I am building a surf rod - a 9' 1 pc spinning fast action blank that I am really enjoying to build. Yesterday evening I did a basic guide layout and deflection test.  Tied on a 2 oz sinker wrapped in white duck tape so I could see it against the green trees at the other end of where I was casting.  I then go outside to do some test casts.  

Until yesterday I have never thrown a surf rod - first indication there might be trouble.  Have been studying up on surf casting techniques.  Of course, reading about it and watching someone do it on-line is like watching golf on TV - they make it look awfully easy.

I make a few medium casts - going well.  Let loose at 3/4 power - still going pretty well.  Start getting confident and here is where the trouble starts.  I then really start trying to give it some power.  On one of these "power" casts the line slips from under my finger and the lure goes flying off to my right at about 2 o'clock, roughly 130' across the road up in my neighbor's trees.

I am tugging and pulling trying to get loose but the sinker is stuck pretty good.  After a few minutes, I accept losing the sinker and just start pulling to break the line loose.  I am using 25lb saltwater mono and really pulling on it and tightening the drag.  Now, I know a lure can snap loose and come flying back and hit you, but, I have never had this happen - flying back that is.  All the same though, I am holding the rod off to the side and not directly in line with my body and really pulling.

All at once the sinker slips free from the tree.

Relieved that it is loose and happy that I am not going to lose.  But then I look up just in time to see, and hear, the white duck taped 2 oz lure come whizzing by - about 3 feet from my chest.  Let me tell you - THIS THING WAS MOOOOVING!  The sound was weird and I don't think I will forget.  It landed about 15 feet  behind me and bounced another 30-40 feet to the edge of some trees.

I have never seen anything like that before.  I never would have thought possible - a 2 oz lure would fly through the air like that.  I expected - at most - the lure would pop loose and land half way back towards where I was standing.  But, this thing was just like it fired from a gun.  

Although deadly, it was amazing AND a real eye-opener.

Consider your self a very lucky man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You were very lucky!  Could have killed you if it caught you in the head!  

Lucky,

I was fishing this weekend with a buddy how was throwning a LC Pointer, threw it into some weeds and was tugging on it to get it out.  Man, it let loose and that thing came flying at me like it was shot out of a cannon for realz, I lifted my arm to block my face and the lure stuck me right above the elbow  .... hahah, hurt like crazy... can't imagine a 2oz sinker....

That happens to me all the time. I get my powerbait shaky worm snagged on a rock and I yank my line and all of a sudden it comes loose and I duck and it ends up hitting my rod towards the bottom. Happened 3 times this month. Whew talk about lucky.

Thank goodness you didn't get hit!!! That mono loaded up like a bow string. I think from now on, you're probably going to just cut the line with a pair of scissors. Whew!

Almost taken out by a sinker

The main reason I always recommend testing and practicing with rod/reel in an open park or wide open area.

To close for comfort.......

We have all had our bass sinkers and baits fly back at us when we pull on them to get them out of trees, cover and bushes, but never have I had such a projectile that size whizz by me.

I know that a bass bait and sinker can have some power behind it on the return and as you have so eloquently written, your surf casting rig has even more mass and more power.

Glad to hear you are OK and now you know what NOT TO DO.  

Maybe you should stick to bass fishing.  

NO JOKE!

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-lifish305782274jul30,0,2052483.story

NO JOKE!

http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-lifish305782274jul30,0,2052483.story

wow!

Sounds like a nice Sluggo rod. Post up the pics when you're done!