Equipment failure!!

Just got an email from a friend that is fishing in the Florida Keys this winter. He said that he lost 2 Tekota Reels due to the rods they were mounted on snapping at the end of the blank which terminated just below the reel seat and went over board.

He said that upon inspection 4 other rods were cracked in the same area of the handle. 2 of the rods had never been used anywhere except lake Erie. Needless to say he has bought new rods with the blank thru the handle design to make them more trust worthy.

This is just a heads up so maybe you should inspect your setups for problems and if you are buying new rods maybe you should consider the blank thru the handle design.

This is not intended to start a big debate about rods but is put out here as a heads up. I would not want to see anyone lose a good reel because the rod handle broke. I left the name & make of the rod out of the post but will give it to you if you PM me.

Speaking of rods...
Since I'm going to start trolling this year, I'll need to start gathering the gear, so I marched into Bass Pro Shops Sunday, plastic in hand, to buy 4 Ugly Stick GX2 7 ft Med action rods. I could only find 3, so I handed them to my wife while I kept looking. She noticed that they weren't the same. Even though they were all marked alike, one was at least one and ahalf inches longer than the shortest and all 3 were different lengths. Even the eyes didn't match up when stood side by side.Ther must be some serious quality control problems in China. I put em back. I'll keep looking, and thanks to your heads up, I'll make sure the blank goes all the way to the butt of the rod. Nothing is ever easy is it. Thanks again Wakina. You are a big help.

I now have 6 rods in a shop to replace the handles as I was not satisfied with the style of grips they had triggers and fit my rod holders not to my own satisfaction. So off they went to a reputable repairman to replace grips sans the triggers and add a couple of inches in length. The seats on 2 were cracked so far. These are a popular mfg. and series of rods and are thru the grip blanks yet who knows how long they would have lasted in that condition either.

Thanks Wakina for the good info.


Gene

Defernaut,

I use Ugly Sticks exclusively on my boat... There are other rods I would use just the same but I started with them and just haven't ever wanted to switch all 18-20 rods out at once.

I have seen the kind of variation that you are talking about when looking at Ugly Stick models, but never on exactly identical models.

For a while they made several "1101" rods... They had CA 1101; BWS 1101; SCL 1101; BWD 1101; SP 1101; SPH 1101; SP 1101; CAL 1101

Then each one of those had 5 different variations of action: Example: CAL1101MH; CAL1101H: CAL1101M

I have noticed variations in the rods within the same model, but different actions (MH vs H). And definitely there are differences in a 7' BWS1101 vs 7' BWD1101.

I am not saying that was the case with your rods, but just a heads up to double check that. I have bought the same model and weight rod from multiple sources and even online over the years to replace rods and I have never had a variation like you are talking about when they are identical models and weight.

Tackle stores do a TERRIBLE job of organizing rods. They just throw them up wherever there is room I think sometimes.

I don't think anyone would mind if you let the name out of the manufacture and model of the rod. I know if it is what I'm using I want to know. I would consider it valuable information....not bashing. Facts are facts.

Now I have a bash for sure.. Defernaut has learned a lesson as to when and where to shop. His choice to shop at his choice of stores was due to probably his choices of area stores and availability of the item. I am truly sorry I cannot
sit by and watch people shop there and feel they found what they wanted when they could have gone to or made a better choice of stores. B*** P** has yet to show me anything I was looking for, staff was not informative. Prices are higher than any competitive store.


WAKINA, sorry for stealing your thread.



Gene

I am with you on that, between shots. I got bent over but its not a fishin report nor a trolling rod post so see ya.
Betweenshots check pm

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Originally Posted by Eyezcrazy

I don't think anyone would mind if you let the name out of the manufacture and model of the rod. I know if it is what I'm using I want to know. I would consider it valuable information....not bashing. Facts are facts.

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Eyezcrazy:

I avoided putting this on an open public forum because I did not want to end up on the wrong end of a lawsuit with a store/business that has deep pockets. Fortunately they no longer sell this particular model but have replaced it with a supposedly better rod with a similar name.

The rods in question were this businesses mid range of quality and and very popular they sold for $79.99 everyday at there online and retail stores. Oh what the hell, They were the Fish Eagle II casting Rods sold by Cabela's, there I have said it.

If I had any Cabela's rods no matter what model and I used the rods for trolling I think I would be checking to be sure they had a blank that ran thru the handle or at the very least were not weak/worn.

BtweenShots:

LOL, The thread is still here so you did not steal it. I also promise not to call the Forum Sheriff.

Defernaut:

I just checked all of my GX2 Ugly Stiks and they all appear to be the same length. But all the same thanks for the heads up and now people should check them over to be sure before purchasing them.

It seems that everything that we buy anymore comes from China! What a shame!!~!!!!!!!

Someone ought to shout out to the guy with 300 lb coolers every trip. I'm sure his rods gotta be stressed.

