[Jerry Knudson]

Yesterday I became a member of the car door/fly rod club. bawling: I must say though that it is not totally my fault. I am wintering in Az. and fish the local urban lake. As it would happen this particular 5 acre, 14ft. max depth lake had a monster fish in it. I would guess between 200-300 lbs. It has been rumored that this monster is responsible for the disappearance of several urban waterfoul and an occasional rabbit or small dog which it apparently comes ashore to capture. :hmmm:

I hooked into this monster with my 5wt. and we struggled for several hours until I was able to wear him down enough to tie a rope to his tail and secure it to the tow bar on the jeep.
Now this is where the story may sound a little fishey. While I was packing up after having saved the local lake inhabitants from further harrassment from this monster, the fish gave one of those last ditch flop and shake efforts that see so many of the get off the hook just before the net. Well that particular action caused the door of the Jeep to close just as I was putting my rod in and it closed on the last 8 inches of both sections.

In my dispare I hate to say, I forgot to secure the monster that was tied to the Jeep and with another flop he was away.

Now my fishing partners, (who are a ruthless bunch, unforgiving of stupid mistakes that they never let you live down), may have a totally different story, but I swear on my honor as a fisherman, that this is the truth the way I remember it.

My poor rod has now started it journey to Sage in the hopes it returns before I make my homebound journey. There are other monsters to be tamed out there.

 

[Nick Clayton]

I'm very sorry to hear about your rod, but I stand and applaud your valiant efforts to save the local community from the terrors of that viscious monster! My hats off to you sir.

 

[dryflylarry]

Sorry about your rod. You might think about something like this. I make and sell these occasionally. $13.50 includes postage. If interested, PM me. I have them in Cocobola, and a few in Lacewood right now.

 

[Jim Fitz]

I don't buy the part about the fish eating a rabbit.

Quick story to pass on - I was rigging up in January near a few other guys when a gust of wind blew through. One of the guys had his rod leaning against the truck but in the path of the open door. The wind slammed the door shut and chopped the rod in half. He had driven a good ways and was a good amount less than happy.

I became a member of the club several years ago on the Yak and have had a fear of car doors since.

 

[Jerry Knudson]

Dry Fly,
Those look like they would be good but this time I had the rod folded, in its sock, and in my hand when I closed the, I mean when the monster flopped and the door shut on it.
Are they strong enough to hold a shotgun in place like they would a rod?

 

[Jim Wallace]

Not a member of that club, yet. But I am a member of the "Yes, I finally learned NOT to use my flyrod as a fly retrieval tool" brotherhood. It took me two times to learn that replacing a fly is cheaper and easier than replacing a broken tip. Now I leave my flies stuck in those submerged logs.

 

[Nooksack Mac]

At the Nunnaly Lake parking area, I learned that a tailgate is a ruthlessly efficient heavy-duty shears.

Re underwater snags, if you can get to a rod's length away, you can pull all the line and leader inside the guides, and use the rod tip to push against the hook's bend, and so usually push the fly free. But do it carefully. I broke a rod tip by pushing too vigorously.

 

[Lugan]

Seriously, here is my process for ensuring I never leave a rod vulnerable to a car door, being stepped upon, or any number of other parking lot hazards:

When starting out, get 100% of everything else ready and on your body first. Then get your reel out. Then get your rod out and assemble it, putting the reel on very last before you close your doors and walk to the water.

Do the reverse at the end of your day. First thing to do when you return to your car is to take your reel off and put it down. Open your car door or hatch. Dissamble your rod and put it away. Then take everything else off.

That way your rod spends the least possible amount of time leaning against your car, or a shrub, or on the ground just waiting to be crushed.

 

[jmwfish224]

I have never broken a fly rod in a car door. That said, my wife has broken two of my rods via the automobile. One instance, which wasn't funny at the time, involved her running from a bumble bee, jumping into my pickup and slamming the door. The problem was that my rod was leaning up against said pickup and slid right into the door way as she slammed it. I can laugh about it now but it was a quiet ride home then!

 

[dryflylarry]

Or clip your rod to your "FISH PAL" on the side of your truck and forget about it!! But that's too easy.... Actually, regardless of my sales pitch, these things do work well and give peace of mind while loading/unloading your gear.

 

[orangeradish]

You sir, are a credit to the fine community in which you reside. It is an honorable thing to rid a lake of such a scourge. Well done.
I bet you won't do that again.

 

[Pog mo thoin]

I haven't done the car door thing, but I have done the car roof mistake. I had a Hardy rod as a youngster back in the 70's that I put into the rod sock and then put it on to the car roof so that it wouldn't get damaged as we all milled around taking off waders etc. We were 10 miles down the road before I remembered about the rod. Never did find it.

 

[Mikey_Mac]

I shut my own leg into my car door. Don't ask.

 

[TYTLINZ]

I had the wind in great falls Montana break the welds on my car door after a 90mileprhr wind ripped it out of my hand. cant imagine what it would have done to my rod.

 

[Big Tuna]

Seriously, here is my process for ensuring I never leave a rod vulnerable to a car door, being stepped upon, or any number of other parking lot hazards:

When starting out, get 100% of everything else ready and on your body first. Then get your reel out. Then get your rod out and assemble it, putting the reel on very last before you close your doors and walk to the water.

Do the reverse at the end of your day. First thing to do when you return to your car is to take your reel off and put it down. Open your car door or hatch. Dissamble your rod and put it away. Then take everything else off.

That way your rod spends the least possible amount of time leaning against your car, or a shrub, or on the ground just waiting to be crushed.

yup

 

[Nate Dutton]

I am a member

 

[dryflylarry]

Dry Fly,
Those look like they would be good but this time I had the rod folded, in its sock, and in my hand when I closed the, I mean when the monster flopped and the door shut on it.
Are they strong enough to hold a shotgun in place like they would a rod?

Not sure if they would be strong enough for a shotgun. They are "earthmagnets" and they are pretty strong tho. My son has a shotgun around here somewhere, so I might give it try. Thanks.

 

[Stan Wright]

I need to spend more time fishing... and less time at club meetings...
The Car Door Club
The Electric Car Window Club (life member)
The Car Wheel Club
The Cealing Fan Club
The Boy Scout Fishing Merat Badge Club
Now days I only buy those expensive fly rods with the lifetime warrenty.

 

[sashjo]

I have learned not to break down rods unless it is necessary. Last thing I put in my truck is the rod and I take it out first. Even my 13 ft rods fit inside my truck with no problems.

 

[Jerry Knudson]

My rod is back. THANK YOU SAGE It looks so good I ALMOST don't want to fish with it. Made it back in time for me to use it on the trip back home from winter quarters.

I had heard about Sage's warrenty and repair, though I never thought I would have to use it. DAMN that monster fish...


Tight lines to all....