How funny is it that I would read this post. I had a similar experience at a local fishing whole. There are a couple of benches on the pier at the waters edge. There are holes in the table that you an rest your poles in if you have more then one, sitting on the far side of the bench I would stick one in the hole and hold the other and about 10 times that day, when I got hit on a line I would go rushing down the side of the bench slam my shin against that piece of wood that connected the seat to the table. Ouch...
All I can say is I really wanted to catch something but all I caught was a beating from that bench...and kept going back for more. Funny how the pain was a total shock each time.