoopy rod. When fishing with my father in law, I have watched him set the hook so hard, I thought he was going to pull the skeleton out of the fish he was trying to hook:)

What is it about power plant lake and racoons? I had one at Fairfield that followed me around like a puppy when I was catching bait on the bank.

most of them get fed by humans so when he follows, he is waiting for you to throw him some scraps. They're always hungry.

This little dude was after the dead shad I had setting next to me, which he ended up getting.

Haha Same here! I threw the little fella a couple of shad and I was his best friend.

I set the hook a couple of weeks ago and snapped an Allstar. It was a "rock" fish on my slab. Thank goodness for 16 year old clerks at Academy, they gave me new one with no receipt. Yea Chris I blamed the braided line too.

Sounds like a pattern. I broke an allstar on a stumpfish last year on RC, with a slab, with braid. Took the braid off and haven't had any problems.

I've fished our stock tanks for LMB since I was 4 yrs old and have never, ever broken a rod setting the hook, even on the larger 6-8 pounders. Must be a macho, image thing- if you got sharp hooks, you don't need that much umph, if any at all. They must just like replacing rods a lot! Think I'd rather settle down a bit and save the time and money.

Thats funny you mentioned this today. We broke a 7 ft Falcon CARA at the 3rd eyelet from the top, trolling hellpets and hooked up with a 3+ hybrid on Monday morning. We have snapped em in a truck door or tailgate but never on a hookset. We just called it a fluke, and tried to swap out the rod at BPS. (They wouldnt do it, but provided shipping supplies and info to get it back to Falcon.) It looked like it snapped in the eyelet winding and was a real clean break, it was like that was what had been holding it together...We ALWAYS check the drag and take care of our equipment carefully cause it costs so much to replace.

I've broke 2 rods this year, but not on hookset. Bot rods broke while fighting something to the surface.

The first rod was a cheap light weight Graphite that I shouldn't have been fishing with in the first place. It's in the bottom of Lake Lewisville with my first Quantum Tour Edition still attached. No clue what the fish was though.

The second rod was another cheap rod, broke it while fighting a catfish. I didn't get the cat on the boat, but it was probably 9-10 pounds. I got it next to the boat and when I went to reach for the net it took another run and the broken rod couldn't give fast enough and the drag was too tight.

I break maybe one rod a year, but mostly cheap wal-mart specials... I'm hoping this doesn't hold true with the new Falcon rods that I've started buying as replacements.

I have never broke a rod on a hookset and I use to fish strictly for bass!! When worm fishing, I too make the big hookset, almost falling back and setting the hook at the same time. YOu have to get the worm hook through the worm and through the fishes jaw, plus you have to factor in the stretch of the mono. I am a great worm fisherman and have the hard core hookset but still never break any rods.
I have broken four rods over the past few years and my most recent came from picking my rod up while half of it was under the cleat of my boat. Catfishd and Ensign were there.
Another time I broke the rod casting and this was due to a scratch on the graphite. A nick on the graphite will cause a rod to break.
I have broken numerous guides but never a rod on a hookset. I dont know how you guys do it. Considering I have fished for 26 years of my life and fished almost everyday from the time I was old enough to ride a bike until I had my recent child, I still have yet to break a rod on the hookset. When I was old enough to ride a bike, I would tape the fishing rod to my bike and ride to some of the ponds in the neighborhood or I would ride down to fish for trout when they stocked them. No broken rods for me but when it happens, I will let you know.