You really should take more care when transporting your gear. The tight line on the rod is also unnecessary. However IMO I don't believe that rod should have snapped if you hoisted a 3 pound bass up and into your boat. If your bait was reeled in to tight and was pressing into the tip of the rod then it's possible because the rod had no way to react to the weight of the fish.

Only you know for sure.

You really should take more care when transporting your gear. The tight line on the rod is also unnecessary. However IMO I don't believe that rod should have snapped if you hoisted a 3 pound bass up and into your boat. If your bait was reeled in to tight and was pressing into the tip of the rod then it's possible because the rod had no way to react to the weight of the fish.

Only you know for sure.

The picture was taken to show the bed of his truck. Not how he always stores his rods.

The picture was taken to show the bed of his truck. Not how he always stores his rods.

Oops !

Why show the rod in the bed if that's not how he transports it.

Oops !

Why show the rod in the bed if that's not how he transports it.

Was more to show it laying over the piece of wood described in another of his posts. Asking if the wood have caused damage while slowly driving around his fishing area.

Oops !

Why show the rod in the bed if that's not how he transports it.

He transports them to and from his fishing area inside his vehicle. Only drives around his waters with them in bed of truck.

I don't understand the reluctance of some of the folks who replied to use a net...

I net almost all the fish I bring in the boat fish, for a few reasons:

• It's easier on the fish.
• It's easier on me.
• I'm not going to get a hook driven into my hand by a last minute lunge from the fish.
• The net extends my reach and I can get them in the boat faster (more of #1)

I keep 3 nets on the boat, two fairly large fly fishing style nets (one in front, one in back) - these get used for 90% of the bass I need to net as it's easy to bend down, grab the net, scoop up the fish, de-hook it and have it back in the water fast. I use either the black rubber nets, or the coated ones - never, ever had a problem getting the fish or the hooks out of them.

My third net is a Ego Slider S2 large size net...again, with the black rubber netting. This gets used for fish about 20" and over, so a few bass and most pike and small musky. These nets extend to about double their original length if needed.

...but what I do 90% of the time is leave the fish in the water, bend down and grab the hook with a set of pliers and back it out of the fish without ever taking it out of the water. I de-barb all my hooks, so this is usually easy and fast.

When I'm wading, one of the fly fishing nets gets used, if the fish won't fit in that, I'll use the technique above ove backing them onto shore.

Some places aren't wading friendly like here in Florida where gators and cottonmouth roam our waters. Sometimes fish need to be lifted over the edge of some thick reeds and such at the edge of the water.

Some places aren't wading friendly like here in Florida where gators and cottonmouth roam our waters. Sometimes fish need to be lifted over the edge of some thick reeds and such at the edge of the water.

 

That'd do it for me...

 

It's exciting enough when a musky or a pike nails a bass on your line...can't imagine what it's like when a gator does it.

 

...but it sounds like an even bigger reason to use the nets from shore or when in a boat.