>>1991572I have had some absolute pieces of shit as well, but I have also had some that have held up despite constant abuse. A lot of people force the sections when collapsing the rod and snap the rod tip, which is always a pisser. I keep mine constantly coated with a light film of oil so they open and close with ease. After dealing with endless salt and sand, I can say that it makes all the difference. I do it with my collapsible paddles as well. This whole concept was born out of necessity, first in regards to air transport. I had the opportunity able to fly to South Florida pretty cheap, but didn't have the money to ship gear, so I bought a little Shakespeare telescoping rod combo, and rigged it with 10 lb diameter 50 lb test braid. I packed it in my carry on and headed out. I was able to get hooks and leaders cheap enough once I was there, and live baited only. I would put a small hook on with a little bit of shrimp and catch a little fish, then take the small hook off, replace it with a large hook, and hook the small fish on the large hook and toss it back out. The only fish that bested me was a snook, but I managed to bring in sharks anywhere from 3-6 feet, jacks, and a 30 lb stingray that was a bitch of a fight. That little rod had zero backbone, and the stingray kept burrowing into the sand, so I had to tighten the line and thrum it like a guitar to get him to swim again. I even took it a second time a couple of years later, but the reel stripped gear teeth on something big I never got to see. I locked down the drag and popped it once I realized it was going to spool me. No way I want to be responsible for a fish with 100 yards of line trailing behind it. I still have the rod, in good shape, but use it only to catch bait now. OK, that was way too much for a shitposting forum. I'm going to sleep.
