fly fisherman, how did I do this? albright A5 7wt high modulus graphite?

Question

snapped top section between lower guides, fly just out of water at beggining of forward cast. #16 bead head nymph (no didnt hit the rod) about 8'-10' of line out and 10' of leader(2x 11lb) and tippet (2x 8lb) over kill on a trout river I know.
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/nikomat77/flyrod016.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/nikomat77/flyrod018.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e375/nikomat77/flyrod019.jpg

Answer 1

There are a few things that may have caused this.
1) manufacturing defect
2) were you using the correct line wt. on your rod ?
3) were you using added weight (ie, split shot) ?

Fly rods are made on a mandrel, with the majority of the carbon fibers running parallel, then there is the "scrim"
of either fiberglass (yes, even on a graphite rod) or
graphite which is wound spiral on the rod to give the blank
stregnth.

Modulus is a generic term for measuring stiffness.The higher the modulus, the stiffer the material.

With stiffness, comes brittleness. As S_M_C pointed out,
if you dinged your rod, it could have bruised the fibers.If the fibers were bruised at one time or another, it's just a matter of time before some stress on the rod causes it to break.

Stress can be caused by overlining (using a line wt heavier than the rod is rated for) Some people regularly do this, I don't advise it. Using added weight can also cause undo stress. If you are making long casts with several spilt shot you are adding stress.

Why then doesn't the rod break when you hook a fish, you may ask.

Speed and flex. If you were to use a slo-mo movie camera and video tape your casting, you would see how much speed is generated during the casting cycle and you would also see that the rod bends opposite of the way it does when you are
fighting a fish on your back-cast. Add any of the factors listed above and it becomes a stress point.

That being said, most rod manufactures do offer a warranty and you should be able to recoup either a new rod or at the very least a new tip section for your rod.

Answer 2

Could be a stress fracture or design flaw in that particular rod. Not every graphite blank is perfect.

I know you said you didn't hit the rod with your Bead-head, but that looks like what happened.

You may have "nicked it" on a previous fishing trip and finished the job the following trip??.(This has happened to me before! ARGGGHH! lol)

Wait for Pheasant Tail or Sagefisher to answer. They are 2 of the better flyfishing Yanswerer's.

Sorry 'bout your rod. I hope you still have a sales receipt. Perhaps you can get a free replacement? If not, look on the bright side! You get to go shopping for another rod! (lol)