I have a Daiwa Tatula 6'10 MHF and one of the guides broke yesterday. Not sure how it happened. It's the 3rd or 4th one from the top. I'll look next time I'm in the garage. Anyway, what will it hurt to use this for the rest of the season before I send it in to Daiwa for warranty? I've only had it since Feb and it has a 5 year warranty. It's my main baitcasting rod and I don't want to be without one for the next couple of months. I put some electrical tape over the piece that is still on the rod so it won't hurt the line. I fished with it yesterday and caught a couple of 12-15" fish on it, but nothing big. I don't catch many over 2-2.5 lbs anyway. All of the other guides appear fine, will I be good for a couple of months? 

I would have a local repair done for a new guide. It should be relatively cheap. Shipping is too expensive nowadays to ship anywhere. Even for warranty you'd likely have 15 just to ship. A local tackle shop charges $10 for a guide replacement 

I was looking to go this route, but google doesn’t show any rod repair anywhere near me. I have one local shop that I’m not too fond of, but don’t think they repair rods anyway. I know replacing a guide isn’t too difficult, just don’t know where to go. 

I would go to that tackle shop or else you will have to ship it so you will have around $30 in shipping there and back plus the repair. After everything you'd be hard pressed to spend less than around $40. Just about any tackle shop should have a rod and reel repair

I would begin by checking with Daiwa. Daiwa USA has good customer service and they may be willing to work with you. When dealing with non-high end rods, sometimes rod companies will send you a replacement rod which will reduce downtime. 

 

In either case, I think first step is to talk to them. 

That’s a high load area of the blank. You could be asking for trouble fishing it as is. As for “most Tackle shops do rod n reel repair” that’s not my experience. Go to rod building sites and inquire. You’ll find someone local enough. 

I was way off. It is actually the 5th guide from the top. I’m going to take it in to the local shop. They “have a guy” that fixes rods. Daiwa wants me to send it in. 

34 minutes ago, kdubracing said:

I was way off. It is actually the 5th guide from the top. I’m going to take it in to the local shop. They “have a guy” that fixes rods. Daiwa wants me to send it in. 

Just be warned - if the rod is still under warranty and the shop is not an authorized Diawa repair site, your warranty will be voided and any normally covered issues will be denied.

23 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Just be warned - if the rod is still under warranty and the shop is not an authorized Diawa repair site, your warranty will be voided and any normally covered issues will be denied.

Yeah, but I paid $120 for the rod and a warranty will cost me $50 anyway. If I spend $50 to send this in to Daiwa to fix one guide, then have a warranty issue where I have to send it in again, that’s almost the cost of another rod anyway.

2 minutes ago, kdubracing said:

Yeah, but I paid $120 for the rod and a warranty will cost me $50 anyway. If I spend $50 to send this in to Daiwa to fix one guide, then have a warranty issue where I have to send it in again, that’s almost the cost of another rod anyway.

Your choice - I'm just giving a heads up in case of something like a broken rod due to defect.

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Your choice - I'm just giving a heads up in case of something like a broken rod due to defect.

I would be more worried about the warranty if it were a $300 rod. 

44 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Just be warned - if the rod is still under warranty and the shop is not an authorized Diawa repair site, your warranty will be voided and any normally covered issues will be denied.

Daiwa doesn't have authorized warranty centers for rods, only reels. A guide repair (for the most part) is a simple job and wouldn't prevent them from warrantying the rod, for the most part.