flechero

Kmac, I think you are reading into it a little. RW is like me in the sense that a reel's price doesn't figure into whether or not I'm interested in it. If I like it, based on specs, feel, weight, etc. I'll buy it (or several) but if a reel I didn't like suddenly went $100 off, the savings doesn't change the reel... just the price paid which over a reel's life isn't high anyway. RW is pretty consistent in what he likes and recommends... I think any real "bashing" you saw has been kidding with friends.

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do now. Using natural cork on a spinning rod with a split grip stacks the deck against you. There are very few blanks that will balance out in that scenario. If you put a price on your time, it's cheaper to just start over and the results will be much better than on a rebuild. Then hang on to that one for a spare, or you might weight it and use it for shakey head or something. I know the disappointment you are feeling... trust me.

most cameras have a macro setting for distances of about 1"-24" +/- As for the reel, some like to give them a clean and lube to get the factory packing grease out, and some like to just use them... I'd try it first, worst case is you can still clean it out if needed.

Look at the all star classics... they go on sale for $30 every other month at Academy. They are legitimate bass rods... which is rare in that price category.

... and not to mention that ANY publicity he gets right now has a direct link to North Fork Composites, even when asked about Loomis since they give the NFC story with each mention. So why not take all the interviews and free pub he can... it just increases awareness to NFC. And for the record, I still like Loomis IMX and GLX blanks.

Now that Gary is back in the blank business, the timing kind of makes you wonder if his non-compete/non-disclosure agreements are fully expired. : Little has changed recently, except a planned end to selling blanks. That makes me think it's more of a timing issue than any lack of enthusiasm for the business... that he happily sold for $$$.

I agree with that... and I tried to say it earlier, just not as clearly as I should have... it's just as annoying when people champion the "shimano or nothing" chant as when other bash. (to me anyway)

Kind of... I've tied with a few of the tubings but they say ez body is a little different. If it's anything like the other tubing in how it acts then it won't work like a senko. I think it's too light and not as limp as it would need to be for a senko type action.

Just because it's a fly don't assume small... my favorite flies are big bunkers, decievers and other large baitfish patterns in 5"-8". Tie em a little sparse in the body and they still cast well. I like whites with a little color on top and sometimes a few strands for a lateral line. I also like eyes,(visual, not weight) but in freshwater I don't think it's a must. Have fun and tie up a bunch of options... it will only help you become a better tier... and some of the "mishaps" will probably be your best producers! ...lol

Geez, did I hit a nerve? No one questioned your experience... but since you brought it up, how many of those years are with the reels we are talking about. I suspect no more than the years I have been using them. And yes, I also have a number of ABu's, Daiwa's and Shimanos. There is a well thought out comparison. And exactly the kind of talk that adds no value to a discussion. One is enough to comment on your single reel... a few is better but like any advice, it should be considered based on the sampling. (and the rewiewer) As i stated, those who HAVE NOT owned or used them shouldn't review. If you have, great, make a legitimate comparison or review and I won't say a word. I wasn't addressing you in my post. But thanks to your participation in this thread, I will consider your reel advice differently from now on.

You said it may... as in you don't know because you haven't used one before reviewing it. You are entitled to any opinion you want, but before you say things do or don't, you should at least have an idea of whether it will or won't. Saying it is overpriced is fine... but you should just say you think it's overpriced. That is a valid opinion. But to ***** its performance w/o experience dillutes the good advice and opinions this site's reputation was built upon.

Catt, Hope you had a great Birthday!

Many guys dismiss completely the opinions of those of us who fish multiple brands and have used particular pieces of equipment for years on end, without a specific loyalty to any brand. And you wonder why we poke fun at you on occasion? : These same guys make full reviews based on a 2 minute fondle at the reel counter- never even cast or use the reel. ;D I do recall that the zebco 202 feels pretty smooth at the counter... :-? I find it pretty funny that the anti shimano crowd is so set on bashing that they are actually worse than the homers... and then throw out a comment like "I wonder when my post will disappear..." That's a load in the shorts. Not to mention a slap in the face of all the mods. If you (and I mean all the bashers, not any one person in particular) would pony up and buy a decent reel, there would be very little drama here. Oh, I meant to ask what "great" reel was available for 1/4 the price of a curado? Even at FULL MSRP, that leaves $45 for said "great reel." And before you say "I had a XXX reel..." One experience does not qualify you to make gross generalizations of an entire brand, good or bad. enough of my rant... I have to clock in.

It looks like a blank to me... just dull where the hands typically go... as in he may have just worn off some of the shine. there isn't enough shown in the picture to have shown guides... they would be further up than shown.

It's not uncommon for specific applications to wrap a reel to the blank for design purposes... Don't assume he's a poor guy with no budget.

Everything you need, including a list of tools and jigs you can make are only a search away... free and in this very section. Start with the sticky on rodbuilding and then search a few things. A simple search of "lathe" with no date restriction will reveal a few of the tool and jigs threads. Once you do that, you will have some specific questions that we can answer for you. It would take a book to answer your question right now.

St. Croix makes them in ML.

I've built a couple of the 815 blanks for customers... and I saved one of them for myself! It's a sweet blank. That 865 you mentioned is a mod action... if you want it as a cranking rod, it will be nice.

As rare as I'll use them, it's not a huge issue. I will probably buy the setting solution for self sticks which will fix one of the issues. The decal itself was a little scuffed/beat up so even if my work was perfect, it wouldn't have been. One thing I dislike about blank decals is that often times they are beat up by the time I get the blanks. (which is one of the reasons I went with Decal Connection in the begining)

Well it's better than it first appeared but it's still not what I'm happy with. They are not even straight. I will buy some of the sa setting solution so I can adjust if I use any other blank decals. I'm sure if I spent some time working with sa decals I would get better at them. Anyway, here is how it ended up... and the reason the finish is so far onto the rod is when putting it in the dryer, the strap slapped the finish and ran it up onto the blank so I just wiped what I could and extended the line out about 2-3 mm further. ...lol A comedy of errors- at least it was all on one and all on my own!

Well I knew there was a reason I used water slide decals exclusively... (until tonight) Arrgggg!!! And starting tomorrow, I'll be back to water slide exclusively. I know that some guys can attain perfection with SA decals and my hat's off to them. Hopefully it won't be so bad when the finish is cured and the fluorescent bulbs aren't 6" from them... but there is no way you should ever "see" the decal... and I can clearly see it. I cut the edges at an angle, used tweezers and rolled them lengthwise to remove any air. I just didn't want to wait 3 days for DC to make up a set of WS. Lesson learned. Luckily it is just a utility rod for me or my fishing guests. If it were for a customer, I would eat the whole rod and start over. :-[

No problems here... I use mono for everything... from #8 - #25. Outside of a bad spool of line (which only happens once every few years) I've been trouble free for over 25 years- which is when I switched to Berkley Trilene XT. I do use a couple other lines for specific things now but never have trouble with XT in above freezing temps.

From the best rods under $100 thread... This would be almost identical to my list of rods to consider

Nice job, as always, Eddie! The metal checks are worth the effort and extra time. (although I'm too lazy to use them on my own rods!) I was also thinking it's been a while since a rod build has been posted... I am about to put finish on one this afternoon so I'll try to post something in a day or two.

Sorry to see that it didn't work out. Hopefully Dan will still answer questions that come up... because as he said, he's on the clock and online, much of the time. Purely out of curiosity... did shimano just not want to pay for the exposure?