Monday, December 15, 2014

About That MHX Spinning Rod I Built

I wrote about a spinning rod I was building a few weeks ago and finished it by Thanksgiving weekend.  With the weather we tend to have in December, it was going to take a while before I could get out to try it, and finally did so this weekend.

I wish I thought to keep exact numbers, but I think it lasted less than 15 minutes.  When we got the boat out yesterday, checking that rod out was one of my reasons for going (as if I need a reason to go fishing).  We were fishing in rocky water about 15' deep.  On one cast, I thought I felt a soft pickup, and struck hard.  Very quickly, the line stopped moving.  This is either a snag on bottom, or the fish diving under a rock.  I leaned back hard on the rod, and within a few seconds, the rod snapped, taking the 10 pound monofilament with it.  There are really no feelings I can compare to that.  It's one thing to loose a fish: that happens.  Imagine the finality of not only loosing the fish but the rod you just spent every spare hour for a month working on.  It's quite a jolt. 
The rod wasn't overloaded.  It's rated for 8-15 pound line, and I was fishing 10 pound.  MHX has a warranty, so I've contacted them to start the process of getting it replaced.  Nothing will replace the rest of the parts on the rod or the time spent building it, so pardon me if I'm not feeling really good about MHX at this point. 

That chartreuse thread I used never photographed well, but that was a really pretty rod.  


3 comments:

  1. I hate when that happens! I never broke a rod on a fish, but plenty of other ways. I think I quit building rods because it hurt more when I broke one of my own, as opposed to a manufactured one. Besides, if you do your shopping, you can find excellent deals online. I just got a 8 ft. Shimano for $18. Just what I wanted for steelhead in small coastal streams. A very nicely built rod with cork handles too boot.

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  2. Thanks for the report and sorry for your loss. I settled on a Rainshadow blank. They cost a little bit more but... we'll see.

    As for saving money, when you add it all up store bought fish is cheaper too.

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  3. Sepulvedasrevenge - I was hoping you'd drop by and see this in light of your question back on the original post.

    But, yeah. I think my lifetime average cost on fish I've caught is pushing a few thousand $$ per pound.

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