so i'm having an epic day at an udl a few days back. LOTS of large fish left and right. i'm out in the fast current on a shoal about 2' of water. land a low 30's and she was hooked with the crushed barbed hook twisted in around the jaw bone. keeping the fish the the water the release requires both hands to get the hook out. in the meantime i lean my rod between my neck and shoulder. after a good 5 minutes the fish the fish wrestles and twists from my grip .WHERE'S MY ROD ^%$%$#$%%%- I DON'T SEE IT!!! instant panic attack- heart racing flush feeling. wait.. what's that 10' downstream ready to go in the abyss- my rod butt! with old guy lightning ninja speed i got to it -with the fish still attached. seems while i was preoccupied trying to release the fish the rod slipped off my shoulder and in the drink....the 2nd release attempt was uneventful
. lesson- ALWAYS know where your rod is, i almost lost it. i guess there's a first time for everything.