Was out this past wekeend and the unthinkable happened. I dropped a jig on my new build (field tested with Ponce in April) and the guys I was with wanted to know about the acid wrap. To explain it, I grabbed the leader and started to put a little tension in the rod. To my amazement, it snapped like a pencil 12" from the tip! I was not happy, especially after I have had fish to 60/70lbs on it with no problems. Pic below.
I inspected it thoroughly and could find no sign of a nick or abrasion. Does anyone know if mudhole has a warranty on these blanks? How should I go about getting the guides off and attempt to get the gimbal and reel seat off? I am guessing this is not repairable...
That is why I hate to recommend the budget jigging rods built on the same blank platform. I've been standing 3 feet away from one of those that snapped for no reason that I could see. Not much pressure, then a sinking feeling from the angler of crap, what am I going to fish with today?
More expensive rods can break also, but with fewer mystery breaks. The riley blanks have been good blanks that don't cost much and I have much more confidence in them than the mud holes.
Call Chase at American Tackle. Tell him I said to call.
That said, if a lure dinged the blank, any rod would have failed if it chipped deep enough. With the minimal pressure applied, it sounds like it was rather deep.
It's all speculative, but there are only 3 factories that make those blanks and I wouldn't be surprised if they are both made in the same factory on the same mandrels.
To remove guides, here is my method. Take a grill lighter and heat the finish on the wraps until it bubbles. Take a razor and slice along the blank and it will splay open. For the reelseat, its toast. The gimbal, if rubber is toast. If metal, heat it up and the glue will release.
Kevin
Just to clear it up, No piece of equipment hit the blank, I dropped a jig with it as in fishing the jig. I can't be too mad about it- stuff happens. It's just disappointing when you work hard on it and it fails, not due to your own mistakes.
My bad. I read it wrong. Those blanks are my go to blank for the economical jigger and their reliability has been fantastic. This year alone, I probably have 70 rods out there and have not had a blank issue yet........knock on wood.
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