OK, more along the lines of STUPID (OK maybe not stupid, but greedy.... OK maybe stupid AND greedy. You be the judge). Didn't lose the rod, but did lose something almost as valuable.

How often do you put a new plug into the rotation and just have it light the whole boat on fire? One that catches so many fish on its maiden voyage that its bill is indelibly marked by the snap with a permanent "Ring of Life"... the most obvious hallmark of a true swimmer! Well, at least beyond the teeth marks and chipped paint.

This garish K13 was certainly one of those plugs.... chrome base, chartreuse hot tail, metallic green back, chartreuse on fluo orange puddle dots. KILLER!

But ALAS all good things must come to an end.

After a glory day on the Kenai with the kids "somebody" got a little greedy when we got back to camp and decided to send the magic plug swimming off the back of the moored boat. There it sat doing its death dance UNATTENDED while I was busily preparing dinner.

Strolled briefly down to the boat to check the rod in between flipping pork steaks.... and ..... ....

The rod is buried and ALL the line has been stripped from the reel, right down to the arbor knot.

A buddy and I untie the boat to give chase to whatever took my plug and emptied my 1970's vintage ABU baitcaster. Scrambled eggs like mad to regain line only to find the mystery fish had run the line into a submerged tree. Finally had to break the 15# Maxima UG to get it free. Sayonara Mr Kwikfish. Another one bites the dust!

HMMMM.... lessons learned the hard way.

AFTER-THOUGHT: Hey Rivrguy, I'm sure that rod would have suffered the same fate as yours.... BUT.... at least I had the good sense to place it securely in a FOLBE rodholder.