Second time out fishing with my Aird-X 6 Foot M/F rod and i hooked a bush and busted it. 

Is there a cheap brand of rod (under 50 dollars) that is known for being tough? Being new and not really knowing what i'm doing i'm worried i'll break one again so i dont want to spend a lot. 

Ugly stick. Heavy, not overly sensitive but put some braid in it and you will be good. Hard to break ugly stick rods. 

2 minutes ago, LCG said:

Ugly stick. Heavy, not overly sensitive but put some braid in it and you will be good. Hard to break ugly stick rods. 

Thank you. I bought that aird-x because it was so insanely light, but boy i swear it never should have snapped that easy. It snapped right above the bottom guide and i really wasn't putting all that much power into it.

Next time you get hung up, grab the spool, point the rod straight at the hang up, and pull straight back. This will snap your line but not damage your rod. 

Did you by chance grab the rod ahead of the reel seat? This changes the angle of force significantly. Or the blank might have been compromised by being dented or stepped on previously. Going to low end tackle will just reinforce bad habits causing more trouble down the road. 

I was pulling back straight on it, not sure where i was holding it. Then i tilted up a bit and the second i did that it snapped.

^ ^^ What Mike and Luke say. I've got 4 Aird-X rods in my lineup, and despite some hang-ups have yet to snap even one. I've been impressed with them so far, and they've been plenty strong enough.

Yeah i probably should have just cut the line. But like i said i'm new it was only my 2nd day fishing so i didn't know a rod could break so easily. I assumed the line or knot would break first.

 

Mis-handling a rod will break even the best $500 rod. Since it's still so new - I'd go with Diawa's warranty and take it back to where you bought it (don't forget the receipt).

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Mis-handling a rod will break even the best $500 rod. Since it's still so new - I'd go with Diawa's warranty and take it back to where you bought it (don't forget the receipt).

I bought it online, i'm going to talk to them tomorrow and see what they'll do.

Just now, AJ.AJ.AJ. said:

I bought it online, i'm going to talk to them tomorrow and see what they'll do.

1: They'll have a record of when you purchased it.

2: They might want a pic e-mailed.

3: Better on-line retailers (Amazon, TW, AL, etc) are good about making things good for the customer.

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

1: They'll have a record of when you purchased it.

2: They might want a pic e-mailed.

3: Better on-line retailers (Amazon, TW, AL, etc) are good about making things good for the customer.

I just looked, it's from a chain of stores called Runnings, they were the only online retailer i could find that had the 6 foot one i wanted in stock. Don't know anything about them tho.

Just now, AJ.AJ.AJ. said:

I just looked, it's from a chain of stores called Runnings, they were the only online retailer i could find that had the 6 foot one i wanted in stock. Don't know anything about them tho.

They've been around a while (1947) - smaller version of Fleet-Farm, headquartered here in MN. MN companies are usually very good - it's called being 'Minnesota Nice'.

Just now, MN Fisher said:

They've been around a while (1947) - smaller version of Fleet-Farm, headquartered here in MN. MN companies are usually very good - it's called being 'Minnesota Nice'.

Well that's good to know. Thanks for the help, i'm going to call them tomorrow and see what they'll do.

Will a longer rod give me more distance? It seemed like i really couldn't get out very far with that six foot medium/fast rod using 10lb jbraid. I was fishing everything from weightless senkos up to heavier jigs and spoons but it just felt like i should be able to cast further than what i was.

I’ve been using my arid x for a few months it’s been great.

Longer rod = more casting distance 

Shorter rod = more casting accuracy 

 

Use what your comfortable with until you learn more about techniques and why each rod has its purpose. But a 6'-7' rod will be fine for general use. 

1 minute ago, LCG said:

Longer rod = more casting distance 

Shorter rod = more casting accuracy 

 

Use what your comfortable with until you learn more about techniques and why each rod has its purpose. But a 6'-7' rod will be fine for general use. 

Thank you.

Also go fishing now and enjoy. In the winter read these forums and watch some quality YouTube videos ie tactical bassin. Amazing people with some great advice here on this forum. 

2 hours ago, AJ.AJ.AJ. said:

I was pulling back straight on it, not sure where i was holding it. Then i tilted up a bit and the second i did that it snapped.

I can almost guarantee that you might have thought it was a little, but you likely inadvertently put your rod in the “high stick” danger zone. 
 

Don’t be too hard on yourself. We all will break a rod or two or three and sometimes for dumber reasons. Trust me. The first rod I broke was done when I wasn’t even fishing. I was late for something not paying attention to the time and was running to my car with 3 rods in my right hand. I tripped and flew forward like Superman. After I hit the cement dock, the rods followed suit and my hand held them on the ground while the tips undulated like a diving board. Did 2 the two cheap rods break? Of course not. My prized rod did. That’s how it goes. 
 

This is what I recommend and do when I get hung up. I take the rod and reel out of the equation completely and doing this practically reduces rod breakage to nearly zero. Pull out enough line to work with. 
 

careful though. Some lines can cut through your skin like a hot knife through soft butter. I usually have a small dowel with me but if there is a twig nearby and if worse comes to worst, I’ll use my pliers. 
 

couple things. Make sure you have your glasses on and make sure that you are NOT in the path such that if it gets freed, your lure can actually hit you. Hooking yourself is not fun. Therefore when I pull on the line, I pull it to either side of me and not directly at myself. 
 

I wouldn’t go with the ugly stik. I would rather get another rod and be more mindful when trying to free snags. 

7 minutes ago, islandbass said:

I wouldn’t go with the ugly stik. I would rather get another rod and be more mindful when trying to free snags. 

Ya...I've had two Ugly Stick spinning rods - one 6'0' Medium and one 5'6" Ultra-Light.

My Aird-X 6'6" Medium is lighter and more responsive

My Spinmatic 6'6" Ultra-Light is head-and-shoulders above the Ugly - and it's less expensive.

 

Ugly Sticks are for those who are going to abuse their rods - but they're heavier and feel 'dead' compared to other rods in the same price-class.

Thanks guys. I'll see if i can exchange this broken one and if not i'll probably get another one since everyone says it's such a good rod.

6 minutes ago, AJ.AJ.AJ. said:

since everyone says it's such a good rod.

Rejoinder - it's a good rod in that price-class.

 

I think it fishes above it's price-point - but if I had the money, I'd replace all my Aird-X rods with Dobyns Furys. I think the Aird-X is close enough to the Dobyns Colt, that I'll take the $25 price difference there.

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Rejoinder - it's a good rod in that price-class.

 

I think it fishes above it's price-point - but if I had the money, I'd replace all my Aird-X rods with Dobyns Furys. I think the Aird-X is close enough to the Dobyns Colt, that I'll take the $25 price difference there.

And the Dobyns warranty is top notch.

6 minutes ago, Hewhospeaksmuchbull said:

And the Dobyns warranty is top notch.

To be fair - the Colt has the same 1-year as the Aird-X rods do...so no difference there.

The best advice you got above was the dowel rod.  NEVER use your rod (no matter the cost) to unsnag a lure.  Keep a short piece of dowel handy, wrap the line around it (removing the rod from the equation) and use that.  Also, as said above, never use your hand unless you want a trip to the ER.  It happens.  We've all broken rods.  Wait'll you break one you love that is discontinued.   a whole different level of misery...lol