Built a 7 wt on a St. Croiz legend ultra blank last year. Fished it a few times and cast it a few times. Took it out tonight to practice my double haul. After a few casts I noticed that the top section seemed loose. So I took the top section loose and re-seated it, pushing it down and twisting it into position. The next section down split for 3 inches right through the rod to the core. I do not see any broken fibers or any evidence of "scrim". Sortal looks like the stiff green layer has seperated from the darker layer under it in the region of the split. I am not even sure when it happened. It may have split during casting and just noticed it when I reseated the ferrule, or it could have happend then. The split does not really affect the casting so I am not sure.

What gives Is twisting a ferrule while you seat it a no no? My understand is that for a graphite rod that is the reccomended procedure.

I am going to send it back to St. Croix. What is the best procedure for a finished rod built from a blank. Should I send the whole rod back? Will they return my old rod so that I can re use the SIC titanium guides? Will they likely replace one section or the whole blank? Cheap reel seat but pretty nice cork on the handle. Would hate to have to redo the butt section.

Any help would be appreciated before I pack this thing up and ship it.

Check with St. Croix, but in the past other suppliers had me strip the damaged section but ship the entire rod. I bet the rod was already split before you re-seated it (correctly) and this is what made it loose.

I had a 9 wt do this same thing, after the original rod broke and St Croix replaced it. The male ferrules splintered a little on the replacement rod. I sold the rod and never looked back. I don't think the Ultra Legend is going to be a legend at all. I am sure somebody loves the Ultra Legend but I had no luck with it at all.
I don't have much experience with any other St Croix blanks but I hear they are highly acclaimed.