I'm usually pretty careful when fishing. I haven't even broken a rod outside of a couple broken and easily replaced tips in years. After turning loose a dandy of a white bass I go to pick up the rod I was using and SNAP! Rod broke closer to the handle than the tip. My next boat WILL have recessed cleats! Might be a while because my current boat otherwise suits my needs great and is paid for. Guess I'll just have to watch out for those front cleats that never get used for anything. I do want to go back to a glitter sled eventually but that's a ways off.

No point in this thread other than to vent and see what others have done recently in the form of dumb equipment malfunctions.