S Hovanec

Here it is....the grip from hell!

I have no issue with them being out of Mexico, I build on RodGeeks blanks that come out of the same factory. Calling a Rage an Avid is like calling Geeks Carbon 2 a Premier and the Carbon 4 a Legend Tournament. Similar, but not the same.

Not same blank as Avid. It's rolled with the same graphite tho. Same blank implies the blank was rolled in Park Falls, which it is not.

I don't think the vibration damages them, but if it is constantly impacting something, then yes. I have a friend that broke 4 rods one year, all in the same spot. I looked at his boat, and they all broke right where they rested in the gunnel when he ran from spot to spot.

You did. I violated that thing 9 ways to sunday! I think there's a thread on here about it. I defiled 2 NRXs that day!

Looks like it is actually gonna work. Here's a little something to chew on for the night! Rough turned the inlay.

Finally got the thing together. No Steve, this isn't yours. Still not sure it's gonna come out the way I want. It might end up on the scrap pile!

1350 according to the specs from the book in 2005. Edit. I was mistaken. It is listed as 1285 on NADA. I thought it was 1300+ tho. I'll have to dig up my book later.

Wow. my 17' Lund hull is over 1300# and it's tin.

Maybe rubber band wasn't a proper analogy, but it gets my point across and compared to the braid I have been using, seemed pretty fitting. I recall reading somewhere in reviews or tests that mono and floro stretch somewhere between 25-30%, depending on brand. Let's use my 6# spool and the 30% number. If it breaks at 30%, then at proper set drag of 2#, it should stretch about 10%. So, with 50' of line out, that means it would stretch 5'. Pretty significant, no? I run about a 18' leader. Was more like 15' that day, so, 10% stretch on that leader would be 1.5'. IMO, that's enough to make the difference between getting a hookset and not with the same force applied. To add a little more to back up my theory, the only fish that stayed hooked were ones that bit directly under the boat in 15'-20' of water. Basically, I had the same amount of floro out as I normally do when I use braid + leader. The fish that came unhooked were long casts away from the boat.

And I'm still fighting with the one that isn't Steve's. Its now in 2 pieces instead of 6, but I'm having a hard time getting those 2 pieces clamped together and aligned. I've made 4 attempts and its being a bear.

80 tooth. I keep a blade around that I only do rod work with. Cork blocks, blank cutting, reel seat inserts. http://www.lowes.com/pd_73714-70-DW3128D2_1z0wckxZ1z136s7__?productId=3043564&Ns=p_product_price|1&pl=1

Miter saw is what I use.

He didn't mention the ride. He hates that all the storage is open. Everything gets wet. Also, the windshield isnt sloped as much as the Baron was so everything on the dash gets wet.

Funny you say that Dwight. My buddy went from the a Lund Baron 2100 to a StarCraft FishMaster 2100 and he hates the StarCraft. He's looking at the 2075 Tyee Magnum now.

Saw it. Not really interested in glass. Ya gotta be too careful with it!

The 2075 Tyee has really caught my eye recently.

Joking about what?

I'm not looking for a new line, just making an observation as to how much of a difference there is. I was just too lazy to retie my leader and the floro rod was strung up in the locker. I can't see me using anything other than braid except on my crank, jerkbait, topwater and spybait rods.

I can't believe I used to do it that way too. It only took me 6 years to lose my mono fishing skills.

.....and straight floro? I've been using braid and floro leader for a long time. Yesterday, my leader got too chewed up by zebra mussels and I didn't feel like retying, so I grabbed my spybait rod with 6# floro on it. I tied on a dropshot and proceeded to fish. Every time I hooked up, it felt like I was using a rubber band as line. Of the 7 hookups I had on it, 3 came unbuttoned half way to the boat and one right at the boat. I've never had that problem with braid. I did manage to keep a 4#er buttoned up long enough to get it in the boat.

Was kinda happy with these 2 grips at lunch. Then I tried to glue the last 4 pieces in the one on the left. It blew apart when I clamped it! Grrrr. Guess I'm trying to rush it and the last joint wasn't fully cured.

8.5 on creativity......2 on execution. Got a few more pieces to glue together yet. Not real happy with how its coming together. We shall see once they hit the lathe!!

Yes and no. I will keep that in mind for a future design though.

I have one of those in silver waiting to be built as my new tube rod. No hurry though cause it's getting one of the new JDM Stradics and they won't be available for a while!