On 4/6/2025 at 11:17 PM, Kidflex said:

just send it in the a warranty fom filled out. No questions asked. include the required return postage. It might take a week or 2 but its cheaper than going the expeditor route. Ive done this with a couple of old imx and glx rods. 

There is no way to just fill out the form. My rod has never been registered, it’s 37 years old, bought long before Shimano acquired Loomis and long before rods were registered with a number or an expedited service was offered. Not to mention no receipt or bill of sale to show, the store I bought it from has long been out of business. I have searched for the model and it doesn’t even show up in the database. If not registered it states I must contact Loomis.

 

This from Shimano

“Fill out this form completely and legibly. Include a copy of your proof of purchase. Send back your entire rod. Many people want to cut the rod to save on shipping costs. Please keep in mind we need to inspect the rod breakage to determine if it will be covered under warranty. If we deem the rod broken outside of our warranty, we will not replace it and you will no longer be able to have it repaired simply at a local shop. Also, we will not accept a rod cut for a guide problem or cut more than twice.

Please note: To be eligible for warranty service on Rod and Reel Combos, you must return both the reel and rod, along with your proof of purchase. We do not sell to dealers without a brick and mortar shop. We will only warranty products sold through our Authorized Shimano Retailers. We will not warranty products

that were purchased through on-line auction sites, i.e. e-bay, since we cannot trace the origin of the” 

 

I appreciate it but I have to wait and hear from Shimano.

I can’t, in good conscience mail it without a return authorization hoping it gets replaced and returned. There has to be a system of tracking to assure it’s authorized for an exchange, received and returned. Otherwise, to me it’s like putting a check in the night deposit hoping it gets to my account.

 Additionally, I can have it repaired at a fair price from a vendor here, Delaware Valley Tackle if it wouldn’t be replaced by Loomis. As stated if they receive it and deem it not a warranty replacement they won’t return it, so I’d be out totally. I’d rather have a repaired rod than non at all.

 

EDIT UPDATE:

Received an email from Loomis and as expected I can send in my rod for repair,,,,,review under the “Limited Lifetime” clause. If they deem it to be a rod failure, it’s replaced. Not a manufacturer failure, no replacement or return of my rod but  will offer a rod for $175 purchase…..or I can use the expedited service, send in the label portion of the rod and buy a rod for $150. They don’t say what my money will buy other than a “new rod”.

 

Rather than paying shipping and chancing a rejection and losing the rod, it’s going to Delaware Valley Tackle to be repaired. I base this on having already purchased a new replacement Edge rod and the quality work provided by DVT.

On 11/6/2024 at 9:00 PM, Motoboss said:

Got the 5’ 6” pistol grip St.Croix creek rod in today.
Put on a Shimano SLX BFS XG reel, 10# braid with a 8# fluro leader. Set it up for throwing small moving baits; swim/chatter/spinnerblades. Probably going to go straight braid but the leader was already tied on, so……

 

It cast easily and accurate! Think I’m gonna like it.

edit: Funny thing, I had one twenty five + years ago and never imagined it would be so difficult to find another pistol grip rod nowadays.

I've been debating picking one up. I own a Premier spinning rod for smaller baits in the creek, and have been using a 5'6" Ugly Stik for moving baits and jigs. A short, pistol-grip casting rod is the ultimate 1/4oz jig and spinnerbait creek setup IMO.

8 minutes ago, Dinger0306 said:

I've been debating picking one up. I own a Premier spinning rod for smaller baits in the creek, and have been using a 5'6" Ugly Stik for moving baits and jigs. A short, pistol-grip casting rod is the ultimate 1/4oz jig and spinnerbait creek setup IMO.

That’s what I use it for, downsized spinners and chatterbaits.

Reels 

 

25 Antares hg right

23 Calcutta conquest bfs hg right

21 daiwa gekkabijin air right

 

Spools one pictured is the roro ax22 spool for the daiwa, not pictured because it’s almost 2am and currently in my car in my 22 aldebran bsf. This is a roro CQ25-MG

 

I have always wanted a Antares reel and figured why not same with the conquest reel . I invested a decent amount into bfs last year and was still sort of on the fence about it all. I decided to dive into the deep end and just go all in before I made my conclusion.

