>>330906>>331241Never updated about this:
I wrote them roughly a one-page letter. In it I praised the rods themselves, explained they were bought on-sale (and that I was willing to pay the difference plus shipping for a proper solution), explained how my pop's old lightning is still rippin' fish from the water, and so on. There was more in the letter but to say the least I was making a point to express that I wasn't looking for a handout. Apparently that go lost in translation.
A little over a business week later Berkley emailed me back saying they'd be happy to offer me a one-time discount and to call their tech-support number (again) with a reference number to arrange for that. That was it. No solution, just a "Hey, you can buy them again at a discount but we haven't fixed anything."
My advice to all is avoid Berkley's rods with the SS304 guides, at least for brackish and dirty water. Even with mono they seem to grind away with extreme ease. That or buy them only when they're on sale so you have the money to replace the guides (which is going to be my solution because I'm not taking them up on their discount). The AMPs are awesome, super-sensitive rods but pic related says more than words can.
>>339141BEST TIME IS ALL THE TIME!
Serious answer: I fish mostly brackish waters. Little bays and inlets on the southern Maryland side of the Potomac River (Smallwood Park on the Mattawoman Creek, Friendship Landing and Mallows Bay, mostly). I've never fished for carp but since mid-spring season to right now in these hot, humid summer days they're surfacing first thing in the morning before/during sunrise to catch the flies buzzing around the water's surface. They don't seem to like my light-spinning tackle but I'd put good money on it a fly rod and some flies would get them to bite.
I catch largemouth all day. As the other anon set early and late they're more apt to hit topwater. Otherwise I'm usually spinning/jigging grass flats, timber and the sort.
