Carrot Stix Grip

[smcentee]

I really enjoy fishing the LTX carrot stix, but after my first few hours using the rod I did take issue with the length of the grip; I'm holding too much blank. My local tackle shop suggested I investigate having the grip changed, so I bounced the idea off of e21. For any out there may have a similar issue with the grip, e21's responses to my questions are in caps:

> 1. Will a grip modification violate your excellent OTC warranty?

SORRY BUT, YES IT WILL.

> 2. Can you identify for me a source of Thermalon material to be used for elongating the grip?

THERE IS NO SOURCE SO TO SPEAK. I DEVELOPED THERMALON AND WILL NOT DIVULGE MY SOURCE. HYPALON IS CLOSE BUT YOU CANNOT BE SURE THAT THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE GETTING, YOU COULD END UP WITH EVA FOAM WHICH IS TERRIBLE. MOST OF THE TIME HOLDING A LOT OF GRIP ISN'T BAD.

THANKS FOR THE KIND WORDS, WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS.

KEN WHITNG - E21

Just thought I'd pass this info along.

[PlasticMan]

That sucks. For some reason though, I like the short grip. I had a custom made rod that has a 1.75 inch grip behind the reel seat. That is what felt comfortable to me. It started out as a 4 inch grip, and I worked it down to just under 2 inches.

I hope you can find some sort of compromise with the company.

[flechero]

No offense to ken whiting but what a crappy and inaccurate response.  There are several reputable sources for hypalon... and if he was interested in customer service, he would have sent (or offered to sell) you a 4" piece of "thermalon" with his warranty disclaimer.

Find a reputable builder in your area and see about a grip mod.  Who needs a warranty when the rod isn't what you want?  If you modify it you may love it and feel the risk is worth the trouble.  Or sell the rod and use the $ towards a custom with a grip you like.

 

[michbass]

Thanks for the info. Have been really thinking about getting one for a sol. Havent had one in hand to feel yet though and that scares me just buying online without holding on too. No one seems to have them in stock that carries them here in Michigan.

[=Matt 5.0=]

No complaints on the two stix I have. One spinning, one casting. Short grip isn't an issue, it took me about 5 minutes to get used to it. Just me.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

No offense to ken whiting but what a crappy and inaccurate response.  There are several reputable sources for hypalon... and if he was interested in customer service, he would have sent (or offered to sell) you a 4" piece of "thermalon" with his warranty disclaimer.

Find a reputable builder in your area and see about a grip mod.  Who needs a warranty when the rod isn't what you want?  If you modify it you may love it and feel the risk is worth the trouble.  Or sell the rod and use the $ towards a custom with a grip you like.

This reply is right on the money IMO

[roadwarrior]

We have a number of members that are talking about trying the Carrot. List the rod for sale in the Flea Market for full price + shipping and I bet someone will buy it. Right now this novelty rod is hard to find and should sell quickly. Most of the guys that are interested already have plenty of great rods and are just interested in something different. The features and components they demand in their other high quality equipment is simply ignored in this instance. A poorly designed grip, lack of customer service and "attitude" are easily dismissed, but you don't have to put up with it!

8-)

[Tin]

The shorter grip takes a while to get used to, I'm beginning to really like it though.

As for Mr. Whiting and his response.... > :-X

[.ghoti.]

Now wait a minute guys. What other product can you buy,and modify without voiding the warranty? The reply to question #1 was simply a polite reply to a question that really didn't need to be asked.

For #2; that's rather like asking the Colonel for his fried chicken recipe.

[.RM.]

ghoti......

[jbsoonerfan]

We have a number of members that are talking about trying the Carrot. List the rod for sale in the Flea Market for full price + shipping and I bet someone will buy it. Right now this novelty rod is hard to find and should sell quickly. Most of the guys that are interested already have plenty of great rods and are just interested in something different. The features and components they demand in their other high quality equipment is simply ignored in this instance. A poorly designed grip, lack of customer service and "attitude" are easily dismissed, but you don't have to put up with it!

8-)

I don't really think he would get full price plus shipping. You can get them for full price with no shipping on Ebay and TW. SO a discount might need to be made.  

[smcentee]

Hey all. I wasn't trying to rain on e21's parade. 1.) My glove size falls between a large and x-large. 2.) I tend NOT to palm my reel. Given this, the LTX grip is a little short for me. Am I ready to dump this rod? HECK NO. I've got this rod paired with a Daiwa Steez 100, and the setup comes in around 9 oz.; less than my spinning reels! I can fish this sucker all day without fatigue - the exception is very windy days when I grip it a little tighter so it won't blow away.

