maybe the blank had been compromised? the rod was only 3 months old and i take great care of my equipment. purchased at academy but i have no idea where the receipt is but im still looking for it. folded up on a hookset and bruised my arm up where the butt of the rod was sitting.

never seen it from my falcons. they can flat take some punishment

i loved this rod and planned on purchasing atleast 2 more.

possible that it had an issue and after a few months it had weakened enough?

free replacement

You or someone most likely stepped on it anyway it was crushed at some point somehow!!! I broke a rod at the red river and the break is exactly like that! I stepped up to let Raymond get around me and I heard a pop! I assume the rod was across another rod! That is not a defective break from all the rods I have seen broke. It was broke before you set the hook! I could not see the break when it happened but it seemed fine when I flipped it until I hung some grass and put some pressure on it then I could see the split!

I broke one at Berkley tourney exactly like that. First cast of a jig and it snapped. Had that rod for several years but Falcon said send it to them and they'll either warranty replace it or give me a new one at a discounted price.

Academy should replace it with no questions.. at least they did for me anyways

I've seen Academy take back rods/reels without a receipt. Might want to give it a try.

I purposely broke an H2O rod by stepping on it. It broke in the same fashion.

EDIT: Before I get crucified, it was to make the rod fit in the trash can where it belonged. Not to exhange a $20 garbage rod for another.

Rods break. Use the warranty to get a replacement if Academy won't take it back. I always say it's a manufacturer issue when it breaks and its only been used a few times....

Heck some days I don't use my "new" rod much and it might be a few trips before I actually catch a fish that could break it. I ran into that issue at BPS. Broke a heavy action rod I rarely used on a 12" fish. They wouldn't return it due to not having the receipt even though they looked it up under my rewards card.

Sucks now days to have to keep track of hundreds of receipts and then to actually go back and find the one you need....next to impossible.

I broke my 9 weight fly rod pulling the fly out of the grass a few months ago. It was about 4 months old and used twice....with very limited fish catches.

BTW those not familiar with fly rod weights...9 weight is used for smaller tarpon, bull redfish, ect....so pulling my fly out of grass should not have broken it.

I sent it back to Redington and within 2 days I got a replacement. I was really pleased!!

Usually they have been stepped on when they break like that.

I can say without a doubt since I have purchased the rod its never been abused in any way.

this was the first time however I used braid on that rod and was flipping docks.

I didn't even consider taking it to them without a receipt.

Well he did buy it at Academy.....LOL! I don't trust them too much now days.

And we know how UPS is delivery products now days (watch the news last 2 days?) .....and trucking companies aren't any better. I deal with their blunders daily. Knuckle heads!! I get boxes that say "Fragile handle like glass" ect ect....and you will see a foot print of a knuckle head who walked his way across the box. Footprints don't lie!

Or even better yet a fork lift skid torn hole all the way down the box.....they know to drop those off and haul butt before you notice the damage. Shipper always find a way out of it too....thus putting the cost back on the manufacturer.

bass bust im from longview as well we need to get together and catch some fish. I fish alone 90% of the time.