I almost had a great fishing trip yesterday. got out with some minnows dropped them down, watched my poles, one got a hit so I went over, set the hook, and proceeded to battle a very pretty 2 lb trout until I got him up on the ice (bloody). so I go back with my poles all set up.... I was about 10 feet away, all the sudden while I was looking at my pole, it just made one big solid jerk all the way to the ice , over twice as far as the last one. I go running and snatch it up..... I didn't feel him at first... so I clear the slush and see my line almost sideways, he must have it... so I set the hook with everything I've got(apparently) and the freaking cheap pole snaps in half. :-\ ok so i'm trying to battle a fish with a rod that's about to separate into 2 pieces in the middle, I'm holding the rod pointing down at the hole trying to battle him with the reel only.... I actually get him all the way up and the line got cut on the edge of the hole just as I see the pretty glow of I believe a walleye flash by...... I couldn't guide my line with the end of my pole and it just got nicked on the edge of the hole when I was barely pulling ( I actually thought he just came unhooked).... pretty devastating.....not sure I could have done anything... pretty un-satisfying sitting on the ice with a busted fishing pole :-[ and nothing for it, :'( Id say the fish won that battle.....
So anyway has this happened to others? never happened to me, I haven't even heard of it..... It was a cheap ice fishing pole, I guess too cheap.....
So moral of story, spend more then $3.50 a fishing pole, like I said I've never heard of this and I tested the pole with my hands, it seemed to be fine...... maybe manufacturer defect? If it was expensive Id try to get it replaced maybe.... It seemed a little stiffer then the other brands, but not too stiff like one they sell (like a broom handle)
or an even better moral that I learned.... Is to always prepare for jaws... or that one big one you'll get, I have a bad habit of using 4 lb test and light gear to get more hits..... I went and picked up some thicker line and spooled up.....
So anyway has this happened to others? never happened to me, I haven't even heard of it..... It was a cheap ice fishing pole, I guess too cheap.....
So moral of story, spend more then $3.50 a fishing pole, like I said I've never heard of this and I tested the pole with my hands, it seemed to be fine...... maybe manufacturer defect? If it was expensive Id try to get it replaced maybe.... It seemed a little stiffer then the other brands, but not too stiff like one they sell (like a broom handle)
or an even better moral that I learned.... Is to always prepare for jaws... or that one big one you'll get, I have a bad habit of using 4 lb test and light gear to get more hits..... I went and picked up some thicker line and spooled up.....