Written by Nick Cassidy
I can’t believe AJ even had to ask what I wanted to do for my 30th birthday. We ended up getting a cabin near Helen, GA which was only a short distance from the year-round section of the Chattahoochee River. The four guys who made it up early in the day (me, Eric, Rob, and Dan) took the canoes from Sautee Creek and floated through to Hwy 255. That stretch of river was beautiful with a mostly gravel bottom, several small rapids, and several large fish.
Since we were fishing from canoes, most of the fishing was done with spinning rods. I did hook and lose two trout on flies, but all trout were caught on spinners. Everyone landed 3-4 fish, with the smallest trout around 14 inches and the largest around 18-20 inches. We kept a few fish for the grill but threw most of them back.
After about 2 hours of fishing we ran into a property owner who caught me urinating on his property. He was understanding, and gave me information on the cabin he had to rent. He also informed us that we had only made it about 1/4 of the way through our float. With limited daylight, we packed up the rods and canoed out at which time we passed over countless holes and runs that would have held trout. Eric and Rob got their canoe pinned in the rocks and as Dan and I decided to pull off and wait for them, Dan stepped out and snapped off the tip of my rod. While breaking another rod was frustrating, it was a great few hours on the river. I plan on making another trip up there soon. I will send pictures tonight.
After hearing about my broken rod, Dave made a few comments on the number of rods I have had over the years. Here is a “break” down of all of my fly rods to date-
1996- bought my first fly rod (8’6″ Cortland Fairplay 6/7 weight) broke it on my second trip trying to pull my fly out of a lilly pad. They replaced that rod and I have fished with it since. The cork is falling off, but it is still is together.
1998- 8 wt St. Croix-Never been broken, still in use and is used as my steelhead rod and backup salmon rod.
The years are fuzzy on the next rods but all were purchased or given to me after 2000-
Gander Mt. 7wt 2 piece- never been broken..used for big trout, back up steelhead.
Crystal River 3 wt- small trout- broken in the driveway trying to string it up…never replaced
Redington 5 wt (5 piece) -gift from Dave and Rhonda. Primary trout travel rod. broken in Alaska while fishing. Replaced by the company..
Redington 5 wt, 6 piece- replacement sent by Redington mentioned above.
Gander 10 wt- Broken on a salmon (replaced by Gander)
Gander 10 wt- Broken by Clayton on a salmon (replaced by Gander)
Gander 10 wt- Broken on a salmon (given store credit and used to buy below 4 wt)
Ugly Stick 10 wt- Christmas gift because everyone was sick of me breaking rods
Redington 7’6″ 4wt- my new small stream rod, bought with store credit from a broken salmon rod.
Gander 4 pc. 7wt- my big trout, steelhead rod. Broken when Dan stepped on it canoeing this weekend.
St. Croix, 9′ 4 pc, 7wt- purchased to replace the last broken 7 wt.
That makes 14 fly rods I have owned. I have broken 7 (well two have been broken by friends), most of which have been replaced. Not great odds. Whatever you do, don’t show these statistics to Andrea.
I have only ever ruined 1 Reel, which I burned out the drag while in Alaska.
The sad thing is that I have been tougher on waders than I have been on rods.
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