Delaware Valley Tackle

The A-rig fishes well on a setup you'd use for similarly weighted swim baits.

Stock bearings are fine. Super Tuning is a process of fine polishing of friction points that affect free-spool. There are some resources on line or you can send it in here. If you do send reels be sure to include your BassResource.com screen name for a 10% discount.

3" is quite a bit off a tip especially a fast action. Splicing / Trimming either way, it will be a different rod. Trimming is the only DIY solution and will raise the minimum lure casting weight some and slow the action. Unless you have a competent rod builder within driving distance, repairing the tip isn't economically feasible on this rod with shipping two ways and labor. I'd do like Scott suggested and trim it back just behind the broken fibers. You'll need a bigger tip top to fit at the cut.

If you don't mind the larger profile, those are good casting bullet proof reels. They are excellent candidates for Super Tuning also. A tuned Curado B will outcast a lot of new stuff.

I've never been but would like to.

Neither reel feet or seats are universal. A little shimming here or there is common and won't hurt anything.

Exactly. I'll probably buy a couple from Riley or someone before I think about my own setup

Has anyone tried a hard grip like a Mad Swirl or Carbon Skinned grip with top coat finish? They look slippery, but actually feel tacky when wet. It works kind of like dampening sneaker soles for grip on a wooden court floor.

You sure? No River, No Flop?

The MH/M would be good if you want to throw bigger, deeper running cranks but wouldn't be my first choice for either of applications you want to fill. The nice thing about custom rods is getting exactly what you want. I won't compromise much if at all on the blank regardless of the deal.

Some guys like a Mod action spinner bait rod, personally I don't. I don't buy the theory of needing a slower action to avoid pulling the hook away. Chances are more likely that the fish took and spit your bait before you even knew it. Do a little bed fishing and you'll see right away how unbelievably fast a fish can take, move, and spit a bait without you feeling a thing. I fish spinner baits a lot like a jig and like the fast action for setting the heavy hook quickly. If you've got a good line on a clearance blank, there isn't a much more versatile power/action for bass fishing than a MH/F. You could always replace the Avid with the new one and sell the Avid for money for yet another build.

What's your goal, to make the arsenal more technique specific or to have extra rods tied up during the outings? The SCV is a lighter and more sensitive blank than the SCIII (Avid) but the applications are pretty much identical. If you want a second MH/F I'd leave the spinners, swim jigs etc. on the Avid and fish T-rigs and jigs on the SCV. Depending on where and how you fish, you may want to add a Heavy flippin stick, ML/XF drop shot/finesse rod or maybe a top water rod or a swimbait/ A-rig rod.

If you want a layer between your skin and wool socks, try microfiber dress socks. They are thin and moisture wicking. We have an Alpaca farm nearby that sells wool socks etc. in their little shop. The wool is super soft and durable.

If you're looking to purchase, about the best you can hope for on that small a budget would be an old aluminum canoe or jon. Even then you'll likely have some refurb work to do at some point.

Looks shady from here, but what was the MSRP on the new truck and the book value of the trade in? Dealers try to tell you they'll give you X for your trade but the price of the new one goes up so you're not getting near what they told you. Make sure any factory rebates or incentives come off the negotiated price a swell. We had a local dealer pocketing rebates years ago. He escaped jail by the skin of his teeth but was a cashier at Price Chopper for a while after that. What is it they say about Karma?

I'd put some chalk inside the spool and crank it and see if it shows rub marks. That might show you what's out of alignment. I'd look at it for you but honestly, you'd be close to replacement cost by the time it's done.

"Medium" power is a subjective term. The suitability for an exact application depends on that particular blank. In general, there is no reason to automatically exclude a "Med" power rod for the app you're looking at.

It's hard to tell without seeing it. But if the noise comes and goes as the spool oscillates it sounds like the inside of the spool is rubbing on the rotor. Make sure part # 3455 http://fish.shimano.com/media/fishing/SAC/techdocs/en/Spinning/09SON2500FB_v1_m56577569830654503.pdf spool washers are present. You can add one too but too many or too few and the line will pile on one end of the spool or the other. Beyond that, it may need more than adjusting

The Avids are nice rods and pretty powerful for their labeled specs. A 7' MH / F is pretty versatile, but you can get away with a M/F in the Avid if the cover is moderately heavy.

I don't like to say any whole brand is better or worse than another across the board. Many times each will have standouts or duds at certain price points. For example, the Elite Tech Smallmouth rods were pretty nice at the price. St Croix really shines from the Avid level and up IMO. On some level I understand the standardization of tackle collections, you know pretty much what to expect from a purchase, but some mixing and matching can go a long way especially if you're really into fine tuning technique specific setups.

There's still that chance of hitting the schooling smallies just right that keeps me going. Then it'll be occasional steelhead trips between reel servicing and rod builds.

1. Location 2. Depth 3. Presentation a. Action b. Profile c. Size d. Color

It's a toss up between that and the "Flow-Be" hair cut system. lol

10' more of a med depth, so for those particular cranking apps I'd look for a 7' Med or MH graphite Mod/fast action rod.

Yup, early & often.