 

The daiwa gekkabijin air with the spool and a kistler hunt 4x rod will cast a trout magnet to about 60 feet. Have not had a lot of time with work and family activities to test it out more or the shimano roro spool. But the AX22 spool with the light brake ring will cast at zero brakes and get really good distance but your thumb has to be on point.

 

I just got the Antares today and the conquest so I have not gotten a chance to use them. I have no clue if the shimano roro spool will stay in ther alderbarn or the conquest, I would just have to use the peek bar in the conquest and I don’t know if that might affect its ability to cast super light weights or not.

 

Thanks for reading and have a great day.

Couple new reels

 

just arrived from Japan.  

52 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

 

just arrived from Japan.  

Any difference in the JDM and USDM Bantam's?

1 hour ago, MiceNReets said:

 

just arrived from Japan.  

24 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

Any difference in the JDM and USDM Bantam's?

No idea.   They cost me $130cdn ($91USD) so I couldn’t pass that up  but I believe they’re the same. 

Rigged and ready to roll!

I wanted to add another Curado BFS to the lineup but the Monkey got me when I found out Digitaka had a 22 Aldebaran XG Left in stock.  This reel is so light I thought the box was empty.

 

I already loaded it up with 6lb Sniper Assassin FC, just for yucks. I like 8 lb but I want to see how low I can go and see what all the hype is about.

 

 

 

I have purchased 1 Shimano Bantam, 2 Metainium 100's and 1 24 Metainium 70DC in the past month as well as spring stock up on lures.

On 4/8/2025 at 7:14 PM, Rockhopper said:

Any difference in the JDM and USDM Bantam's?

No.  Bulletproof tanks from both sides of the Pacific.

 

scott

 

 

4 hours ago, Craig P said:

I wanted to add another Curado BFS to the lineup but the Monkey got me when I found out Digitaka had a 22 Aldebaran XG Left in stock.  This reel is so light I thought the box was empty.

 

I already loaded it up with 6lb Sniper Assassin FC, just for yucks. I like 8 lb but I want to see how low I can go and see what all the hype is about.

 

 

 

And the handle is even on the correct side.  

1 hour ago, softwateronly said:

No.  Bulletproof tanks from both sides of the Pacific.

 

scott

 

 

They are tanks!   I have one already and now I just got these 2.    The XG model has an aftermarket spool I wasn’t aware of when purchasing.   Shimano Yumeya Shallow MGL Spool.    I think it holds enough 50lbs braid.   Supposed to hold 100m/12lbs mono.  Seems to be a 70 size spool.   I guess I’ll have to give it a go.  

33 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

They are tanks!   I have one already and now I just got these 2.    The XG model has an aftermarket spool I wasn’t aware of when purchasing.   Shimano Yumeya Shallow MGL Spool.    I think it holds enough 50lbs braid.   Supposed to hold 100m/12lbs mono.  Seems to be a 70 size spool.   I guess I’ll have to give it a go.  

Interesting.  I just started looking into aftermarket spools, got a few for my zillions/bfs ish.  I have 3 '18 bantams and one 2022 bantam.  Someday I hope to even those out.  The 18 is great, but the '22 is a perfect 3/8-2oz reel for me.

 

scott

1 hour ago, softwateronly said:

Interesting.  I just started looking into aftermarket spools, got a few for my zillions/bfs ish.  I have 3 '18 bantams and one 2022 bantam.  Someday I hope to even those out.  The 18 is great, but the '22 is a perfect 3/8-2oz reel for me.

 

scott

The ‘22 is that much better than the 18?? I just got the 18 bantams because the ‘22 are still over $250 cdn when I got all my 3 bantams used for under $130cdn..   I’ll eventually get a ‘22 but I’m finding I prefer the bantams over my zillions… 🤫 

22 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

The ‘22 is that much better than the 18?? I just got the 18 bantams because the ‘22 are still over $250 cdn when I got all my 3 bantams used for under $130cdn..   I’ll eventually get a ‘22 but I’m finding I prefer the bantams over my zillions… 🤫 

No, it's not.  The '22 casts further for me.  Minor difference as I'm usually throwing something heavy and getting plenty of distance on either one.  If you paid 10 cents per foot of casting distance lost, it would still take you years to make up for that price difference.  That's a great deal, you're gonna love em.  My ultimate problem is that I love the bantams so much that I want to phase out my curado dc's.  This year, I'm gonna move the '22 to my deep crank/a-rig/big scrounger rod and run 30lb braid to leader and put a curado on a 7'6XH expride that I mostly use for swimbaits and heavy swim jigs.

