Cashion icon chatterbait rod good and bad

[VA Bass]

So Friday I went to look at several rods in search of a chatterbait rod. After about an hour I settled on the fashion icon chatterbait rod. 7’1 med hvy mod fast. Got it home rigged it up and caught a 10lz bass first cast. I noticed the line was frayed instantly. Took it back exchanged it. Fished Saturday . First fish was a 4.6 lbs. and what do ya know. Line frayed all to hell. I took some 8 lb test and checked all the guides and the tip guide seems to be the culprit. I think. So I am having a non fashion tip put on. With some research I found a thread on here where someone had the exact same issue with the same rod. Tip was chewing up line. I kept fish with it all day and the line was trashed but still caught about 20 on it anyway. The rod is awesome. Great feel, good backbone and just right for a chatterbait. Very disappointed that 2 rods in a row at 234$ had this issue. Poor quality control. I’m hoping the new tip will be the fix.

[Sleepy111]

I have one that I use a lot and have for a few years now. I haven’t noticed any line trouble like that and I use 14lb sniper on it. Now I have had a couple time where on a cast the chatter bait said see ya later and broke off but I haven’t checked the guides at all cause 90% of the time everything is fine. Maybe it was a bad batch of rods that got sent out and your store got a few of them. Rod wise it’s great and I like it, don’t much care for the grip that feels like a rod sleeve, wish the grip was different myself. I would consider more of their rods if they would change that especially at their prices.

[ECobb91]

If recommended putting on a good tip. Even a Fuji Alconites only cost $5 for a tip top.. I’d also recommend taking a Q-tip and going through each guide to see if there’s any more burrs you need to be aware of. The 8lb line test is ok, but may not pick up on some stuff that loose cotton would.

Cashion is what got me started into rod building. Their blanks are great, but quality control is fairly poor..

I figured I could build a better rod with the blanks, handles, and guides that I wanted and have control over the epoxy, for cheaper than what it would cost for the same priced factory rod.

[VA Bass]

My rod guy uses sewing thread to find nicks but we didn’t find one. But we did do the light line test after and the was frayed from the tip. When I get the rod back I will do the q tip test. As far has the grip, I’m not a fan of it either. Wish it was split cork. That hard fiberglass is hard on a hand after all day fishing. So with the q tip trick , that works with even micro guides?

[1781ccT]

So Friday I went to look at several rods in search of a chatterbait rod. After about an hour I settled on the fashion icon chatterbait rod. 7’1 med hvy mod fast. Got it home rigged it up and caught a 10lz bass first cast. I noticed the line was frayed instantly. Took it back exchanged it. Fished Saturday . First fish was a 4.6 lbs. and what do ya know. Line frayed all to hell. I took some 8 lb test and checked all the guides and the tip guide seems to be the culprit. I think. So I am having a non fashion tip put on. With some research I found a thread on here where someone had the exact same issue with the same rod. Tip was chewing up line. I kept fish with it all day and the line was trashed but still caught about 20 on it anyway. The rod is awesome. Great feel, good backbone and just right for a chatterbait. Very disappointed that 2 rods in a row at 234$ had this issue. Poor quality control. I’m hoping the new tip will be the fix.

I had the *exact* same problem with my one and done Cashion rod and it was their chatterbait rod. It was probably my post that you recall.

I won’t buy another Cashion rod after that experience of paying the $50 replacement fee and whatever it cost to ship it. Brand new rod…first cast. Warranty is voided if using somebody other than Cashion to make the repair.

[1781ccT]

If recommended putting on a good tip. Even a Fuji Alconites only cost $5 for a tip top.. I’d also recommend taking a Q-tip and going through each guide to see if there’s any more burrs you need to be aware of. The 8lb line test is ok, but may not pick up on some stuff that loose cotton would.

Cashion is what got me started into rod building. Their blanks are great, but quality control is fairly poor..

I figured I could build a better rod with the blanks, handles, and guides that I wanted and have control over the epoxy, for cheaper than what it would cost for the same priced factory rod.

I don’t need another hobby, but my experience with them certainly had my gears turning for the few weeks it took to get my rod back.

[VA Bass]

I don’t need another hobby, but my experience with them certainly had my gears turning for the few weeks it took to get my rod back.

Check your pm.

[ManxFishing]

I will say
You have more patience's then me
Good luck with the rod

[kandybass]

If recommended putting on a good tip. Even a Fuji Alconites only cost $5 for a tip top.. I’d also recommend taking a Q-tip and going through each guide to see if there’s any more burrs you need to be aware of. The 8lb line test is ok, but may not pick up on some stuff that loose cotton would.

Cashion is what got me started into rod building. Their blanks are great, but quality control is fairly poor..

I figured I could build a better rod with the blanks, handles, and guides that I wanted and have control over the epoxy, for cheaper than what it would cost for the same priced factory rod.

how many rods did you have to build to offset the initial costs? Curious as I’ve been looking at building my own.

[VA Bass]

I had the *exact* same problem with my one and done Cashion rod and it was their chatterbait rod. It was probably my post that you recall.

I won’t buy another Cashion rod after that experience of paying the $50 replacement fee and whatever it cost to ship it. Brand new rod…first cast. Warranty is voided if using somebody other than Cashion to make the repair.

