S Hovanec

I don't throw Recoils in that mix anymore cause I took too many beatings when i badmouth them. Plus, I have no first hand experience with them, only pics that others have of them grooved. I wish I would have kept all of the trashed Minimas and SS tips I've replaced. Some still don't believe it, but I've seen it. I REFUSE to replace them with a similar tip. Only ceramics go back on.

Newer rods with PacBay Minimas and Berkley SS304 guides are prone to grooving, especially the tip. I've replaced many of them.

Its not the line that causes the guide wear, its the contaminates that are picked up from the water while fishing. None of today's ceramic guides will wear, however,I have replaced many steel inserted tips that were grooved.

I do the same as Dwight. My Lund came with a bracket in the front and I step on the tire to get on and off.

Yet another reason to not buy rods off the rack at a store. I've seen the way they are handled from receiving up until point of purchase. Kids swordfighting is my favorite..... and the rods are put right back like nothing happened.

Each series is offered in it's own distinct color. Forest Green Pearl.........SCV Spin/Cast/Steelhead (Legend Elite) Blue/Green Flip...............SCV Spin/Cast (Legend Xtreme) Gallatin Green.................SCV Freshwater Fly (Legend Elite) Belize Blue.......................SCIV Inshore (Legend Inshore) and SCV Salt Fly (Legend Elite) Cobalt Blue Pearl.............SCIV Spin/Cast/Musky (Legend Tourney) Burgundy..........................SCIV/SCII Fly (Imperial) Carbon Pearl....................SCIII Spin/Cast/Steelhead/Carp (Avid) Copper Pearl....................SCIII Inshore (Avid Inshore) Red Metallic......................SCIII Surf (Avid Surf) Canteen Green Pearl.......SCIII Fly (Avid) Black Pearl.......................SCII Spin/Cast/Musky (Premier) Gloss Green.....................SCII Inshore (Tidemaster Inshore) Gloss Black.......................SCII Boat (Legend Salt) Also note, Stripping the OEM paint will void the manufacturers warranty on the blank. I can't speak for other manufacturers, but that is true of St. Croix.

What kind of 'finish' are you talking about? If I would coat the entire blank with the thread finish I use, it would DOUBLE the weight of most of my freshwater blanks. Most do not cure totally hard, leaving a semi-soft coat that is susceptible to scratching and gouging. That type of finish is not intended as a blank coating. Permagloss, Lumiseal and other urethane clears are very thin and cure very hard, yet remain flexible. They are the product of choice when coating the entire blank.

I prefer St. Croix's ML/XF offerings, especially in the SCV models.

The way I lose drop shot weights, it would cost more in tungsten weights than what I spend in gas for a day on the water! Glad I make my own lead ones!

Marine StaBil is all I use.

The wind isn't too forgiving at 40mph either. Almost lost a combo due to a rod sock. Took off to move and the rod wasn't strapped down. It flipped over and headed out the back of the boat. The reel got caught on the lip of the transom in the splash well. No more rod socks when rods are on deck!

Dont sweat it, it'll be worth the wait! I know the feeling....It was a long 8-10 weeks when I ordered my Lund back in 2005.

Did a tip replacement on a rod for a local guy. When I laid it on the bench, the tip was about 3" higher than the butt. When I returned it, I asked if he stored it leaning in the corner. He looked shocked and asked how I knew.

I'm already fishing it and I'm about to give it to my wife and build myself another. It's a custom St Croix 5S69MLXF with TiSiC guides and a Stradic Mg. It will be replaced with a 5S610MLXF. Still up in the air about the reel. Might be a Stella, might be a Sustain.

Usually I'll use 4 in a day on the water. 3 dropshot and 1 tube.

Then those aren't the proper sized guides for your application. I'm using 10# Powerpro with 6 and 8# leaders joined with a double uni and I have no problems with the knot passing. The guides are properly sized for my use. People jump on the micro guide bandwagon without fully understanding the limitations. Part of the blame is the manufacturers too. They put the smallest guides on the rods with no regard to how they will be used. People buy them, they don't live up to their expectations and then get a bad reputation. If you want to truly see the benefits of ' micro' guides, get a custom built. It will be set-up properly and you will have no problems, other than the cottonwood blooms, but that jams up even rods with 'normal' guides.

Sounds to me like the guide train isn't set up properly. ALL of my spinning rods have 'micros' on them and all with braid. The noise is just a function of the braid, as even rods with standard guides are noisy.

Also, once the batteries are stone dead, most on-board chargers won't be able to charge them. there is a minimum voltage that they will work with. You may just need to disconnect them and charge with a conventional charger, but I suspect they are fried. If they have been that deeply discharged for an extended amount of time, I doubt they will recover. Also in agreeance.....hook up the other electronics to the starting battery.

10# Powerpro with a 12'-18' leader of 6# or 8# P-Line Halo is what I do on my drop shot set-ups. No swivel required.

I used to use Mega strike to help insert 3/8 and 1/2oz heads in to 3" and 3.5" tubes. I noticed the fish didn't like them as well as the ones I didn't use the Mega strike with. I believe scent can be a turn-off sometimes.

I'm already fishing what is the best DS rod, IMO. It's a custom SCV 6'9" ML/XF with Fuji Ti/SiC guides. Gonna be giving it to my wife as soon as I build another 'best' DS rod.......a SCV 6'10" ML/XF.

Actually it's the welded Trackers that have been problematic. A quick google search should yield you hours or reading about the nightmares people had getting cracked boats warranted.

Love my Optimas. I installed 3 (a starting and 2 trolling) when I bought my boat 8 years ago and they're still going. The trolling batteries seem to discharge a little quicker, but after 8 years, can I really complain? Lol

Freshwater drum. The guys call them sheephead, even though they aren't really.

Current plays a big factor. a 15" smallie in the Niagara will just about rip the rod out of your hand.