Northwest Fishing Reports

First of all, let me just say that fishing for chum at Whatcom Creek is pretty damn fun! Yeah, yeah, it's flossing. Not to go down that rat hole - I'll just say it's a good time that every fisherman should try once!

So, after hooking on to half a dozen fish and loosing them to a snapped line or a shake off, I finally had a nice buck around the gill plate. Just as I'm brining him to shore my Lamiglas X11 snaps! I've heard the nicknames - Lamisnaps - but never thought it'd happen to me while river fishing.

I just purchased it this summer from Sportco, but I didn't submit the warranty to Lamiglas nor did I save the receipt. Will Sportco exchange it?

Bummer! What was the rating on your X11?

The fish was brought in head first. Not everyone who fishes Whatcom Creek is intentionally snagging. I for one definitely was not.

That sucks! I just broke my X11 last week actually. On coho though. Think chum accidentally caught earlier in the season wore it down though. Chum are tough on gear, which is one of the reasons I don't target them. I dunno about getting it replaced or about trying at Sportco. I thought about trying to get mine replaced(later found out the warranty had expired about 6 months ago so there'd be no point anyway) but from what I was told you'd have to send it in, and isn't cheap, for the chance they may not even replace it.

You might have a date code just above the grip. A letter for the month and a number for the year
x-11 have a 1 year warranty. There website explains all this, and lists exchange prices. If you bought it at Sportco, Sportco can look up your purchase if you know the date you bought it.

I just had them replace the same rod for me even though I told them it was second hand. Give them a call, call early and talk to a live person.

It's become quite common to see folks snapping their rods due to the popularity of the "magnum taper." This style rod is simply not meant to take on loads when held at a high angle, like what occurs when the fish is close to the angler. This makes it tough to land fish by yourself when limited or no bank space is available. The use of braided line increases the risk of breakage due to its no stretch properties. If you are using this type of rod, keep the tip at 10 o'clock or lower at all times and have your buddy net the fish for you.

I've been at this for a lot of years and I have broke my share of rods, but never on a fish. There has always been some other force there that contributed to the break. Now I am NOT saying it can't happen, there area always defective products but here are some things to consider..

Braid - There is a line rating on the rod for a reason. If the rod has a 10-20# line rating and you are running 40# braid you need to play the fish accordingly. The line may be able to handle the fish, but the rod may not.

Rods are not made to pick up fish. I've seen many a rod snap because someone is trying to drag a salmon up an embankment.

Handling your rod when not fishing. Take care of the rod, don't stand it up somewhere that it might fall, if you lay it down make sure nothing can be put on top of it. It doesn't take much to put a weak spot in a rod that can contribute to a failure later. Case in point, the last rod I broke was my Lami X10 MLC. I hooked and landed a bright little 5# summer run in a rock garden. Tailed the fish walked up on the shore, laid my rod down across the rocks and the fish down next to it. Turned around to grab a rock to bonk it and it flipped up, turned and landed crosswise on my rod. Got the fish bonked and bled, inspected my rod and there was just a tiny scuff mark about 1/4 of a dime size on the under side of where the fish landed. Next cast the rod EXPLODED from the load of the float & jig right where that scuff mark was.

Essentially rod, drag, line, leader - IMO if you have all of these matched correctly then you really shouldn't have an issue.

Gringo Pescador wrote:I've been at this for a lot of years and I have broke my share of rods, but never on a fish. There has always been some other force there that contributed to the break. Now I am NOT saying it can't happen, there area always defective products but here are some things to consider..

Braid - There is a line rating on the rod for a reason. If the rod has a 10-20# line rating and you are running 40# braid you need to play the fish accordingly. The line may be able to handle the fish, but the rod may not.

Rods are not made to pick up fish. I've seen many a rod snap because someone is trying to drag a salmon up an embankment.

Handling your rod when not fishing. Take care of the rod, don't stand it up somewhere that it might fall, if you lay it down make sure nothing can be put on top of it. It doesn't take much to put a weak spot in a rod that can contribute to a failure later. Case in point, the last rod I broke was my Lami X10 MLC. I hooked and landed a bright little 5# summer run in a rock garden. Tailed the fish walked up on the shore, laid my rod down across the rocks and the fish down next to it. Turned around to grab a rock to bonk it and it flipped up, turned and landed crosswise on my rod. Got the fish bonked and bled, inspected my rod and there was just a tiny scuff mark about 1/4 of a dime size on the under side of where the fish landed. Next cast the rod EXPLODED from the load of the float & jig right where that scuff mark was.

Essentially rod, drag, line, leader - IMO if you have all of these matched correctly then you really shouldn't have an issue.

+1

I broke ONE rod on a fish, and it was this year, BUT! I had rubbed the rod on a dock while getting a jig lose from the bottom rocks, and the rod was fractured. The next time I used the rod a month later I caught a 7" fish, then minutes later a 6" fish and the rod broke. Yup, I expected it and it happened, one of my favorite dropshot rods. It's a wonder my $350 Dobyns dropshot rod didn't break, I expect that to come apart every time I use it. My brand new $200 Dobyns jig rod broke at the time.

hey thanks for all the helpful feedback, guys! it's all the positive, constructive comments that makes this site so awesome!

i'll give lamiglas a call on monday. i suppose if they don't refund it i can take solace on the fact that i got it for 64.99 at the sportco tent sale.

I am sure you take care of your rods but that will make a big difference too with the Guides and such. The higher end rods are often over rated but better warrantied. Shoot me a PM if you have any problems because I have a friend that works in the office down there.