I have  dove in twice for rods when  bass   hit the dangling lure . Saved the rod both times. My uncle laid his rod down to help me get unsnagged . When he got back his rod was missing . 

Some friends and I were dock fishing one night any my buddy threw a chicken liver out on a $300 brand new at croix, he grabbed another rod and was cranking for bass when the st Croix took off into the lake....always pays to either set your drag super low or don't close the bale....either way there's a st croix somewhere in the bottom of rocky gap state park lake in Maryland!

Not yet, but almost did a couple weekends ago.  Went to take a fish off and 'set' my rod down behind me, had the bait and was readjusting it.  after I finished I turned around to notice that I 'set' my rod over the side of the boat in the water, luckily it was closed so I just had to pull it out.

Never lost a rod, but when I used to play golf, I "lost" several clubs to the surrounding trees and occasional pond...on purpose.

I quit golf.

Don't want to talk about it.  

 

Me either.....................

It took losing 3 ice fishing combos for me to figure out to leave the bail open when using a slip bobber and minnow.

I'll admit it is pretty hilarious to watch a whole rod, reel and rod holder go down a 6" hole so quickly; you wouldn't think it was possible to make it down the hole, let alone so quickly.

If you haven't yet lost one, you will.  It happens. 

About 5 years ago I lived in a neighborhood with a nice size lake. I had a little bass raider type boat, and another kid in the neighborhood with zero boating experience got a 10 foot jon boat. Him and about 5 other friends of mine piled in his little jon and where about a quarter mile off shore and one person decided to step on the edge. The entire boat flipped and he lost 4 rods, a battery, big tackle box, etc. I dragged my boat out and got his boat just as it was completely underwater and about to sink. I went back to the area the next day amd could see his battery in 15 feet of water on my lowrance DSI. Few months later I snagged one of his rods in 16 feet of water on a ledge, about 3 years later I snagged another rod of his. I was able to use the Shimano Sedona reel after I cleaned it up and is now my guest reel. The first one was an Abu Ambassadeur and was shot. There are still two rods and battery in that lake up for grabs lol

I was fishing off a dock in Florida and a catfish took my rod off the dock. The water had about 20 feet of visibility so I just hooked my rod with a jig and got it back. Eventually it will corrode internally but the rod should be fine. :/

I've lost a two hundred dollar combo that flew out of the back of a pickup truck....last time I ever did that.