While all Snowbee Fly Rods are covered by our Original Purchaser Lifetime Guarantee, carbon fiber is brittle and rod breakages can occasionally occur resulting in additional cost and inconvenience for the owner.
However, contrary to popular belief, carbon fiber rods rarely break as a result of the natural flexing forces during fly casting. Rods may break during casting or playing a fish, as this is when the rod becomes most stressed, but most likely when the caster “overloads” the rod flex, or the graphite structure has been otherwise damaged by impact or crushing etc. prior to use.
To avoid rod breakage, we offer the following advice:
Never
- Lift fish out of the water with the rod – always use a net
- Use a fly line more than one line weight above the rod’s rating
- Jerk the rod or use the tip to pull flies free from rocks or trees
- Support the weight of the rod by the tip section
- Pull line through the rod tip, while holding the rod handle
- Walk with the rod facing forward
- Lean a rod against an open car door or trunk – someone is sure to close the door on it
- Place a rod on the ground – someone is sure to stand on it
Always
- Exercise care when netting a fish, not to over-compress the tip of the rod – a common cause of rod breakages
- Transport and store the rod in its rod tube
- Try to avoid rod impact damage: goldheads or any weighted flies can be travelling in excess of 80mph. Hitting the rod blank will easily cause stress fractures
- Applying a little candle wax to new joints can prevent them from coming apart during casting.
Double handed 'Spey' rods
Spey-casting involves a circular casting motion that can cause rod joints to work loose. We strongly recommend that you tape all joints prior to use.