I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to looking after gear. But I've still managed a few cock-ups.
I opened a pole at the wrong end, and all the sections slid out into the canal and planed away from the bank. I had to cycle home, come back with lots of improvised grappling equipment and spend the day retrieving them.
I borrowed a mate's pike rod for an Irish Trip. Catching roach next to a low bridge on the Galway river, I soon had the pike that was attacking my swim on. When it ran under the bridge, I touched the rod, fully bent, on the stone and it exploded.
I lived in a Coronation St type house in Salford, and went fishing on a motorbike (a Z750, not a Lambretta). I put my holdall against the entry wall while I manoeuvred the bike into the back yard and went in. Hours later, I realised I hadn't brought it in. Of course it was gone. i reported it to the police on the slim chance. A few days later, a call from the police gave me the address of someone who'd found a bag with some tubes in. I went to the house, a few streets away, where mum told me her 10 year old had found the bag and they'd reported the find. Was I pleased to get those "tubes" back - the brand new TriCast pole I'd had for a week or two. I gave the lad £20.
The most stupid thing? I got so fed up with wrap-overs on a rod - it was a DAM something or other - that when it happened for the umpteenth time, I grabbed the line and yanked it. Which snapped the top foot clean off.
I opened a pole at the wrong end, and all the sections slid out into the canal and planed away from the bank. I had to cycle home, come back with lots of improvised grappling equipment and spend the day retrieving them.
I borrowed a mate's pike rod for an Irish Trip. Catching roach next to a low bridge on the Galway river, I soon had the pike that was attacking my swim on. When it ran under the bridge, I touched the rod, fully bent, on the stone and it exploded.
I lived in a Coronation St type house in Salford, and went fishing on a motorbike (a Z750, not a Lambretta). I put my holdall against the entry wall while I manoeuvred the bike into the back yard and went in. Hours later, I realised I hadn't brought it in. Of course it was gone. i reported it to the police on the slim chance. A few days later, a call from the police gave me the address of someone who'd found a bag with some tubes in. I went to the house, a few streets away, where mum told me her 10 year old had found the bag and they'd reported the find. Was I pleased to get those "tubes" back - the brand new TriCast pole I'd had for a week or two. I gave the lad £20.
The most stupid thing? I got so fed up with wrap-overs on a rod - it was a DAM something or other - that when it happened for the umpteenth time, I grabbed the line and yanked it. Which snapped the top foot clean off.