First, let me thank you for running this down -- on behalf of all humanity. Well at least the part of all humanity that is interested in fishing!

A friend pulled in a big time rod last season on a big time stream, think Scott Radian and S. Fork
Snake, or something like that. i don't recall exactly which rod it was but you get the point!? He was able to find a "serial" no. on the rod, emailed the manr and believe it it or not--bam, rod back to rightful owner within days. And tickets to heaven very heavily punched!!!