Yes it was your post. I sent you a pm. I don’t pay any attention to warranties on rods. Most times from my experience they won’t stand behind them and I ain’t got time to wait on replacement shipping and sending back crap, so I will get a non fashion rod tip. And I will not buy another cashion rod either. I do love the rod and that’s why I’m going with a new tip but after reading your post and you having to pay a penny for anything is absurd. Especially when it’s a cashion issue. Two new rods in 2 days same issue both times .. not a coincidence.

[ECobb91]

how many rods did you have to build to offset the initial costs? Curious as I’ve been looking at building my own.

Short answer: it depends on the quality of the rod components you use.. I started with a turn key kit from Mudhole that came with all basic materials/equipment and a rod kit (blank, guides, handle, etc). A similar kit is about $200.

As an example, I’ve built quite a few rods on St Croix SCII blanks with upgraded components of what a premier uses. My cost was about $120 (including tax and shipping).. only about $40 savings..

ive built on a couple SCIV blanks which are the same as the previous gen Legend Tournaments, with better guides for about $90 less than a current model Legend Tournament.

then theres NFC, which is Gary Loomis’ company. I built a casting rod with an NFC Xray blank with SiC guides for $185. Essentially a copy of a Loomis GLX with the same guides and equivalent (or better) blank for $365 less than what GLXs retail for.

I’ve also built a fly rod using an NFC F904-2 Classic, for about $150. A comparable rod is an older Loomis IMX that was around $500 retail. So another $350 less..

now that said, i do it because i like it. I enjoy it as a hobby and its just cool to fish with something you built. You can make it as simplistic, or intricate, as you want. If you consider the time as money, and warranties play a big part in choosing a rod, then I’d say stick with factory rods. There’s almost no warranties on blanks that even are comparable to factory builds.

[Rangerdeepv]

I have 3 of their BFS rods and have had no issue like that yet. For the money and action they are hard to beat.

[borderbasser]

wonder whether you got ahold to some from a bad batch

[cidgrad]

Best way to check is to get a magnifying glass and do a visual inspection. If the ceramic is sheared any, it will make a knife like edge, but a qtip wont pick that up. If you run thread across, it may not cut either - you would think it would, but not always.

[1781ccT]

Yes it was your post. I sent you a pm. I don’t pay any attention to warranties on rods. Most times from my experience they won’t stand behind them and I ain’t got time to wait on replacement shipping and sending back crap, so I will get a non fashion rod tip. And I will not buy another cashion rod either. I do love the rod and that’s why I’m going with a new tip but after reading your post and you having to pay a penny for anything is absurd. Especially when it’s a cashion issue. Two new rods in 2 days same issue both times .. not a coincidence.

Replied to your PM.

To be perfectly clear, it was a brand new rod in its sleeve when it was handed to me by the Cashion rep at the Knoxville Bassmaster Classic. I wasn’t able to fish with it for a few months (moved from TN to FL), but it was obvious on the very first cast. I do a great job of taking care of my stuff…I use it, but I don’t abuse it.

I was perturbed that what appeared to be an obvious defect or damage that happened before I took possession, would result in paying an additional premium for a properly functioning rod. For the extra money I felt cornered into paying to maintain what I thought was a warranty, I could have had a much nicer rod. Oh well…it was now 4-5 years ago. Rod still works. I’ve caught a number of fish with it.

[VA Bass]

Replied to your PM.

To be perfectly clear, it was a brand new rod in its sleeve when it was handed to me by the Cashion rep at the Knoxville Bassmaster Classic. I wasn’t able to fish with it for a few months (moved from TN to FL), but it was obvious on the very first cast. I do a great job of taking care of my stuff…I use it, but I don’t abuse it.

I was perturbed that what appeared to be an obvious defect or damage that happened before I took possession, would result in paying an additional premium for a properly functioning rod. For the extra money I felt cornered into paying to maintain what I thought was a warranty, I could have had a much nicer rod. Oh well…it was now 4-5 years ago. Rod still works. I’ve caught a number of fish with it.

It's an awesome chatterbait rod for sure. I gave the benefit of the doubt on the first one but the second to do it the exact same way tells me it was compenent flaw. If your was 4-5 years ago and there are still some new ones with the same issue that's bad. In fact, the dealer told me the rep gave him some extra tips.... why would a rep do that for that particular rod?

[VA Bass]

Best way to check is to get a magnifying glass and do a visual inspection. If the ceramic is sheared any, it will make a knife like edge, but a qtip wont pick that up. If you run thread across, it may not cut either - you would think it would, but not always.

I just decided that if it was doing it to my fluro when pressure applied that I would replicate it myself with light fluro and it showed a flaw in the eye and frayed the line with enough pressure

[VA Bass]

It was the tip as expected. New tip is fine, no cray. But the ocd in me doesn’t like that it’s bigger than the original. But it held up just find

[Joe Genovese]

I have 3 icon fashion casting rods that are excellent. I've had no issues with any of them after a lot of casts.

[VA Bass]

I have 3 icon fashion casting rods that are excellent. I've had no issues with any of them after a lot of casts.

Well I thought it was the tip but it appears it’s more than one eye. After replacing the tip it was better but upon inspection there is still some nicks and a little fray. I think it may just be a bad batch of rods. It’s disappointing for sure. I really love the action of the rod and how it casts. Each time I tried the rod I have put brand new line on as well. At this point I am about to give up on cashion and just spend the extra 40$ and buy an expride 7’2 mh/f graphite. I know many people steer away from fast actions on chatterbaits but I fish around a lot of heavy cover.