How Long Does Your Rods Last?

FlatsNBay · November 23, 2023, 07:29:54 AM

How long will your rods last you?

I got to thinking that my rods usually last up to 10 years, maybe longer. When I break a rod, it's usually my fault. The last couple of broken rods were flipping sticks. When I set the hook and missed a fish, the hook and bullet weight came shooting out of the water and hit my rod. A trip or two later, "snap"!! Other than that, they just don't break.

I end up eventually upgrading rods after many years of use to get the latest and greatest benefits from new technology.

Capt. BassinLou · November 23, 2023, 07:54:09 AM

Great thread! Like you, other than rod breaking by my doing, which is rare, btw. Rods last me YEARS!

ike8120 · November 23, 2023, 09:06:23 AM

Quote from: FlatsNBay on November 23, 2023, 07:29:54 AMHow long will your rods last you?

I got to thinking that my rods usually last up to 10 years, maybe longer. When I break a rod, it's usually my fault. The last couple of broken rods were flipping sticks. When I set the hook and missed a fish, the hook and bullet weight came shooting out of the water and hit my rod. A trip or two later, "snap"!! Other than that, they just don't break.

I end up eventually upgrading rods after many years of use to get the latest and greatest benefits from new technology.

Unless I break it usually a pretty long time.

njpaulc · November 23, 2023, 09:44:13 AM

It seems to me that rods get slower as they age. Like the blank wearing out or getting "tired".

Donald Garner · November 23, 2023, 10:00:29 AM

My rods last me a long time. I have a Lew Speed Stick Spinning Rod that I still use on occasion. I bought this rod in 1973

My BPS Extreme Rods were all purchased back in 2009 > 2014. I still have them and use them. I'm in the process of upgrading them to the Dobyn's series due to the new technology.

Pferox · November 23, 2023, 11:09:16 AM

I bought cheap, saying that I will upgrade when they break, well that hasn't happened yet.

I have broken a bunch of real old rods but none in the last 10 or so years, go figure.

Because of the type of fishing I do now, I usually buy fiberglass or a fiberglass composite rod, and although they aren't as sensitive as those high cost rods, work well for around here, and are a lot more forgiving to dents and dings, etc.

J.W. · November 23, 2023, 08:11:51 PM

I just recently broke my last pre-Academy All Star rod (bought probably mid 90s).

So, a while.

FWIW, it was a "mystery break." Put it in the rod rack in my boat intact, and next time I saw it, it was snapped 6" from the tip.

big g · November 23, 2023, 09:11:51 PM

I have several carbon lites that I use almost everyday and they are close to ten years old. I don't baby them, throw them in the bed of the truck, and flip fish in all the time. They take a licking and keep on ticking. They only place showing wear is the handle and I rerap them every so often. They do last.

loomisguy · November 25, 2023, 03:51:58 AM

I usually rotate through rods every year. I'm pretty loyal to a few brands but I probably trade/sell 20 rods or more a year.
The exception's are a All Star Zell Roland TWS that I've had for 35 years at least, and a Yamamoto spinning rod that's still the best shaky head rod I've had and its close to 20 years old I'm sure.
I don't think age hurts them, maybe it softens them up a touch. but I don't think you would ever notice it.

Hobious · November 30, 2023, 09:01:45 AM

the last awesomely, right up to the point where I break it. always user error. for me that is usually taking a tungsten weight to the blank.

skidemn · December 06, 2023, 01:26:39 AM

I still have some of my original Shimano Magnumlite rods from the mid-1980's. I don't fish them anymore, but Shimano made such good looking rod and reel cosmetics back then that I don't want to get rid of them! Lol

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Princeton_Man · December 06, 2023, 04:25:43 AM

Rods can last several lifetimes, I have rods that I had when I was 12-14 years old.

Hobious · February 04, 2024, 09:54:04 AM

I file this under questions like. "how long should my brakes last?"

seriously depends on how often you brake. there is no way to say a rod will take 10,000 bends. bends are all different. some are on thick braid with no give in the line. some are after a tungsten sinker does that 1/10000 shot of hitting the rod on the rocket ride back. some are because of a 20 pound catfish.

I do know this. they all break unexpectedly. less unexpectedly if it is a Dobyns Fury (for me)

apenland01 · February 04, 2024, 11:37:21 AM

I've actually only had 2 rods break since I got back into heavy bass fishing in 2018, both were Dobyns, both my fault. An Xtasy 752 and 753. I take a more care of these now, especially when moving them in and out of the rod locker....

Eric-Maine · February 04, 2024, 12:01:33 PM

I sent a nrx to loomis on the 5th of January and had a replacement on the 31st. Cost $20 for shipping. Had it not been warranteed it would have been $125, still well worth it. The new one is a nrx +. I wonder if if it will feel different?

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Smallie_Stalker · February 04, 2024, 04:38:42 PM

I've worn out and had to replace components like guides and handle materials but rod blanks are pretty resilient. The only ones I've ever had to replace were ones I either stepped on or shut in a car/truck door.

I have rods from the late 80's and early 90's that are still going strong.

Back in the 90's when I was using Falcon rods I shut the car door on 2 of them and snapped the blank about 3 guides down from the tip. One rod was under warranty and the other was not. They didn't charge me anything to replace the out of warranty rod so I had 2 brand new rods and all it cost me was $12.95 for 2 day air delivery.

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Wizard · February 04, 2024, 06:44:18 PM

My rod builder was a happy man. I put his son thru college. I have only bought line since my retirement in 2008. I have had more rods taken by thieves than I have broken.

Wizard

The Rooster · February 10, 2024, 06:22:45 AM

Quote from: njpaulc on November 23, 2023, 09:44:13 AMIt seems to me that rods get slower as they age. Like the blank wearing out or getting "tired".

I think I'm experiencing this now with a 14 year old Shimano Compre. It feels less stiff than it once did. About 5 years ago I also hooked and landed a large catfish on a spinnerbait with this rod, and it was so bent that several times during that fight I thought the rod would explode into a thousand pieces, but it didn't. After that I always did think that took some of the fight out of it. Feels like the tip lost something and now flexes more like a medium mag instead of a medium heavy.

DMTJAGER · July 09, 2024, 01:53:14 AM

KNOCK
ON
WOOD
Rod Gods heard me loud and clear? RIGHT???!!!???
Unless I or my sons brake them my rods have lasted me longer than I would EVER dare brag here about.
I will say I have 9' and 9.5' St. Croix Salmon and steelhead rods I bought in the late 90's I cried as I parted with the cash for them.
I have several 7' Ugly Sticks I bought in the early 90's still going strong and are in essentially perfect working order.
I have several 7' one piece original IM7 Berkley Lightning Rods I bought back in the early 90's that are my go to live bait and panfish rods still in VG shape.