I bought one of these (Berkley Lightening Rod Shock) in January and put on a new Shimano Cruxis reel and spooled it with Power Pro 30. It has been sitting in my garage since then (until today). It says on the rod "Engineered for Superlines". I finally got a chance to fish this morning and on about the third cast using a soft plastic jerk bait in a private pond I had a taker and set the hook. Rod snapped about 4 inches from the tip and about 4 inches in front of the reel seat. Now it is in three pieces. anyone else use these rods? What are your thoughts?

that sucks.. I use them and have never had that issue.

I've got a couple of them...never any problems and they have been used ALOT!!! Gonna get a few more soon....



Noel

Noel, you get everything!

I got one a few weeks back. I got a 6'6" medium spinning one. Put an abu spinning reel on it.. love it!
Pulled in a 5 lb catfish that fought like a beast, and one snapping turtle on it, no problems. I would think that if it ever did snap it would be near the tip. They meshed fiberglass into the tip for the 'strike amplifying tip' so that could be a weak spot. Still though, i have had no problems with mine and i have had it hung up on the rocks and pulled pretty dang hard. Did you still get the fish?

Well I am glad to see this is not a real common problem. I have only had one other rod break on me on a hook set and that was about 15 years ago. I really liked the look and feel of the Shock Rod. The one I had just didn't work out. Like I said, I bought it in January at Fun and Sun in Hurst during their in store fishing show. This was the first time I have used it other than casting in back yard. I no longer have the receipt, wonder if they will take it back and exchange it?

i had one and the line guides starting coming off. took it back and got a mojo bass rod.

I had one too that on first trip out with my Revo SX on it. When I set the hook(on a lilly pad), the plastic base that holds the reel in place opposite side of the screw down part broke completely off and reel fell in floor of boat thank goodness. I took it back to Academy and swapped for upgrade.

it may have a little to do with storing in the garage. extreme temps can't be good for the graphite. its just a theory i have. i may be completely wrong. i store all my gear inside.

Go tell Fun n' Sun the truth. I'm sure they will replace it.

Ole'Skeeter, I would disagree with you. Graphite is extremely stable. That is why it is used in so many applications these days. It's a big thing on the shuttle, where temps are extreme in both directions. But keeping your rods inside can't hurt.

Paul Moore (Southwestern Parts and Service) once showed several of us how an innocent bump on a rod could cause it to break under stress. He took a rod and bent it over double until I was sure it was going to shatter, but it didn't. Then, he put it on the floor and stepped on it. You couldn't see any damage at all (I looked closely), but when he started to bend it over again, it broke easily. I've not forgotten that lesson.

I've had one for years. Two actually a spinning and a baitcasting. They have both been good rods for the money. Take it back and be truthful about what happened. I'm sure you can get a replacement.

I just purchased one this afternoon. They only had 2 so I bought one. I hope they are good. They look awesome! 50 bucks its worth a try huh?

I've used lightning rods since I started fishing, including the newer ones, and ones that are 15 years old that my dad bought. Never had a problem, won't use anything else.

cant set the hook useing braid,like you do when you use mono,something is going to break...........

This is so true.
My son and I were fishing, when we were about to leave for another spot a bee flew right at him. He took his cap off and swatted it. It fell on the rod box that had his rods laying there, where he continued to smack the bee. Next hole he picks up one of his new Zillion rods and makes a cast and snap went his rod. Turns out the button on the top of the cap must have cracked the rod. Cause that is exactly where he hit and thats where it broke.