My 4 year old son, Bruce fished on Torch Lake today, because it was too windy to get on the big lake. Did not get out until afternoon, but caought a 26" pike. Suyrprisingly it was on my first cast after putting on an old rapala that looks just like a smelt. I had just tossed it out on a whim, with a cheap "kid" rod. Forgot to check the drag, but was able to adjust it during the fight and didnot loose the fish. i do not care to eat pike, but I kept it live until we got back to dock and gave it to a 13 year old boy who was fishing there. Still pretty lively and it was hard to grab him from the livewell. 

Oh, yeah, lost a fishing rod today too. My anchor let loose, we drifted into a weedbed and while i was fighting to push out with an ore, Bruceys rod snagged a weed and fell overboard. I could have retrieved it, but that would have meant I'd have to go back in the shallows and fight my way against the wind again. The cheap rod was not worth the work, we have many more like it! As they say, in fishing, yoiu have to pay your dues. Some even go as far as to say just throw some fishing tackle overboard at the start of your day and then fish... get it over with and pay your dues early, then you can start catching fish. At any rate, I don't loose any sleep over losing a little fishing gear.