The point of the post was to alert any others that desire a longer grip, that a modification will violate an excellent warranty, which was a selling point for me. I've snapped multiple rod tips in car doors, and catching the headrest loading rods into my hatchback. So for me a lifetime OVER-THE-COUNTER warrenty is not something I'd want to kill.

Again, I'm not trashing e21. I'd rather know up front that a grip modification will kill the warranty as opposed to changing the grip only to learn "oops" if I needed to replace the rod. With most rods this is not an issue - not many out there with such a long warranty.

[Tin]

We have a number of members that are talking about trying the Carrot. List the rod for sale in the Flea Market for full price + shipping and I bet someone will buy it. Right now this novelty rod is hard to find and should sell quickly. Most of the guys that are interested already have plenty of great rods and are just interested in something different. The features and components they demand in their other high quality equipment is simply ignored in this instance. A poorly designed grip, lack of customer service and "attitude" are easily dismissed, but you don't have to put up with it!

8-)

O good, you used one. I can't wait see your review on these rods. Or did you go against your word on that post a few months ago about not commenting on things you have no experience with??? :-/

[roadwarrior]

No, just summarizing smcentee's experience and suggesting

he sell the rod. It seems the Carrot is very hard to come by

and I'm sure several Forum members would be interested in

buying the rod. He doesn't seem pleased, but others might be.

[.RM.]

Hey RW not as hard to find as we might expect..

Cabela's  E 21 Carrot Stix LTX

Tight Lines!!!!  

[michbass]

Yes there are hard to find. On back order everywhere I have seen them for sale.

To be totally honest and a dumb as it my sound I just want one due to the color would look good with a sol.  :-[  I think a lot of people are buying them for the novelty factor.

[.RM.]

I agree 100%...  

Tubular carbon shafts covered with carrot fiber is a novelty. Wait until some rod/blank mfg decides to make a carrot colored graphite blank and offer it...  

Hey flechero think I might have to contact CTS....

Tight Lines!!!!  

[Kevenater]

I saw these at a local sporting goods store yesterday and checked em out. Felt pretty nice, at first sight I thought it was some cheap catfish rod or something. I had never heard of them, but when I picked it up I liked it pretty good. I'd like to try one out. They have a BUNCH of them there......Just spent too much at bps sat to try one right now though.  Maybe later. I look forward to peoples opinions on the rods performance though.

[flechero]

Now wait a minute guys. What other product can you buy,and modify without voiding the warranty? The reply to question #1 was simply a polite reply to a question that really didn't need to be asked.

For #2; that's rather like asking the Colonel for his fried chicken recipe.

No one said that voiding the warranty was an issue or even wrong if a mod was done... (but since you brought it up, ask Alpster about Loomis warranties and rod mods- they did cover it ) I just didn't like the part with the arrogance and slandering the good suppliers of components and materials in this industry. He could have solved the problem or at least made his customer feel better with an honest response... or a $2 piece of foam. :-/

I would just expect more from someone getting into the fishing world... He really could have made a huge impression on the customer with a decent response- it was a missed opportunity, at the least.

[.ghoti.]

Hey flechero, I agree with you, I just didn't take the time to elaborate. About the warranty issue, the original posted asked the question. And received the appropriate response.

The response to the second question was indeed puzzling. I don't know what he has against EVA foam for grips. I happen to like it. I agree it was in poor taste to give such a bad rap to other people's grip materials. If he had offered to send a chunk of foam to modify the grip, he would have made a much better impression.

Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't. When I bought a rod from Airrus last year, Ken Whiting called me. Surprised the snot out of me. He wanted to make sure that I got the right rod. After talking for a while I changed my order to different power and action rod. And he was right. I got the rod I wanted. Ken was a very nice guy to talk to. That's what surprised me about the "attitude". I don't get it. It almost sounds like two different people.

Makes me wonder if possibly he has some snotty little arse-hole answering his mail for him.

[flechero]

Hey flechero, I agree with you, I just didn't take the time to elaborate. About the warranty issue, the original posted asked the question. And received the appropriate response.

The response to the second question was indeed puzzling. I don't know what he has against EVA foam for grips. I happen to like it. I agree it was in poor taste to give such a bad rap to other people's grip materials. If he had offered to send a chunk of foam to modify the grip, he would have made a much better impression.

Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't. When I bought a rod from Airrus last year, Ken Whiting called me. Surprised the snot out of me. He wanted to make sure that I got the right rod. After talking for a while I changed my order to different power and action rod. And he was right. I got the rod I wanted. Ken was a very nice guy to talk to. That's what surprised me about the "attitude". I don't get it. It almost sounds like two different people.

Makes me wonder if possibly he has some snotty little arse-hole answering his mail for him.

Gotcha, thanks.