I pretty much keep mine until they don't do the job anymore. I've retired very few of my rods. If anything, they'll serve as backups, or as guest rods if I'm fishing with someone who doesn't have much to use. 

16 hours ago, Mumbly said:

How long do you guys keep your rods

However long they come.  I don't have a rod stretcher.  I have broken a couple tips so I did not keep them as long as they came.

16 hours ago, Mumbly said:

How long do you guys keep your rods

 

I still have the first St. Croix I ever bought when I was 16. Rods don't really pay to sell in my experience. I occasionally sell one to a buddy but that's it.

keep em until they break. have many that are over 15 years old. started making my own about 4 years ago so haven't bought a new branded rod in a while.

One my local high school has a bass fishing team. Great kids.  Most of my older rods were donated to these guys and in turn they became hand me downs to new members.  My current arsenal is five years old or newer.  

58 minutes ago, Fisher-O-men said:

However long they come.  I don't have a rod stretcher.  I have broken a couple tips so I did not keep them as long as they came.

 

LOL...that's good!  Very astute humor.

9 hours ago, Darren. said:

If a rod breaks in a "can't use it anymore" kind of way, I'll

replace it. Otherwise I try to keep using it unless its action

changes significantly. In that case, it will fall into the above

category and either be repurposed or replaced.

 

Ditto

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

13 hours ago, Raul said:

Got these Berkley Lightning Rods that date back to 1985 (?) .... still fish with them and they are going nowhere.

 

Got 3 of those yet myself, I'm going to put my old Daiwa PL-100 back on the LR15 5'6" M/F pistol grip and catch a few fish on that old combo this year.

Until they break or I get bored with them.

 

I have sold off complete collections of one brand of rods.......St Croix, Abu, Fenwick, Kistler, etc.....just to switch brands because I want to try something new.

 

The last couple season's I have been fishing with a mix of stuff, mostly custom built rods for "feel" techniques, and cheaper Berkley Lightning Rod Shock's for reaction baits and have stopped doing the "switch when bored" routine. Have I found rods that are perfect?.............No, I just stopped spending money like an idiot on rods once I realized I have pretty much tried them all.

 I have some newer "higher" priced rods that I love but I also have several All-Star rods from when they were built in Texas and I find myself putting them out on my deck when I am going fishing about the same as my newer rods.  If they work and they have that "feel" you do not even think about retiring them.  my understanding is Morgan McCain is building rods in Texas again--if he is based on his All-Star history I'm in

18 hours ago, Raul said:

Got these Berkley Lightning Rods that date back to 1985 (?) .... still fish with them and they are going nowhere.

 

I've also got two of these mid 80s Berkley Lightning rods that I still fish with.  I've got two Ryobi AD4000V reels on them and don't hesitate to fish top water or, crank deep with them.

4 hours ago, Jeff H said:

 

Got 3 of those yet myself, I'm going to put my old Daiwa PL-100 back on the LR15 5'6" M/F pistol grip and catch a few fish on that old combo this year.

 

Mine got their match, LR15 is matched to a AbuGarcia XLT Plus, LR16 is matched to AbuGarcia 521 XLT plus, LR14 matched to AbuGarcia Cardinal UltraCast 62. Got my first 10+ lber and my PB with those rods. Not bragging but I can do some serious butt whupping with them to anglers with much "better" gear. 

3 hours ago, kadas said:

 I have some newer "higher" priced rods that I love but I also have several All-Star rods from when they were built in Texas and I find myself putting them out on my deck when I am going fishing about the same as my newer rods.  If they work and they have that "feel" you do not even think about retiring them.  my understanding is Morgan McCain is building rods in Texas again--if he is based on his All-Star history I'm in

Yup! Still have all of my Original All Stars and bought up a few more before they sold to Pure. Love those rods and can't see selling them or getting rid of them. When I got deeper into freshwater fishing I went through a lot of rods and makers before I settled on St Croix and Falcon. I have given away a lot of those other "tester" rods but still have the ones I like because I like them. I've had the guides stripped and re wrapped on a few and like A-Jay said, feels like a "new rod". I would say feels like the same rod, only better in my experience. 

 

When a trusted rod breaks, it does feel like a kick in the gut! After a time of "grieving" there's always the "Whelp, time to go shopping for a replacement!" moment!

I keep my rods until they break or until they cannot be used any longer.  My punching rod is probably around 25 or 30 years old.

Thanks again guys for all the comments. I made a visit to my tackle store and picked up 3 rods. The Shimano Crucial M/xf was gone which sucked but bought a 6'6" M/XF Compre ($34.72) instead. The other two were GLoomis Jerkbait rod JBR-812C ($62.56) and a Crankbait series CBR-864DF ($76.63).

 

I think I did ok.