All Heartland-Z Users

[Rayman]

Guys,

After hearing so many breakages with Daiwa Heartland-Z rods,
I decided (read, wanted to, but didn't know how) to put up a poll on the reason for these breakages.
- Mishandling (treating them like fibreglass rods) because your didn't know much about treating high-modulus rods [Now You Know]
- Something faulty with the manufacturing process
- Both
- It was a one-off

Cheers

Hey Guys.
IMO, almost all Daiwa Heartland Z breakages have occured due to some fault of the owner.
Someone sitting on it, standing on it, kicking it, high sticking, taking hooks out of fish and not releasing line, etc...
We have to remember that breamin is in an Infancy stage, particularly in WA. Heaps of guys are going from using their unbreakable Ugly Stick...to a high modulus Graphite Stick requiring a lot of care and finesse. I belive this is the main reason they are being broken.
It is not just Daiwa rods being broken either. Ive actually heard of another brand which has had a lot more breakages in recent times.
Another thing to think about, is the fact that many boats simply dont have enough storage space. Rods are left at shoe level and are stood one. The rod may not break then, but when you hook a fish and it explodes in your face, people blame the manufacturer.
This is just my opinion guys, your all allowed to have your own, but I thought id add my two cents.

Dave

[Richo]

Ive given both of my HLZs a fair amount of DohDohDohDoh to say the least. And if there was anything at all wrong with either rod, considering the strain I out them under they should have pretty much exploded in my hands by now.

So what Im saying is mine have copped many a knock etc and still fish awesome, but I certainly wont be suprised if one does break on me, thats part of fishin, and I certainly don`t wrap mine in cotton wool when I go out.

cheers

[bigred]

I have two of em.

No breakages. I treat all my gear pretty well though.

Hard case rod carriers for each, wash em down after each session, aware of the high stick etc.etc

They still can get a slight knock though, which can cause the breakage. If they break in the first say three sessions, then you got a dud.

[Dave W]

Kingpin is pretty spot on - the Z's are a fairly good value semi entry level rod, they were also many guys first experience with a full on graphite stick, mainly due to the availability compared to the myriad choices we have now.

It's human nature to blame failure on anything other than ourselves, and I'd surmise that many of the 'faulty' tales we hear about are really the result of mistreatment.

I'm not saying that some couldn't have had inherent problems, but have a really long think before you say a rod is faulty.

I have been guilty of it, breaking a rod on a fish and thinking it must have been faulty, but after fully analysing the situation I'd just done some long distance over fairly choppy water with the rod resting on the gunnel - did it contribute to the explosion? Guess I'll never know.

Cheers,

Yeah thats exactly what i was thinking Dave.
I didnt mean to offend anyone, or assume anyone who broke a heartland was at fault, but having spoken to various tackle business owners (here and melbourne) and they all have the same opinion.

Dave

[bigred]

bigred, are you aware of the difference between a heartland Z and a heartland IM6?

Yes I am. To clarify, I have a six" IM6 and a 7'6" IM6.

Must have been brain fade on my part. Obviously helps if you read the heding of the posts first.

Just to add to this, the 7'6" I have is really a coursing rod. Discontinued model.

My 6" is a bit heavy, as I think I have said earlier. I dont have the model number on me.

My mistake Will pay closer attention in future Scorchy.

[chris_lemess]

I've owned 3 different styles of HLZ and haven't broken one yet. I've just spent the last few days doing ridiculous stuff with a couple, including giving curry to a few stingrays on 4lb line (I actually managed to stop one for a few seconds on my 601LFS!). My mate also hooked up to an unstoppable BEAST of a fish in a reef hole - some sort of morwong - whatever it was it was an absolute giant that we nearly had before it crashed into the reef. That was the "Plug Sniper" baitcast version. Both rods are solid graphite, and both were high-stuck plenty of times during the fight (mainly cause we were fooling around trying to smash tackle). Both rods survived to tell the tale. I've had the former of those two for about 2.5 years now without a problem.

cheers

call me daft but highstuck?

He high sticked the fish...
Its the art of lifting the rod and tip up high close to vertically straight...it is the ultimate test of a finess bream outfit...(read: the best way to break your rod! )

Chris, you bastard...wish i coulda been there mate...

I broke one, have no idea how, put it in a rod locker, went to open it a few hours later and the tip was snapped?

It was a great rod and I loved it, the most disappointing thing was the fact that it cost me a fair bit and had no warranty. That's a big part of the reason I switched over to Strudwick's, life time loyalty warranty.

[diesel]

Originally posted by Timbo
call me daft but highstuck?

Prolly been hangin around Kiwi`s to much

[Richo]

behave,

[Steve Brown]

HLZ's are anything but semi entry Dave...... Graphite levels above the quality of IM7/8, tisic guides etc. My IMX Gloomis's and TPS Struddies dont even have the same level guides, finish or reel seats and cork for that matter. Hell if you really had the dollar I spose some of Ian Millers top rods may have better componentry. Strength though I've caned my HLZ's on 1.3kg breamski's and also used my Team Daiwa Battler (above quality to Z's) on pink snappers up and above 50cm jobbies up in shark bay.
For those who feel that there is a bad omen with these rods and are unsure whether to outlay their hard earned muller...fear not they are sound.
No i'm not a Daiwa rep, I prefer my struddy in feel above all my other rods.
Cheers Steve

[Robert B]

Have to agree with Steve, the z's are awesome rods. Ive been treating my 601MMLXS-Sti pretty rough for a bit now and its handled it fine. Also have a Midge direction HL-Z 682LFS-ti on the way. Teamed up with a 2000 luvias there a great combo. Hope people stay away from them long enough till i get a few more

Rob,