This morning I was watching "Into the Blue." a fishing program on the VS. channel. (It will air again on Dish Network Tuesday at 5:30 AM.)
They were fishing for snapper over a wreck, bit there were Goliath grouper all over the place. One fisherman kept breaking them off or losing them into the wreck. The captain decided to show him a "trick" to get them off the wreck.
He put the butt of the rod into a rod holder, locked the drag on the conventional reel, and started cranking. This worked fine for two fish.
On the 3rd, as he was cranking, the rod snapped just above the fore grip. They showed it again on replay.
I have seen this happen on vertical jigging rods when the angler held the blank forward of the grip to increase leverage, and I have seen it with the rod resting on the rail or gunnel, but never with the rod in a rod holder.
I'm not sure what they were using for line (heavy braid, I'm sure), but they were using 6' of 200 lb mono leader. And these were heavy boat rods.
If you get this channel, it might be worth setting the dvr to record this program.

I've watched Larry dahlberg (hunt for big fish) snap a rod in half trying to horse in a monster red tail cat from out of the amazon

Kelly jordan snapped one of those duckett micro-magic rods like a twig on worlds greatest fishing show today. Didn't go back to my magazine to see what type of break it was though :)

looked like a darn clean break - like someone zipped through it with a cut-off wheel.

Regards,
-Justin

It was his Carolina Rig rod....probably damaged it in storage...that big 1oz. weight banging around...

Scott Sheets
www.smsrods.com

It just goes to show you an experienced guide fisherman can break a rod high sticking or forcing a fish. LOL Remember when Shakespeare advertised a rod that not be broken. Now that was Hip in its purest form

Good Wraps Bob

I have seen things done to a rod, in the name of catching grouper, that I could never condone. It isn't "right" to lock down the drag and use the boat to pull a fish off the bottom. Something is going to break eventually and it isn't my idea of sportmanship.

I have to question why anyone would intentionally fish for an endangered fish and why any editor would allow such content on a tv show. To think no harm is done to the fish is plain silly and/or ignorant. 200 pound leader for snapper? Sure!!!!, Mr. Game Warden we were Only fishing for snapper. Criminal behavior in my book.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

Russ I totally agree with you. An to allow such things to be televised is also a criminal offense to me

Good Wraps Bob

Hope the Ducket rod dont follow in the breakage path of the old Carrot stick.

Yea Mike those Carrot stick were a good rod, There only draw back was, you couldn't keep Ole bare Rabbit from nawing on them LOL

Good Wraps Bob

Solid glass should be just what is needed for those monsters.

Bill - willierods.com