St. Croix not selling ice blanks to builders this year?

[sidecar pan fishin man]

I am a local rod builder around rochester and I was told from my supplyer that St. Croix is not going to sell ice rod blanks this year because of the compitition from local rod builders and wants to make more money selling factory rods thru outlets. Anyone else heard this? Thanks Troy Pike

[nitroant]

Would not surprise me. They quit selling there 2nds (blanks with some flaws) to the market a year or two ago. They were getting them back for warranty work and the 2nds are sold as is. I think that was part of the deal, but by doing this it forces people to buy a 1st instead which is more expensive.