Shame on me, I know

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Originally Posted by MasterKraft

Someone ought to shout out to the guy with 300 lb coolers every trip. I'm sure his rods gotta be stressed.

Shame on me, I know

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LOL!!

Now thats Funny!

Dinner Chinese food:D Now I'm stressed:eek: It must be beer thirty somewhere:p

When I first started trolling I bought a dozen Cabelas Depthmaster II rods. I used them the first year and I didn't like them, seemed to be a lot of flex at the reel seat. I didn't have any fail but I just didn't like the give in them. I then purchased a dozen Daiwa Wilderness rods. I liked them but they were 8'6" long and I wanted shorter rods. The main reason I wanted shorter was I didn't want to tear the rods down to put them in the cabin of the boat. I ended up getting a real good deal on a dozen 7' Shimano Talora rods, so far I love these rods. We'll see how well they hold up for a season of dragging for walleyes. I have found that you can get pretty good deals on rods and reels if you by them by the dozen. Its a big nut to crack spending all that money up front but you can save as much as 40% buying that many. Personally, I have never been real impressed with any of Cabelas name brand item from shoes to those nerve racking pop guns. That the little kids run around popping in their stores all day long.

[QUOTE=MasterKraft;45401]Someone ought to shout out to the guy with 300 lb coolers every trip. I'm sure his rods gotta be stressed.

Shame on me, I know[/QUOT

Does that 300lbs include ice?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MasterKraft

Someone ought to shout out to the guy with 300 lb coolers every trip. I'm sure his rods gotta be stressed.

Shame on me, I know

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MASTERCRAFT

I'VE NEVER MET YOU BUT I LOVE YOU MAN. yOU'VE GOT A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.

Wakina, thanks for putting it out there. It's a shame when sportsman are afraid to share info about an inferior product for fear of a lawsuit. I am the kind of person who would stand up to any such threats....lol now that I think about it....that attitude has cost me in the past. Oh well, I'd still rather be a stand up guy.

Anyway, I'm glad it wasn't the rods I'm using. But now you have me thinking about the solid blank through the handle. I never really considered what would happen if the cheaper rods failed. What I don't understand is how your friend lost 2 reels. You would think he would have learned after the first one broke. Must have thought it was a fluke.

I had issues last year a couple eyecons by a famous maker. I traded them in for a couple cabelas platinum zx tournament in 7 ft light action and love em. I know its not the durability you need for trolling but I drift and cast and caught quite a few walleye last summer on them. I am really impressed by them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Defernaut

MASTERCRAFT

I'VE NEVER MET YOU BUT I LOVE YOU MAN. yOU'VE GOT A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.

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One of the best things in life is helping others laugh.

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Originally Posted by Eyezcrazy

Wakina, thanks for putting it out there. It's a shame when sportsman are afraid to share info about an inferior product for fear of a lawsuit. I am the kind of person who would stand up to any such threats....lol now that I think about it....that attitude has cost me in the past. Oh well, I'd still rather be a stand up guy.

Anyway, I'm glad it wasn't the rods I'm using. But now you have me thinking about the solid blank through the handle. I never really considered what would happen if the cheaper rods failed. What I don't understand is how your friend lost 2 reels. You would think he would have learned after the first one broke. Must have thought it was a fluke.

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He said they were into school dolphin of about 5 to 6 lbs each trolling about 4.5 to 5 mph GPS speed and one slammed the first rod and it went over the side leaving the cork in the rod holder and before he had a chance to figure out what had happened the other rod left. If you have never caught one of these guys they are like steelhead on steroids but super fun on light tackle and excellent eating.

He said he thinks the small boards saved the other 2 rods since the boards absorbed the shock. They had 4 on at once the way I take it. I think the strain of the boards and the speed didn't do them any good. Not defending the rods but he may have already have had them a max strain with the speed they were trolling. He said he bought the ugly stik tiger light rods in 6'9" med action. Haven't heard how they are doing but they should hold up being made for salt water fishing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MasterKraft

I had issues last year a couple eyecons by a famous maker. I traded them in for a couple cabelas platinum zx tournament in 7 ft light action and love em. I know its not the durability you need for trolling but I drift and cast and caught quite a few walleye last summer on them. I am really impressed by them.

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I have nothing against Cabelas rods, at least the ones that I use.I have 3 of the XMLTI rods, 1 casting and 2 spinning, I use them as perch rods and they are super sensitive. Most of their spinning reels are made by Daiwa and are excellent for the price. This thread is more about checking the equipment that you are using now and to inform you about the rods that are involved. Also to maybe avoid the problem by using a rod that has the blank thru the entire handle length. The first thing that comes to mind is the amount of strain a dipsy diver set on 3 puts on the rod at the point the rods handle touches the tube type rod holder. I think maybe he was using a rod that was designed to be held and not stuffed into a rod holder and subjected to the strain trolling puts on the rod.