Well...went out fishing today and the trip quickly went down the crapper. I was fishing the Big River wading the banks using my St. Croix Legend Elite ES70MF/ Shimano Stella Combo. I was using a T-Rigged tube crawling it over stumps and rocks. On my third cast, I get hung up. Eh...no big whip. I already had tension on the line so I could see where the snag was. So, I start to reposition my feet in the water so I can try to work the bait loose of snap the line if I must. next thing I know, the rock I was using for balance in the mud bottom shifts and I go falling straight backwards. ***SNAP***   > :-[ :'(. Those smilies pretty much relay the emotions I felt when I looked at the rod which had about 9" to 10" of the end of the rod is snapped off... I felt so sick to my stomach that I just stopped fishing...that was it for the day.

So now what? I know the rod has a lifetime warranty and I did register the rod. Will this be covered though? And if it is, then what do I do? Please...HELP!!!

Call 'em. (St. Croix)

I would bet that worst case you have to pay shipping for a replacement.

go to their website http://www.stcroixrods.com/default.asp?section=none  & look under resources  it gives you all the info

    good luck

I had a similar situation with a legend tournament bass, which is a cheaper rod than the elite.

I broke the reel seat by - get this - tightening the screw with pliers.  OUCH>  I've done it for years (and still do)

But this one time, I guess I put a little too much oomph into it.  My feelings matched your emoticons.

So......I called ST.croix.   they said "send us the rod and $20.00 bench fee.  Include a note explaining what happened. We'll take a look at it and get back to you."  10 days later I had a brand new rod shipped to me free of charge.

Now that's a class act.  I can't guarantee that your experience will be the same, but I don't see why not.  Yours was broken due a snag and a slip.  Mine was broken by stupidity.

When you deal with quality companies you get quality results.

good luck to you

avid.

> :-[ :'(. Those smilies pretty much relay the emotions I felt

same here when i broke my new lucky craft  :-/

I think I may have run into a problem here...I read over St. Croix's Warranty Policy and it says that "all parts, including broken ones, must be shipped to St. Croix". After I broke my rod, I couldn't find the piece that broke off. When I fell, the piece fell into the water, which was all muddied up from me slipping. I looked for that one piece for a few hours, but had no luck locating it. I dunno if it got buried in the mud or went downstream a bit or what, but it was gone. I guess I'll call 'em today and just hope for the best.  

Usually they overlook a tip on that scenario...  A buddy went through the same thing with no tip and had no trouble.

Quit worrying and just give them a call. I'm sure everything will work out just fine.

BTW, That's my soft plastics combination, too!   8-)

Send the rod to them along with $20 for shipping fee and return address with phone number. They will give you a call. I think you will be happy with their service.

Well, I called the Service Center and was told exactly what was posted here. $20.00 for return shipping and a letter explaining the circumstances behind the broken rod. The Service Representative said that the lifetime warranty applied to manufacturer defects, etc. However, she said the Rod Techs were usually pretty lenient as far as what the warranty covers, ie: slamming rods in car doors, rods being "attacked" by ceiling fans, accidentally stepping or sitting on the rod, etc., etc.

So, I got the rod packaged and ready to ship. Just need to get the checkbook from the wife so I can cut 'em a check to put in with the rod and letter. Then off to the post office to be shipped (with insurance) it goes. Hopefully all goes well and I will have the same pleasant experience Avid did.

BTW RW, and a great soft plastics combo it is too!   Shame I had to go and break it!  ;D

dude,

believe us!

NO one of us owns stock in the company.  We have become dedicated users because they build a great rod and back it up with a warrenty service that is exceptional.

Yesterday I got a call from one of St. Croix's Service Technicians. Thay said after their review of the circumstances that they would replace my rod under the warranty. He was exceedingly cool about the whole thing and we even yakked a bit about the tactics and presentation I was using the day I broke the rod. On top of that, since I had purchased one their highest tier products they offered me 20% off my next St. Croix rod purchase!! Awesome customer service! Can't wait to get my rod back!  

Good deal! St Croix is a good company to deal with. I've built quite a few rods using their blanks.