Jrob78

I love your enthusiasm Brad! I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic but you're right. You are in a great central location. I'm in Dallas and the fishing options within 2 hours of me are endless. Move from CA to OH for the Reds?!? Sounds crazy to me but I guess it worked out. OP has a very understanding wife! ?

This is the show and it was terrible! I watched an episode or 2 and 95% of the show was these two dudes trying to cut their way through thick vegetation, dragging a boat with bad music playing. The editing was terrible and there wasn't much fishing.

Many rod blanks aren't arrow straight. When I look down a blank I don't want the blank to curve to the left or right. I orient the blank so that the curve goes up or down and put my guides and reel seat on the up or down curve, this way when you look down the blank it appears to be straight and my guides all line up. Hopefully that makes sense, not sure how else to describe it.

I'm going to assume your custom rods are shorter than what has become commonplace now or have weight added into or on the butt of the rod. With the trend now of longer, 7'+ rods with split grips, achieving that perfect balance you describe seems nearly impossible.

I don't believe I've ever seen a factory built bass rod that balanced under the reel seat without a reel. What you're saying is correct but it seems like a pipe dream.

I don't use spinning gear much but I always back reel when I do. I much prefer having the control over using the drag. It also makes it easy to get the line where you need it to make another cast.

KVD L&L, it works so well I've never needed to use anything else.

.3 oz won't make any difference so either should be good.

Yep, definitely a factor

No, I don't expect anyone to do this either. It would be nice though. It would be pretty easy for an individual to figure out where they prefer CoM based on the reels they use, how they hold a rod and rod length.

This would be useful information. TW lists handle length, it wouldn't take much to add balance point to that.

Another thing I will add to the above is longer handles, heavier grip material or full grips and micro guides generally help aid in balance.

As far as I know he gets an automatic entry into next years Classic but I can't think of any examples one way or the other off the top of my head.

I don't think they will ever do that with so much emphasis put on how difficult it is to qualify for the Classic. It will be interesting to see how next years attendance is affected when there aren't many familiar names fishing it though.

You got the top score in the group, nice job. It's all updated now.

There was only 1 current BASS guy in the top 10, Brandon Lester. Best I can tell there were only 16 non MLF guys fishing the Classic and some of them were BASS Nation and Opens anglers and not Elite guys. The Classic will look VERY different next year. Ott will be there next year to hand the trophy off, the past years winner qualifies for the next years Classic.

Congratulations Ott Defoe! Really happy for him, seems like such a good dude.

I managed to pick the 2 guys that zeroed today

Late winter tournaments have to be held somewhere where the water isn't going to be frozen.

I'm confused, you have both reels but are asking us which one casts farther? Makes sense...

Most Fluke style baits are soft like regular plastic baits.

Zillion J Dream

Wesley Strader Aaron Martens Todd Faircloth Bradley Roy Edwin Evers

Me too