S Hovanec

Adding more guides isn't the answer to a "properly" built rod. You just end up with a bunch of guides adding unnecessary weight, which is more detrimental to a rods performance than line scrub. With today's low frame guides, it is just about impossible to keep the line off of the blank without having 12 or more guides on a 7' rod.

Flip a coin. Just about all the imports in that price range are equal.

I don't use transition guides anymore on my lighter casting builds. The last 5 or so builds have the first guide at 0° and the next one at 180°. The line touches the blank between them, but I haven't noticed any adverse effects.

While tied up at the dock, I had someone ask "how deep of water can you go in that boat?" I told him "only 50'. Any deeper and i have to turn around". He said "oh, that's pretty good!" Managed to do it with a straight face too, meanwhile I'm dieing inside!

THe handle is even on the correct side!

In that price range, I'm partial to St Croix SCIII.

More bearings mean a better reel. I read that on the internet, so it had to be true.

All finish will yellow. Some even does it in the bottle! The finish on that guide does appear to be cracked though. It will eventually do what DVT said and get loose.

I'll let ya know about mine in 10 years!

There are some nice little bass ponds in the Washington county area. Cannonsburg lake offers trout panfish and bass. They also stock trout in the fall and for ice fishing.

IMO, there isn't much difference between the SCIII and the SCIV. From my experience, you need to jump 2 model series to see change.

I have an older Sustain 2000 that is my favorite. Runner up is the Stradic Mg that is on my dropshot set-up.

I'm in SW PA. 84 is about a half hour west of me.

Amen to that. Of St Croix's lineup, the only ones that impress me are the US rolled SCIII and the SCV.

Bait size dictates. I prefer medium/XF, but I typically only throw spook juniors.

I agree. I'd trade it for a 2500.

Tackle Warehouse

I opted for Ram mounting cause I have no place to flush mount.

Thank you. I really like to do something special with the cork when people give me the opportunity. I'm kinda stuck on what to do on my 3 SCV builds. They all will be Tennessee grips. The dropshot rod will be a split Tennessee. I THINK the other two will be full grips so I can do some inlays.

Post up some pics!!

I'd either put a filler plate there or I'd flush mount a HDS 5. I think that old garmin is similar in size.

Sarah 750 + 7' lite Rainshadow. Cost?

Load it up with a Barnes copper solid and you shouldn't have any issues.

Don't know what kind is on those rods, but I am assuming its a split seat? Can't stand them. The PacBay Minimas or the Fuji SK2, for the very reason you state. They are the most uncomfortable thing I've ever had in my hand.

I'd you just want a standard trigger seat, it can be done from the back of the rod, though not optimal. If you want an exposed seat, then the entire rod needs stripped and the seat installed from the front. Better off starting with a clean slate and building it the way you want. It'll be cheaper to build new than strip and rebuild.