I waited 3 mos and no response on repairing my Premium rod, only need a guide, and anything that can be done with my Darling Imperial. Wasn’t holding out much hope on that one. I own at least 6 of their rods and started buying vintage ones as well.
I called this week. I never ever call, I’m bad that way. I’ll text a storm, ask A-5, Ill email. I will never call. Maybe PTSD phobia after a gig a long ways back. Every call was a crisis for a Builder or Architect.
So I called, waited 15 mins, lots of friendly chit chat with lady. I buy their trout model as prizes for kids at our youth day and asking how they prefer to register warranties. Anyway, she acts like it’s odd I never got a response after auto response. I offer to forward her the warranty email response with details. She finally agrees and I confirm her email painfully slow just in case. She tells me it’s late afternoon but I’ll get a response in AM,,,,,,,,,, that was Tuesday,,,,,,,
I get they are busy but ain’t exactly Walmart rods I’m buying. Not top shelf at $300-500 avg but I buy US made to talk to people. I buy Danners at $4/500 and pay $300 for rebuilds. I’m not exactly a miser.
So unless there’s a strong reason for no response I’m done with St Croix. Sad because I’m getting to the point in life nostalgia is strong.
I guess it’s looking at rod building kits. I don’t have A-5s talent to make master pieces from home made tools. I regularly describe myself as “buy top tier tools and components, when I’m done it’s mediocre acceptable.” Are the Mudhole kits the best place to start for equipment? Is it one of those things that it’ll take 300 to be worth it and I’d be better ordering a half dozen in every style I like from a builder? I need a hobby like I need another dependent. I like long and/or one piece lightweights. I like cork and I like split cork(Thanks Z, I didn’t think I could get pickier lol). I’m struggle to find anything I like on a rack at BassPro. Closest I found was a tidy little UL from Fenwick with an odd shaped tiny cork tapered handle but I can’t find them online. I like the Omen too but not even available yet.
I do like the intricate wraps too. If I ever find a 5/6 wt Sage One Spey blank in the 13’ range I’ll have my next float rod.
Z’s prize rod checked a lot of boxes including the wraps. I love that rod with a Presidente xt 15 reel. The red and cork reel. A 7 yo that happens to be grandson of board President was cheated like my kids at our youth derby. I will spare ugliness but a few of us took him for jumbos after it ended. He had a Wally awful deal. I teased President of all people his grandson should be better outfitted. He told me the kid loves red so he found a cheap red rod. I was driving to hatchery chewing on the derby I put so much into. Turned around and gave the kid Z’s rod with the special edition red reel. He should’ve won a rod at the derby. He helps stock and last longer than all adults. Little guy is a worker.
So I’m running low on rods and disgusted with St Croix. Recommend some kits, turners, heaters, etc. and/or thoughts on other options. A 1 piece 2-6 lbs 7’6” split grip one piece is hard to come by and I like more specialized for anything beyond that.
I called this week. I never ever call, I’m bad that way. I’ll text a storm, ask A-5, Ill email. I will never call. Maybe PTSD phobia after a gig a long ways back. Every call was a crisis for a Builder or Architect.
So I called, waited 15 mins, lots of friendly chit chat with lady. I buy their trout model as prizes for kids at our youth day and asking how they prefer to register warranties. Anyway, she acts like it’s odd I never got a response after auto response. I offer to forward her the warranty email response with details. She finally agrees and I confirm her email painfully slow just in case. She tells me it’s late afternoon but I’ll get a response in AM,,,,,,,,,, that was Tuesday,,,,,,,
I get they are busy but ain’t exactly Walmart rods I’m buying. Not top shelf at $300-500 avg but I buy US made to talk to people. I buy Danners at $4/500 and pay $300 for rebuilds. I’m not exactly a miser.
So unless there’s a strong reason for no response I’m done with St Croix. Sad because I’m getting to the point in life nostalgia is strong.
I guess it’s looking at rod building kits. I don’t have A-5s talent to make master pieces from home made tools. I regularly describe myself as “buy top tier tools and components, when I’m done it’s mediocre acceptable.” Are the Mudhole kits the best place to start for equipment? Is it one of those things that it’ll take 300 to be worth it and I’d be better ordering a half dozen in every style I like from a builder? I need a hobby like I need another dependent. I like long and/or one piece lightweights. I like cork and I like split cork(Thanks Z, I didn’t think I could get pickier lol). I’m struggle to find anything I like on a rack at BassPro. Closest I found was a tidy little UL from Fenwick with an odd shaped tiny cork tapered handle but I can’t find them online. I like the Omen too but not even available yet.
I do like the intricate wraps too. If I ever find a 5/6 wt Sage One Spey blank in the 13’ range I’ll have my next float rod.
Z’s prize rod checked a lot of boxes including the wraps. I love that rod with a Presidente xt 15 reel. The red and cork reel. A 7 yo that happens to be grandson of board President was cheated like my kids at our youth derby. I will spare ugliness but a few of us took him for jumbos after it ended. He had a Wally awful deal. I teased President of all people his grandson should be better outfitted. He told me the kid loves red so he found a cheap red rod. I was driving to hatchery chewing on the derby I put so much into. Turned around and gave the kid Z’s rod with the special edition red reel. He should’ve won a rod at the derby. He helps stock and last longer than all adults. Little guy is a worker.
So I’m running low on rods and disgusted with St Croix. Recommend some kits, turners, heaters, etc. and/or thoughts on other options. A 1 piece 2-6 lbs 7’6” split grip one piece is hard to come by and I like more specialized for anything beyond that.
