S Hovanec

The only medium spinning rod that I will have in my collection will be a 5s610mxf for tubes, as soon as I build it. I sold my 6'8" m/xf pink avid to a guy in my club and never replaced it. I do have a bunch of medium lights tho!

I know that spot. I recognize those waves!

I think you'd like this rod. It's my favorite action/power for dropshotting. The one I'm going to build for myself (someday maybe) will be extended to 7'.

Applied the decal and put the final coat of finish on tonight. Walked away for about 10 minutes and it happened! A gnat landed on the decal area. Finish was about 40 minutes in, so it was getting thick. I fished out the bug and it's wings and dripped some finish back on the bare spot. Seems kinda OK, but I'll know better in the morning. I may have to re-coat the decal area if the finish doesn't flow back in place. Decal before applying finish over it.

Trim bands wrapped. First coat of finish.

Eyes got tired tonight. I'll align the guides, wrap the trim bands and put the first coast of finish on tomorrow.

Wrapped!

Had lots of chores to do last week. I'll be wrapping it tonight. It needs delivered on Friday!

Hook keeper attached with vinyl bands. Stripper guide. All ready for thread! I think I need to clean off my bench again. Having trouble finding tools when I need them.

The guides.

I chuck them in my drill. They even make short work of those composite blocks.

I have a set of Batson Dream reamers. Sometimes I'll use a rat tail file too. My technique is as follows: measure the smallest diameter of the blank where the grip will rest. I then use drill bits to work up to that size. I then use the Dream Reamers to get the back of the grip to size. I think by gradually working through all of the drill sizes, it's easier to keep concentric.

Grip & reel seat reamed and epoxy smeared. Grip slid in place. Reel seat and winding check installed.

I don't do thread art. My thing is cork. The wraps will be teal with no CP trimmed in steel blue metallic. That color on the SCV blue/green flip just about disappears.

Here's my split Tennessee. Its on a 5s69mlxf-b Its the most comfortable rod I've ever used.

Snoopy/Micky Mouse/Disney princess type kids combos.

I'm not a big split grip fan, but my favorite rod has a split Tennessee grip and I love it. I put the hook keeper in the split, so its out of the way. The 3 SCV rods on deck for myself will all have the same split Tennessee configuration.

If your hand wrapper is the correct height, I'd use it for intermediate supports. Even if it's not the right height, shim something to equal it out and use them. When I turn a 7' rod, I usually have the motor and 3 other supports.

Trimming the excess threads off the reel seat. It used to be difficult to trim it with a Dremel and keep it square and clean. Then I had an epiphany! Put it on the lathe and cut it with a parting tool. Perfect every time!! Same thing with boring the seat concentric. No problem on the lathe. Getting ready to rough-in the grip. Finished grip & reel seat.

These aren't your grandfather's 2 piece rods anymore. there is much technology in the ferrules that make them perform as well as 1 piece rods. I found just the opposite when comparing the St. Croix 3s76mlxf and the 3s76mlxf-2. I built the 1 piece for myself and the 2 piece for a friend. The 2 piece had a touch more power, which I really liked. I'm gonna sell the 1 piece and build myself the 2 piece when I find the time.

I was commissioned by a friend to build a retirement gift for one of our mutual friends. I'll post pics as the build progresses. Blank: St. Croix 5S610MLXF-B Guides: Polished SS Alconite Hook Keep: Kigan XLA Reel Seat: AmTak Aero Grips: Full composite burl cork rear. No foregrip. Boring the grip inlay. Grip in clamp after glue-up.

Not real sure. It's a toss-up between the NFC 6'10" mag lite with a CI4 and the SCV 6'9" MLXF with a Stradic Mg. I do have a couple Sustains and quite a few Chronarchs, but they are on cheaper customs.

All I have to back me up is the experience I got by comparing like models of Rage and SCIII blanks. What i do know is: Avids are rolled in WI, Rages are rolled in Mexico. Just my opinion, but the build quality of the south of the border rods is less than stellar.

Hard to beat the Stradic FJ. If you look hard enough, you might be able to find some of the original discontinued CI4's for a discount too. On the lower end of the spectrum, the Sahara is a pretty nice reel. I have a couple of the older ones on my panfish rods.