S Hovanec

Dropshotting in deep water. If you start with only a 2' or 3' leader, after 1 re-tie, you need a new leader. I start with a 18' leader. by the end of the day, there's usually about 4' left. Tie a new one on and good to go the next day.

Sounds to me like the Duckett isn't the proper tool for your application. All of these companies jumped on the micro-guide bandwagon and put these teeny things on rods without giving thought to how people are going to use them. It has left a bad taste in some people's mouths about micros because of this. Proper guide sizing should be the smallest/lightest guide that can pass your connections. The Duckett rods have ridiculously small guides and what seems to be WAY too many of them. I fish 10# braid to 6# and 8# floro spliced with a uni-uni with 3.5mm SiC's and 4mm Alconites and have no problems passing the connections. I know others that fish much heavier stuff than that and pass thru the same guides I'm using.

St. Croix AVS69MLXF

I actually started out with a factory built SCIII in that action/power. Loved that rod til my wife amputated 2" off the tip with a storage hatch lid. It got stripped down, rewrapped and given to her to use for a while. Sold it when I gave her the SCIV. IMO, the SCIII is the best bang for the buck.

My favorite DS setup is a Croix 5S69MLXF with a Stradic MG 2500. Prior to that, it was a Croix 4C69MLXF with a Sustain 2000. Gave the SCIV to the wife when I built the SCV. Next up is gonna be a 5S610MLXF and a 5SW70MLF. Haven't decided on a reels yet. The wife will be getting another top notch DS rod and her old SCIV will be up for sale once I get my new ones done. I really, really like St. Croix's MLXF for dropshotting

The rods aren't hers...just the rack. She won it last month at the ICRBE. Her rods are on one of the other racks in the background. I'm using it as a build/repair staging area for ones that I'm working on. There are some pretty good sticks on it tho. 5 SCV's, 2 SCIII's, a SCIV, CTS, Sage One, RX8, couple RX7's, a Seeker and a Hi-Mod MHX.....and a few repairs in the back row.

It's a mix in there. Couple Sustains, couple Saharas, a few Stradics, a few Chronarch SF's a CI4 and an old green Curado. The rod pic was just a joke. That's my bone pile for repairs. Here's one of the 5 various racks in the basement (this one is actually my Wife's).

I just chuck my rods in an old trash can...... .....and my reels in a cooler.

Until there are set standards, its really up in the air.

Tiffany (RIP) & my wife, back when we had a small boat. Here's Mr. Blaze getting ready to pounce on a goby. Ginni's first boat ride. Taylor in her "What ya got there, dad" stance. Taylor in her normal spot.

7 or 8 for me, the wife and dogs. If I go alone or with someone else in my boat, I take 4 or 5. If I'm on someone elses boat, I'll take 2 or 3.

Not now that the finish has cured. There's a very short window for that to happen.....maybe an hour or so after application, depending on brand.

No problems whatsoever. You ended up with a better guide than what came on the rod originally. A set of Fuji titaniums costs almost as much as that rod sells for new.

NFC.....they only make blanks. Edge Rods.....they build production rods on NFC blanks.

I have Powerpro on my reels. Fished it for 4 years. Reversed the line last year to put the fresh stuff on top. I'll be good for another 4 or so.

Yep. All 3 of them go on the boat with us. They are a border collie mixes.

I can count on one hand how many dart straight blanks I have built on. My findings are opposite of DVT tho, with the worst offender being SCV's. SCIII's, Rainshadow RX7's SM North Forks and CTS have been my straightest blanks. Unless it makes 2 or 3 changes in direction, there is nothing wrong with it.

I repaired a Loomis Steelhead rod for someone that picked it up at the Bargain Cave at Cabelas. The stripper guide was 45° off of the reelseat and the rest of the guides. This one isn't as noticible as one guide way out of whack.

sounds like the baits need tuned to me. some baits will run just fine at slow speeds, but once you start speeding up, that's where they start going wonky.

I prefer XF actions. Can't really say why, I just do. Enjoy the rod. It will work just fine for you. The only complaint I have about St Croix MH, is its more powerful than anyone else's MH. Its borderline H to me.

Wife uses a SCIV 6'8" MXF. I had a Legend Elite 6'8" MXF. Broke it. Downgraded to a custom Avid Pearl 6'8" MXF. Sold it to a guy's wife in my bass club. Currently building a SCV 6'10" MXF. You could say I like the MXFs for tubes!

My 17' Lund/motor/trailer weighs in at 2500# unloaded. That's no batteries, trolling motor, fuel or gear. Guess that's why its sitting on a 3500# trailer. You're probably Looking for something in 16' max.

Put the $$ where the motor is. Its gonna be hanging there for a long time, while electronics come and go.

If you only plan on building one, get someone to build it for you. There is a learning curve and you really don't want to 'practice' on the GOOD blank. You really won't save any money building it yourself. Price out the exact parts from a factory built rod and you'll see that for yourself.

None. Mine pays the lot rent on my camp in Erie. Actually, you could say that 100% is going towards fishing, just not supplies!