Delaware Valley Tackle

I believe that reel was discontinued in the late 80's. If it's in good shape, you may want to display it or sell it as a collectible. As far as casting a reel without breaks, this is where the "Educated thumb" comes into play. You would need to learn to control spool speed and backlash by varying thumb pressure on the spool.

I have a line on a Med/ Fast 6' blank that can be cut down for cheap. PM sent

Please elaborate on what you mean by the line getting stuck where? What are you using for line? If it's small diameter (<15#) braid, it could be digging into the spool.

Applying grease to fill the contact areas of the clean, dry gears is correct. Wear, misalignment, bad bearings are some of the things that can affect the smoothness of a reel. Proper cleaning and lube does wonders for any reel, but it can't make up for material or design issues.

I view balance as more the way the components of the setup compliment each other rather than see-sawing on a particular fulcrum point. When I build rods, balance is a consideration, but it takes a back seat to grip length,over all weight and intended use. J Francho's right that the rod needs to feel good first and foremost.

My Brother-in-law and I have been calling the gold Rattle Trap "Ol' Reliable" since fishing the Lake Champlain Derby years ago. I still keep a couple.

Welcome SweenDog67! I'm in the WaterGap outside Milford. I'll be hitting the river soon for some early SMB. PM if you want to fish sometime.

Welcome newriverfisherman1953! The river small mouth are a blast. 8-)

Welcome Javelin200! Those are some good lakes. I'm originally from upstate NY also.

Welcome Metalangler1! I'm in the opposite, NE corner of PA.

Welcome monster! This is great forum, you'll like it.

Welcome Dean! I'm from upstate NY now reside in NE PA. Where do you fish in NY?

what grease on earth is not high tack Sorry, high tack is a relative term left over from my years working in the oil/lube industry.

I can't vouch for what the factory uses, but drag grease is not the best choice for the gears. The high tack will attract dirt & grit. On the next cleaning try Super Lube or another high quality MP grease.

If you're looking for locations, the Mohawk River and Schoharie Creek are good SMB waters. Great Sacandaga Reservoir and Lake George are good also.

The rigidity that makes graphite sensitive also makes it brittle. It's a trade off. Graphite should hold up well if cared for.

Hey Guys, The water is opening up and CT tournaments are on the horizon. We're in Milford PA, right on the NJ/NY borders. If you've been putting off that service or repair, get'em in and we'll get'em back to you quick. To save time & shipping, ask about local pick-up service. BassResource.com members get a 10% discount. Thanks, Mike

There are several companies that sell performance upgrades for a Corvette. How fast can the average driver go? It doesn't matter because these people are enthusiasts.

Rods of dis-similar materials can have similar power and action but each material will still have it's own unique traits. Different tapers would be used to achieve the same result from two different materials. In the end, either will work and it boils down to personal preference; what feels good when you fish it.

Skeet Reese graces the cover of the March 14th issue of PARADE magazine. It may not tell anyone here what they don't already know, but it's nice to see a bass pro get "Mainstream" press. 8-)

Very nice dick. I like the skeleton seats too. Some find them uncomfortable though.

Your theory makes sense and is in practice. I just built a worm rod with a split grip, no foregrip and spiral wrap.

Maybe check the Pinnacle forum here.

Properly used, micro guides will improve casting distance and accuracy by keeping the line off the blank and traveling straight. In addition to line size and any knots you may want to pass, consider climate. You want a larger guide where icing would be a possibility, like on a steel-head rod. As shfishinsticks stated, they save significant weight as well.

kbk, PM sent