Ok so I have a gold model carrot stick and the top line guide I noticed today has several bad groves. They look like they could easily cause serious line issues. I've read about the issue a few times now from others. Called Tackle Wharehouse and they said they would warranty it for me but honestly I don't want to have the same issue. I've thought about replaceing the line guide with a quality Fuji guide. Does anybody have any info on how to replace them yourself and what not. BTW here is a pick of my rod guide.

Wow, that's really bad!  Looks like some one scraped it on concrete.  Braid did that?  I can't imagine mono/fluoro did that.  I'd definitely exercise the warranty, the sell the replacement.

I had heard their guides sucked. Take a lighter and carefully melt the glue ,pop the guide off and replace.

Warning it's risky if you haven'y done it before. You might be better off having it repaired by a pro.

get it replaced and sell it.then buy a bps johnny morris signature series with top of the line fuji titanium framed sic guides.they are the best guides made imho.

I have a Gold and haven't had any problems with it but that looks pretty bad

Yep this thing has only had Fluro on it the entire time I've had it.  It's very clear it's from the line and not from mis use.  I've always loved the rod except for the guides. I fish a crap ton and this rod is in my hands most of the time. The weight and sensitivity has IMHO been fantastic. So if I can safely replace the guide that's the path I'd like to take.

Tip Top is probably an Aluminum Oxide shock ring. Should have had either an Alconite upto a Sic tip top there.

You won't find a tackle shop that doesn't have an inhouse rod builder try to replace the guides.

You will need to take and find a rod builder in your area that can do the replacement work for you, if you intend on replaceing all of the guides.

If your replacing just the tip top you can go here for the info on the how to....

http://www.rod-crafting.com/resource/articles/rod-tip-repair.html

Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!!

Thanks for the info Reel Mechanic.

Dang, I've seen a number of grooved tips but I've never seen one quite like that!

Looking at the insert and the extent of erosion,

that picture looks eerily similar to a stainless-steel insert

In any case, the Gold Model Carrot Stick just made my Blackball List.

With a micrometer and some ferrule cement, you can easily replace it

with a guide having a silicon carbide insert (else it will fray your line).

Roger

Geez...Seems ridiculous to me. This is a very

popular pricing point. To have crappy components

is inexcusable.

>

I checked mine yesterday and am starting to see the grooves, not quit as bad as yours but they are starting.  I haven't noticed an effect on the line, the grooves are pretty smooth, I've only used 3 lines on it: 10lb Fluoro-clear, 10lb Suffix Deep Crank, and 12lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid.  I have to agree with Roadwarrior that for a rod in that price range, this kind of probablem is unacceptable.  I really like my Gold Carrot Stix but for $200 the guides should last longer than a season.

Frankly, I'm disgusted.

Geez...Seems ridiculous to me. This is a very

popular pricing point. To have crappy components

is inexcusable.

>

Many people have said this this since they came out, but folks didn't want to hear it.

Should have bought an LTX!   ;D

My guides are perfect!

I don't see anything like that on Steez or GLX rods.

Should have bought an LTX! ;D

My guides are perfect!

Got one....the Gold blows is out of the water in almost every aspect....except the guides on my LTX are still good....  >

That is an extreme case and normally not even a cheap guide would groove out so badly...  chalk it up to defective guide.

I'd just pretend that I knocked out an insert and spend $2 for an alconite replcement- problem solved.