Fishing Rod Exploded...Your Opinion?

[bolocop]

I "had" an Abu Garcia Villain $180, titanium guides, etc. It's a casting rod. I had 50lb braid and a 20lb fluoro leader.

I think it got snagged or hooked into something big while out past the MB jetty yesterday and when I loaded up on it, it broke into three pieces. The only piece I was able to recover is the piece I was holding. It broke below the first guide.

Anyone have any opinions on whether this qualifies as a warranty claim? The leader is within the rod rating, but I don't think the braid rating is.

Any thoughts?

[YakDout]

Depends where you bought it

[bolocop]

Tackle warehouse said to contact Abu directly bc I only had the handle and not all pieces. Uh oh...

[buddha]

With Abu Garcia you have to send it to their factory if it is on warranty. If it isn't on warranty they will still take care of it .

I have to send a reel in soon to Abu Garcia and will send it to the factory.

http://www.abugarcia.com/support/warranties

[JeffB]

Most dealers will swap you out for another one if they have them in stock. There is usually a $40 blank fee for almost all companies. I've swapped out Seeker's, Okuma's, and Shimano's at both Fisherman's Landing and Dana Landing.

[skrilla]

When you "loaded up on it" how deep did you flex the rod? 45, 90, 180 degrees?

[Deamon]

Originally Posted by skrilla

When you "loaded up on it" how deep did you flex the rod? 45, 90, 180 degrees?

Maybe already bruised from a past whack on something hard. The old fiberglass rods were much more forgiving this way...

[Squid Vicious]

Originally Posted by Deamon

Maybe already bruised from a past whack on something hard. The old fiberglass rods were much more forgiving this way...

...I agree....doesn't take a hard whack sometimes either...one of mine fell against the kitchen counter after a rinsing the reel and the next time I hooked a good fish in the kelp and the fish kelped me...I loaded the rod up and snap right were I remember it hitting....love my graphites and carbon fiber rods but no forgiveness for unfortunate neglect

[bolocop]

Yes, I did load up on it pretty good. I figured the 20lb leader would break or one of the knots would give.

I guess I should be happy my modified albright and fishnfool knots held! Haha!

As I said before, Tackle warehouse has referred me to Abu (I expected better service from TW). I contacted Abu and we'll see what their response is. If they say no, I may pay a little more for the rod makers that will exchange with no questions asked in the future.

[Fiskadoro]

I had the same thing happen to a ABU rod over 20 years ago on a tuna and have not bought one since then. 20-50 rod exploded using 30 pound mono.

Is it common? Who knows. Does it happen? Yes it does

[kayakfisherman]

if it's a graphite rod, it's not uncommon. Graphite rods can bruise from
being banged around. The bruise grows into a weak spot, then fails.

[WildernessWanker]

Originally Posted by kayakfisherman

if it's a graphite rod, it's not uncommon. Graphite rods can bruise from
being banged around. The bruise grows into a weak spot, then fails.

I have one that was mildly slammed in the tailgate by my wife, just a matter of time. It is not under warranty so there's no replacing it for free, but it's a nice rod so I'm not a fan of just setting it aside. Every time I hook up with it I pray it's not the fish that trashes the rod, although one of these days it's going to explode over something worth keeping and I'll be a tad frustrated.

[bolocop]

Good News! Abu emailed and said to call their customer service # and give them $9.95 s/h. Lady said the rod would be at my house 7-10 days.

I have two other Abu rods and now they have a customer for life!