Hi Everyone!
I heard about 3 weeks ago from a Rep of the fishing club that the poles are on back order by 2 months.

thanks for going through all of that in war  for us. But hey.  Go fishing, relax and love life , keep the Beer cold . Here ya go war vet. This buds for you bud keep fishing for that trophy

Sounds like a good idea!  The problem is mass production.  Wonder how many life members the club takes in every year or even every month?  Or even better how many rods do they order at a time?  Every company knows some rods will not hold up and usually big orders go to the lowest bidders.  The only way you can bid low is to cut some corners somewhere.  We hear about the things that go wrong and justifiably so.  Why not take a month and ask those life members who have gotten rods that held up to write a post.  I would be interested in how gifts have progressed from the beginning of club until now!
Maybe our charter members could share a little of club's history or include article in next magazine of club's history.  Thanks!  Uncle Tom

I try to stay away from this subject, but here goes. There have been numerous reports of the life member rods breaking. I don't fish with mine, so I don't know firsthand. I have read posts from members who were able to get a replacement section directly from Shimano. I also met a member (who does not post here) who fishes with his life member rod regularly with no problems. I did note that his rod was a charcoal color, the one I recieved is more of a maroon color. I would also think that only some of the rods break, I wonder what the percentage is? I sure would like to use mine, but have no confidence. I would hate to lose a fish to a broken rod again, I lost my first ever musky at the boat due to a snapped rod. Never again if I can help it! Tom

I've built rods and I've bought rods but for the life of me I can only remember breaking one rod and it was almost fifty years ago and not on the hook set but about halfway to the boat and I am pretty sure I did not know diddly sqat about how to set the drag on my reel.  After some great times fishing in salt water I learned how important and how much fun proper drag setting could be.  Now for page two: 1) had a close friend step from the dock into boat and brake three B & M crappie rods  2) had young teenage friend brake four Fenwick rods, three on separate occasions and two in one morning by running his hand up rod to lift bass into boat 3) broke tip off one rolling up electric window in Chevy Blazer 4) broke two in tail gate of truck 5) broke one by setting anchor for John boat in bed of truck 6) broke at least two shutting door of truck and my favorite way is 7) spooling line during which I raised tip of rod into ceiling fan and twice in my favorite tackle shop belonging to my lifelong fishing partner raised tip into ceiling fan to look at new rods that immediately became mine--always believe he put fan in ceiling just for me--know what I mean?  No wonder I have so many Ugly Sticks--forty dollars is easier to replace than $300.00  Give some thought to how many rods you have broken and the ways to do it!  Uncle Tom

hhhhmmmmmmm, all i can say about this -- because i didn't recieve a life member rod when i became a lifer, because they weren't giving rods at that time-- i have broken many rods and almost all of them was because of something that i did. like drop something on them, didn't pertect them good enough when traveling or when i was goofing around and doing something that i shouldn't have been with them or should i say using a rod for something that it wasn't intended to be used.

only once have i broke a rod when i set the hook and it was a brand new rod, 1st time using it. i think the rod was cracked be for i bought it and after working at walmart in the sporting goods section i can see why we can buy a rod already broken and not know it.

oh ya i didn't buy it at wally world or that kind of a store......

I caught my frst bass on a spinnerbait and I was using the Life Member Rod & Reel. Then I caught that 5.5 pounder on my same spinnerbait and the same Rod & Reel from N.A.F.C. life member. I like the free rod & reel and I'll use it till it breaks down or I'll break down, which ever comes first.
Dennis
Thanks N.A.F.C. for the Rod & Reel.

back when I became a lifer the Rod was a shimano pack rod with a reel. Still use it and love it. In a way I wish that they had the personalized rods when I joined. I hope that the club gets this issue with the rods worked out soon.

Brian

Had my Lifer half paid up and then after I paid off my Life Membership and around 60 to 90 days after I received the rod. It had my name on shaft half way up and also had the N.A.F.C; emblem put just before my name! But it's a shimano rod & reel, so if you like Shimano and trust the name of the company you will like it also.
Dennis

Sure was nice to check the mail this morning and there it was!  My new shimano fishing rod with my name on it.  Completes the Deal!  Haven't had a chance to fish with it yet.  Going to take some time after lunch and mount my new shimano reel and spool some line and by late afternoon it should be ready for a cast or two around the pone--can hardly wait to tell you guys what I caught.  Its official I am life member paid up in full and have received all my free gifts.  Have any of you read the newest book from the bookclub.  It talks about the history of rods, reels, line, hooks, lures, etc.  Well worth the money.  I have read it through twice and find something new every time.  Don't you just love a book like that.  In my opinion well worth the money and gets a perfect 10.  Good luck!  Good Fishing!  Good Reading!  Uncle Tom 

Good to hear uncle Tom. Does the club still give out a tackle binder with life membership also?

Brian

brain, are ya talking about the lure binder?

i got the tackle tote with a lure binder in it when i became a lifer about 20yrs ago.....

Yep! Just wondering what all the good folks are getting now days. I have used the binder a bunch.
Brian

Posted By troutman3 on 10 Aug 2010 09:32 PM
Hello everyone!! are you catching a lot of fish? You know I would be interested in how gifts have progressed from the beginning of club until now!too

Hey troutman. in 99 when I became a life member the package was a diawa pack rod and spinning reel, a lure binder, belt buckle and a patch plus some stickers.

Brian

Some of this stuff on here is better than big time wrestling.

I broke the tip of my pole also.  I called the club and they said send the whole pole back and they would take care of it.  That was 7-8-11.  Today, almost 2 months later, I recieved my new pole in the mail.  I opened the box and guess what!?  They send me a new tip!  That was it, they still have my whole pole.  When I contacted them, after several people, I was told they would send me a new pole and reel but... it will take 1-2 months to ship them to me.  I asked them to over night it and they refused.  I will be ice fishing by the time I get my summer pole back!!!

There have been some posts in the past stating that some members have had better success dealing directly with Shimano concerning the broken tip on their member rod. Unfortuneatly this seems to be a common problem.

It kinda sucks hearin' so many members havin' trouble with their lifer rods. Not much you can do about waitin' for it to show, but if I broke the tip off of mine, I think I'd just get on line or head to Wally World and buy a whole new rod to get the top half. Those rods aren't expensive and it would be a lot faster and easier than going through the club for a replacement.