I recently purchased an 8’ 3pc 5wt Diamondglass. When I flex the tip section, it tends to roll to the side so that the guides are sideways. The whole rod seems to twist when put together and flexed. If this were a bamboo rod, I would say that it had been splined improperly or not at all before the guides were applied. Is this something that these rods do or did a get a $295 lemon? I am also a little disappointed in the amount of fill in the cigar shaped handle. I didn’t necessarily expect flour grade cork but this is like I would expect on a $75 graphite import.
Call whomever you purchased it from, explain that you are not a happy camper. Some places require that you contact them before returning anything…and make sure if you return it that you have proof you did.
I cast the rod and I am now a happy camper. With the line rigged, the rod casts flawlessly with dead on tracking and that smooth slow action of a rod that flexes into the butt. More importantly for me, I put a 6wt line on it with 2 1/2’ of Cortland LC13 lead core, and was still able to put it out 60 feet just by opening my loop a bit and letting the butt do the work. The components aren’t as nice as some other rods in this price range but the action of the rod is dead on. I also purchased a Cortland DT5F Sylk line for it and am glad I did. The line is sweet with little to no memory and will enable me to put size 20 blue winged olives right on target with nary a ripple. If any of you want a sweet feeling glass rod with some reserve power for heavy nymphing or streamers, I think you will like this, especially if you like the full flexing action of bamboo without the weight.