 

scott  

 

ps - the zillion was a weird one for me too.  First year of owning one wasn't great.  Never felt comfortable in hand, felt distance was meh.  Made it a bfs ish reel with a roro x27 spool and now it's a dream on ML-M rods.  Most of it is due to the way I palm it, I think.

On 4/7/2025 at 8:09 AM, Motoboss said:

There is no way to just fill out the form. My rod has never been registered, it’s 37 years old, bought long before Shimano acquired Loomis and long before rods were registered with a number or an expedited service was offered. Not to mention no receipt or bill of sale to show, the store I bought it from has long been out of business. I have searched for the model and it doesn’t even show up in the database. If not registered it states I must contact Loomis.

 

This from Shimano

“Fill out this form completely and legibly. Include a copy of your proof of purchase. Send back your entire rod. Many people want to cut the rod to save on shipping costs. Please keep in mind we need to inspect the rod breakage to determine if it will be covered under warranty. If we deem the rod broken outside of our warranty, we will not replace it and you will no longer be able to have it repaired simply at a local shop. Also, we will not accept a rod cut for a guide problem or cut more than twice.

Please note: To be eligible for warranty service on Rod and Reel Combos, you must return both the reel and rod, along with your proof of purchase. We do not sell to dealers without a brick and mortar shop. We will only warranty products sold through our Authorized Shimano Retailers. We will not warranty products

that were purchased through on-line auction sites, i.e. e-bay, since we cannot trace the origin of the” 

 

I appreciate it but I have to wait and hear from Shimano.

I can’t, in good conscience mail it without a return authorization hoping it gets replaced and returned. There has to be a system of tracking to assure it’s authorized for an exchange, received and returned. Otherwise, to me it’s like putting a check in the night deposit hoping it gets to my account.

 Additionally, I can have it repaired at a fair price from a vendor here, Delaware Valley Tackle if it wouldn’t be replaced by Loomis. As stated if they receive it and deem it not a warranty replacement they won’t return it, so I’d be out totally. I’d rather have a repaired rod than non at all.

 

EDIT UPDATE:

Received an email from Loomis and as expected I can send in my rod for repair,,,,,review under the “Limited Lifetime” clause. If they deem it to be a rod failure, it’s replaced. Not a manufacturer failure, no replacement or return of my rod but  will offer a rod for $175 purchase…..or I can use the expedited service, send in the label portion of the rod and buy a rod for $150. They don’t say what my money will buy other than a “new rod”.

 

Rather than paying shipping and chancing a rejection and losing the rod, it’s going to Delaware Valley Tackle to be repaired. I base this on having already purchased a new replacement Edge rod and the quality work provided by DVT.

 What model was the Loomis rod that broke? 

Daiwa Kage spinning reel. First spinning reel I’ve ever owned that’s above a Shakespeare combo you buy at Walmart. Couldn’t find much info on them, what I could find is that they are basically a beefed up Tatula than can only be sold face to face in Daiwa dealers. Got it on clearance for $165. Feels nice! Falcon Expert rod on the way from Omnia. 

9 hours ago, Hulkster said:

 What model was the Loomis rod that broke? 

1988 IMX SJR781-22 6’ 6” light. I contacted Loomis and they basically wanted to keep it and give me a $175 credit. My problem is giving some factory guy the power to deem it “not a manufacturer defect” and receive nothing for it.

I opted to send it Delaware Valley Tackle to be repaired. Even repaired it’s worth that much to me.

 

Abu Garcia Zata Low Profile Baitcast Reel and Fishing Rod Combo (LH 7ft mh) on amazon for $125

53 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said:

Abu Garcia Zata Low Profile Baitcast Reel and Fishing Rod Combo (LH 7ft mh) on amazon for $125

🤯

15 minutes ago, Eric 26 said:

🤯

Great deal, I'd jump on it If I wasn't on team daiwa

#fanboy

2 minutes ago, Bass Rutten said:

Great deal, I'd jump on it If I wasn't on team daiwa

#fanboy

I just jumped on Amazon and I can’t find this deal ☹️I will say I really want the Tackle Warehouse exclusive Zata Tactical though.