I’ve always liked the lightning rods for the combination of comfort, sensitivity, and durability at an affordable price. The 1st one I had went strong for 12 years, and caught everything from steelhead to carp, catfish, pike, and just about every other North American freshwater species. It was only decommissioned after a near drowning incident I had, where I lost all of my fishing gear.

I recently took to spin rods again after a decade of fly fishing, and I figured I’d go back to the tried and true.

The first one snapped on day 2, on my son and I’s Father’s Day kayak trip. The local shop I get all my gear didn’t hesitate to let me exchange it, which I only did because I didn’t have the money for a new one. The replacement broke the 3rd day I used it, getting a catfish (hardly a rod bender) up to shore. It broke the same place the first one did, which is the same place the previous customer reported. I haven’t tried exchanging it, because it’s a little embarrassing, and I don’t know how it works, and don’t want the ma & pa shop having to eat the cost on something that is not their responsibility.

I understand like any buisness you’ve got to make money, and unfortunately a buisness who makes products designed to last will likely end up out of business, especially if they make the product affordable. On the other hand, 2 new rods failing in the same spot, within a week, well within the range of what they’re meant to handle, makes it hard to have confidence in the rods I once…