So I went to the local golf course pond after work today to do a little fishing.  I brought along my 2 month old stradic and st. croix premeire combo, and was tearing them up on a watermelon seed senko.  While the other fishermen were getting ticked off because they weren't catching anything.  Then after the bite had slowed down considerably, I get another bite, set the hook and my almost brand new rod explodes right at the fore grip.  WTH!!!!  I couldn't believe it.  Shards of graphite flew into the pond.  I was dumbfounded.  So tomorrow I will take it back to dicks and exchange it or return it, just can't decide right now.  Any suggestions?

I guess it was a bad blank, but who know.  I do know it shouldn't have broken like that.  S.O.B.  >

Probally just a faulty rod. I'd exchange it.

You should still be covered by St Croix on the warranty. I know their higher priced rods have lifetime warranties but I believe the Premier has a pretty solid warranty as well...See what Dick's will do but if they don't help you, contact St Croix, I've dealt with their customer service once before and they were excellent.

I took it back to Dick's this morning and exchanged it for another one.  They didn't have any 7'0 med fast spinning rods left so I went with the 6'6.

They are also having a sale this week.  The sign said St. Croix premiere's starting @ 59.99 but I didn't see any for that price.  I did however pick up a couple bags of yamasenko's which were 2 for $11.  Not much of a savings but I was running low.