Delaware Valley Tackle

That corrosion defies physics. ?

Since it didn’t lay on bottom or under very long, you’re probably ok for a while. Dry it out well, lubricate everything you can reach and deep clean when convenient.

Not very woke

They’re great for my business.

The FG is more of a weave rather than a knot, so wetting probably won’t do much. It’s overkill imo. Way more complicated and time consuming than the benefits bare

I’ll add that achieving a fine finish minus waves and with crisp consistent edges is one of if not THE biggest challenge in rod building. Keep practicing with the goal of a consistently repeatable process that works for you. There are 100 ways to skin this cat.

Wavy finish is too heavy of an application. Apply finish to the top edge and wick off excess from bottom, use lengthwise strokes to knock down ridges. This is kind of over simplified but a whole tutorial is available online

The difference you’ll notice depends on what you’re comparing to. If the stock bearings are in good condition , flushed and oiled lightly the difference is much more subtle. If you’re doing true BFS fishing <1/4oz for example the easier startup helps. Make sure to use proper tool and care to avoid spool damage replacing that bearing.

On lighter line I add a few turns up to 10.

I’m trying Fins Slingbraid, so far so good

Don’t make yourself crazy comparing labels. There’s no industry standards so they will not correspond but will correlate. I’m being cute using double speak, the point is there is no direct comparison but they do use similar terms even though with different characteristics. Start by identifying the weight you want to cast, total of lead, skirts, trailers etc. the sweet spot on a rid is usually near the middle of the posted range. Next, once you find a couple that will work, consider cover. Thicker cover, lean towards the more powerful choices. These might have a higher top casting weight or just a beefier mid and butt section. There is no “true “ medium heavy etc. don’t even look at it that way. Just use those terms to guide you within a model series and you’ll find what works for you regardless of what the label says.

For a first rod I’d not go too long, 6’6”-7’ and practice with a weight in the upper 1/3 of the labeled range. Easy side arm, lob and roll casts. Accuracy first.

I just don’t get the split seat on any production rod. They’re such an acquired taste. The Eva spacer might save the day there. There’s never been anything wrong with ST Croix blanks, it was always the grip length that made people squawk about tip heaviness. It’s a trade off imo but this will serve the masses better.

No

The ceramic lightning are ABEC 5 more than enough for fishing reel speeds. If I’m building a no holds barred BFS reel I’ll go all out with the 7s

The revo and PQ are built on the same platform. Pick whichever one has the features that appeal to you.

100-120’ is a long cast. 75yds of mainline allows for retying and buries the connection knot.

Sounds like a textbook example of a Medium power jig/worm rod. I have a line on a bunch of <7’ Loomis rods. PM me for details

The take away is that higher ratio reels don’t necessarily retrieve line faster. A higher ratio with smaller spool may be equal or even slower than another ratio. IPT figures weed this out. The fact that IPT changes with spool level is interesting to keep in mind but little consequence when comparing reels. Thin line on a wide spool lessens the phenomenon while heavy line on a narrow spool exaggerates it. Spool depth only affects capacity. The only mechanical advantage to ratio/IPT is in a deep cranking reel where 5:1 or 18-20 IPT. Same holds true for other high resistance baits like heavy spinner baits with Colorado blades. Otherwise it’s personal preference. I like faster reels for buzzbaits to get them on plane easily and for jigs/plastics when the fish swims right at you. How fast is up to you. Reeling in faster to get more casts in a day I’m not sold on.

If brand new reels have any symptoms at all return for exchange.

Isn’t the purpose of DC braking to minimize backlash on long casts? Pitching requires little if any braking.

No braid is buoyant as to float a bait off the bottom. Straight fluoro will sink a hair faster.

Pm sent.

My Dad was a poker player and always preached “only bet what you can afford to lose.” I looked at tournaments the same way. I invested what was reasonable to me for a day out fishing trip. If I got to defray the cost, great, break even better yet and make a little, fantastic.

Tournaments are boring as a spectator period. The recap show like MLF All Angles is tolerable and tells the whole story.