flechero

I think you are setting a wonderful example by recognizing that you are a wife and mother first, and a fun loving, bass fishin', BR participant second. Way to honor and respect your husband, I applaud your decision!

It just depends on how you treat your gear. I had a 784 IMX for over 15 years as my #1 rod... I had an 844 IMX for over 15 years as my #2 rod... I had a 785 IMX as my #3 rod for over 15 years... I had other brands and model just as long and didn't break any of them. I tournament fished a little and guided about 40% of the weekends for two summers. I don't do anything special, but when I put a rod into or take a rod out of a rodbox, I stop if I feel resistance. I don't leave them laying across the deck where I'll step on them. Most importantly of all I don't use hook keepers, EVER. (ok sometimes on a fly rod only) I use the reel to hold back hooks and weights from hitting the blank. It is easy and takes NO MORE time to use this little bit of caution. (except the few seconds to slip a rod sock on them if going long distance in the bed of a p/u truck.) Think of the IMX/GLX blanks as corvettes and the Gator/All Star blanks as a steel bodied car. Both will hold up to almost anything until you screw up and hit something. And just like the real thing, a vette will damage more with a smaller impact. As with most things in life, you give up something to gain another. These blanks have thinner walls, which make them more susceptible to damage from weights, hooks, abraision and other impacts. The material itself is tougher but there is a greater reduction of material than there is an increase of strength. Higher modulous is stiffer so if they built it with a thick wall, you would be talking about musky blanks in bass tapers. ...lol

BUT, RW, could you even imagine it sitting on your custom GLX PR844C with the Ti SiC guides, custom fit, exotic burl split grip and might as well throw in matching color thread trim and a BR logo decal under the finish. ;D I bet I could build you a rod for that new reel you haven't ordered yet... remember, Raul says reels should be paired up with "like" priced rods... I can fix you up with a new "stella worthy" rod if you get the itch!! :) Your good buddy, flechero ;D ;D ;D ;D

What a geat visual reference!! ;D ;D Since I troll my line at the first sign of twist, I usually only see that on the back deck, not the front.

I won't knock Shimano rods... they are a good value and have a great warranty. I just like IMX better. I have own(ed) the MBR844, MBR784, MBR783 and several SJR's in factory built IMX rods and the MBR844, MBR784 IMX in custom builds. I can't think of a good reason, other than budget or if you are rough on equipment, not to buy IMX. If you plan to use the warranty with any regularity, buy the Shimano.

I have a 4C70HF Blank (the frog rod) that I built up last winter... it fishes as good as it looks!

Twist or memory? They are 2 very different things. No line will twist by itself and all mono lines will develop some memory. Twist is a result of your reel or your rigging. (or a big catfish!) It is easily trolled out. Memory is curly... and not usually a big problem in the heat of the summer, even with line that normally has lots of memory.

BassHunter- what sporting goods stores or tackle shops do you have near you? And what brands of rods do they carry?

There are some variables to this... first and foremost is speed of retrieve. You can slow roll a 1/2 oz bait in 10'-12' easily. But if say you speed the same bait up it would likely climb to a mere 1/3 the depth it had been slow rolled at. Anyway, add length of cast, line diameter and you get lots of possibilities. Unfortunately, the only accurate way to find out is to buy a couple and fish them. I carry a few Ledgebusters in 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 oz., to cover all my needs.

I'm impressed that you keep that level of detail on stuff you sell. If I tell someone I have to check my records, I have to either think a minute or find the "post it" note. ...lol

Great,....MORE math. ;D I'm just glad it wasn't deleted. There is an awful lot of wisdon in that Book- the one we can't talk about. Catt, I've noticed a few responses from you with "that sort of wisdom" referenced. Just wanted to say I appreciate it. Keith

What in the world are you sending, a one piece steelhead rod??? ;D

There are a few misconceptions here... an extra fast rod actually has a "lighter" tip than a fast or mod. The term fast means that it make a quicker transition (taper) from tip to mid and back (backbone). Most of you are familiar with IMX and GLX rods... the MBR series is legendary. They are "fast" by Loomis standards (which are more like extra fast to other mfr's.) and thus have a light, delicate tip. Take the same rated St. Croix and you'll find a firmer (actually slower taper) tip. If you have any doubts, take 2 rods of any brand (as long as they are the same brand- for continuity of definition of speed) and hang a weight (a couple ounces) a few inches from the tip. You will quickly see what I'm talking about. The rod with the tighter curve is the faster taper/tip and will also "feel" like the lighter tip... even if it has more power overall. Where it gets confusing is that people (I think) confuse the tip with the mid sections. Where RW refers to firm tip for soft plastics, I believe what he means, and I agree, is a firm mid section... which is where the hooksetting power is most often realized. When I get some free time, I'll lay a few rods out with different tapers, hang weights and snap pics so this all makes sense to anyone still confused. The bottom line in all of this is just find a rod that feels good to you and go fish!!

Probably a whole lot like a $125 rod. Really? You actually believe that? Wow.

I was only kidding in the other response.... Ok, here is my serious answer- crankbaits, rattletraps, hard jerkbaits or several other treble hooked baits. Ugly sticks are softer, as has been pointed out, which makes them a good rod for that purpose. They won't be any less (or much less) sensitive than other "glass" rods.

I'd say bricks... in the 1-1.5lb range... ;D ;D ;D ;D Oh, wait... this isn't a joke?? Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Once you get the cork (or EVA) off, you'll still have a layer of old epoxy. It will look like crap and probably have sharp edges that would require sanding. (and if you hit the blank itself while sanding, you may give the rod a death sentence!) Also, there won't be any sort of finished edge to the reel seat so no telling what you'll have left there. If it were me, I'd provbably leave it. Do a search in tacklemaking for rod mods by "justtrying" - he took a bunch of of rods and removed foregrips and even split the rear grips... did a good job as I remember. If you decide to try it, read his old posts, he gave a detailed account of what he did and what challenges he faced.

Matt, I bet you & Chris made his summer!! Very cool.

Usually they overlook a tip on that scenario... A buddy went through the same thing with no tip and had no trouble.

The gold standard hook for the fat Ika is the Gammy 4/0 EWG. Rig the Fat Ika "texposed" and skin the point... most of us rig it with the skirt up (backwards) but both ways will work with different actions possible. Everyone has to experiment a little to see what works best for you. Just don't fish it too fast. "The magic lure" that was a huge thread... http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1141053342/0 (edited to add link)

No boat... try a tube or waders. Great looking water.

Ahh... baseball with no talk of money, sponsors or steroids... and the players love the game, not the paycheck. That my friend, is real baseball!!

I'm starting to feel bad for ol' Joe. Maybe you should send him down for a few days... we'll hook him up with a crash course on soft plastics... and maybe find him a better rod since yours must be more sensitive. ...lol Glad someone got out today!

Credit Muddy, not me... he won me over at Fork and his tireless work and devotion at the "home" are truely inspirational. I'd pay to hear his whole testimony. (leave this one alone, Mike!) I've shared parts of his story with guys that are struggling in my Bible study group and it always helps... Muddy is developing quite a following in Central Tx. ...lol ;D Your PM must have bounced back!

(cough*) All Star... you can probably find them a lot closer than the next BPS store. (cough*)