Rapala Rods

[8-Ball]

I just broke my second Rapala rod tonight and I'm very dissatisfied with the lack of quality, obviously. I bought them last summer when there was a special-buy one med. action rod/reel and get the ultra light/ reel for free. Seemed like a good deal at the time. Both these rods have snapped this Summer while trying to get free of weeds- not rocks or logs-just weeds! I wrote the company after the ultra snapped in June- but they never bothered to respond. Anyway, wanted to know if any others out there have had similar experience with these rods-and anyone looking at buying a rod right now: steer clear of Rapala rods....

[Big Ick]

What type of line were you using?

[PikeTipper]

I considered buying one from that same deal. Glad I passed...

[RuKiddingMe]

I have a couple long cast series Musky Rapala rods that I picked up a couple years ago for boat partners to use and haven't had any problems with them. They have fought and land fish, brought in plenty of weeds and even moved the boat to a downed tree so I could get the lure unhooked. These are just my experiences, bummer you have had big problems with yours.

RU

[8-Ball]

Big Ick- I don't think the line had anything to do w/ it. The line did not snap (8lb. trilene)-the rod itself on both occasions split in two, snapped like a twig. 8-Ball.

[catchin'whopper]

...it is an ultra-light rod?

[Bobb-o]

i currently own aboot 6 rapala rods and have never had problem with their durability

[hunt4food]

I also have two of them in the medium 6'6" and I really like them. I have had no trouble. Normark/Rapala has a good reputation. Maybe it would be worth the time to email them. Maybe they will send you another.

[Guest]

Where I work we sell thousands of Rapala rods every year.
They are one brand that we get very few returns on, seem to hold up well and customer satisfaction is very high. Good rod, good price.

You can break ANY rod if you load it up too much. Like Ick said, you never want to put a bend on ANY rod when trying to free from a snag. Even Loomis and St. Croix will break if you do that. Also, with 8lb test on an ultralight rod, the rod will break well before the line will if you try to unsnag a lure in the manner you described.

[8-Ball]

Tom- I had 2lb. test on the u/l, 8lb. on the med. action. All I know is I have bought cheaper rods, had them for years, that have gotten me out of countless snags, but they never broke.

[8-Ball]

One was a u/l, one was med. action....

[Big Ick]

Whenever you get hung up, be it weeds, rocks, or stumps, you should never flex the rod to unsnag the lure. You should point the rod tip towards the snag and try to unsnag the lure. That way, you'll only break the line and lose your lure.

I'm not saying the rods you broke weren't defective...they very well could be. The higher performance rods won't withstand a beating lower performance blanks will. Stiffness and weight, which is what sensitivity is a function of, come at a price...durability.

[bucketmouth64]

I bought one the first year they came out. Lasted 3 outings when it broke. Brought it back to Gander and exchanged it for a different brand.

[HoleHopper]

Sounds almost like my dealings with Gapen rods. Only diference being that I paid $150.00 each for two rods for me and my wife, and then both broke within the first two hours of useing them! I now buy ugly sticks, they are great, and take a heck of a lot of abuse!
'my best'
HoleHopper

[upnorth]

If the rod broke clean off, pretty much like it was sawed, it was a flaw in the rod and would have let loose sooner or later. If it kinda shattered you stressed it too much, and need to take it a bit easier on your equipment.

Another note, the more expensive the rod, especially the real high content graphite are a little more delicate than the cheaper low content graphite. Good old fiberglass is tougher than graphite but not near as sensitive.

[HoleHopper]

I wish the sales person had told me that, befor he sold them to me. Instead what he did say is that they 3 times as strong as other rods and will last a lifetime! And is backed by there warrentee.
[email protected] for more info

[Lost]

I've got a 6'7" Signature Series, extra-heavy Rapala rod. I got snagged in some river rocks while fishing from shore. I had 50 lb PowerPro on there. Well, I tried everything in the world to get unsnagged except risk getting swept away while wading out to the snag. The rod gave me no guff at all. The line eventually snapped but it took me a while to do it. I should have just cut the line. Apparently these rods are like cars. You either get a great one that will last forever, get a mediocre one that will break down after 100,000 miles or so, or you get a total lemon.

By the way, any clue how much my 6'7" Signature series retails for? I've been trying to figure it out but haven't been able to find them anywhere. I got mine at a clearance sale.

[wastewaterguru]

In case y'all want to know......

I had one snap while casting a 3/16 ounce jig this weekend. As I came forward on the cast with the rod loaded up it just snapped and the top half went about 15 or 20 feet along with the jig. Was able to reel the top half and the jig back in...

I am pretty careful how I treat rods and can't imagine why this one snapped from casting a fairly light jig. There was nothing behind me to snag or impact the rod.....it just snapped at less than half length (Thick part)!!

Just some more food for thought!!

I aint buyin' another one.

[Dano2]

I've used one for a couple seasons now, med. heavy for pulling bouncers. haven't had a problem yet, and I've hooked into some nice northerns with it as well.

[Northlander]

I also have 2 8.5' bottom bouncer/board rods and love them. Have had no problems. Dont these have a over the counter deal?

[8-Ball]

Sorry to hear you had the same bad luck-W.W. Guru. I see there are others that have had similar problems w/ these rods- I guess I am not surprised, just disappointed and the place I bought them will not do an exchange (I know, I should have saved the receipt-but did not see a reason to based on the Rapala reputation..). I did re e-mail Rapala again today. I will post when and if I get a response from them for others here who have had similar problems. 8-Ball.

[8-Ball]

Thanks for info H.H.-maybe I will give Ugly Stick a try- have never owned one..

[8-Ball]

Hey H.H.- did you get your money back on the Gapen rods?

[HoleHopper]

8-Ball, Nope! Nada!
They said I was lying about what had happened

Email me for more info.
[email protected]

[HoleHopper]

Dem Ugly Sticks are tough. Might not be sensitive but they are tough. We used them fishing in Alaska for the red Salmon for ten days on the banks of the Kenai River. (Combat fishing) These fish fought like no fish I have ever seen. One after another all week! Them rods took it like a champ and kept going, and best of all they were an easy rod for my wife to handle! Maybe its a good thing that those other rods bit it...(A pretty expensive lesson) becouse if it wasnt for that I would have never found my Ugly Sticks. And no you cant barrow them! I own about 25 rods for different types of fishing and from here on out it is going to be the Ugly Stick!
Good luck,
Keep your hook sharp,
Email me,
HoleHopper