flechero

For this video, how about "Crazy Train" by Ozzy?

just measure your arm spread (in feet) with a tape (then divide into 150') and pull off 50 yds of the old line and tie a connection loop on the backing. It's best to measure by taking off the old line... the capacity they state is for a specific diameter... which may vary from your 12# line.

When set up properly, you will see improvements over the traditional "guides up" set up. I only build spiral wrapped casting rods. Casting should not be affected in any noticable amount and torque will be reduced, causing less fatigue in the fisherman and less stress on the blank. And some like the way it looks. ...lol The double footed guides in your pic are total overkill in a bass rod, but functionally they won't do any harm... just a little heavier than singles.

lady bass, you should go back and re-read this thread, bass fisherman started the trash talking and apparently sent a PM to LBH, talking some more trash. LBH, Nice fish!! A real beauty, anyone would like to have... but still a slot fish at Fork!

If you have to stay under $40, go with a Berkley Lightning Rod or wait for Academy to put the AllStar classics on sale. (they do about every other month) The last time I was in Wal-Mart, I saw some Daiwa rods for either $29 or $39... I can't vouch for them but the looked like a decent rod for the price. Good luck with your search

He's a twitch-a-holic. He twitches that thing for hours a day. ...lol Seriously, like a kid with a problem. It baffles me but he loves it and uses it constantly. I don't know... I bet the hardware holding it in place will fail before the plastic. (Football helmets are made of plastic too and they are pretty durable.) ...lol I'm surprised at the responses... no one has seen a problem yet but most are either skeptical or critical. I admit that I was skeptical at first based on reviews but after seeing it in action for a while, either he got lucky and has a "good" one or some of this criticism is unfounded. If they have been out this long and ReelMech hasn't even seen one except in the store, that speaks volumes to me. I guess I just see the glass as 1/2 full.

For long term, reels removed, stood vertical is best if you don't lean them... think of it this way, if the tips are not under any pressure and not bent, they won't take a set. Also, keep them indoors. Extremes in either direction are harmful if long term. Mike, worry not... you are at least a dozen rods short of having a problem.

Awesome... like the fun you had as a kid!! Those days are always great! (I wish they happened more often!!)

Amen to that!!!! Great choice Bud!

Hawgin, Have you seen breakage problems or is it just the fear of it happening? I saw lots of posts like that before they came out saying it would be the weak link. I agree it should be the problem spot if there is one... I just haven't heard of any reels actually breaking yet. I don't own one but my normal partner does and he's rough with it... no troubles yet. (5-6 months of hard use) Just curious as to your experiences with it.

;D I don't care who you are, that's funny!! ;D

Chris, I don't "promote" mono to everyone... just prefer it for myself. I know braid has it's good qualities, but in my case I saw more of the bad qualities while fishing. I tried braid for an entire season and found that I caught fewer fish, had more trouble with snags, broke off in the rocks more and generally had less fun with it. I did not have good luck with leaders either. Not to mention casting was better for me with mono. So in the end, you may be right about braid being "better" but I'm not willing to invest enough years in braid to forget that mono was better for me. Maybe we should turn it around... Why do you think it is that I have had such good experiences with mono and you haven't? No, I haven't caught a 17 lb bass but I have caught LM, SM, striper, carp, cats and saltwater fish galore... eveh a few big fish along the way. I don't have trouble with the stretch, memory or any other aspect of mono... why do you think you do? All in good clean fun. Different strokes for different folks.

Chris, Your post suggests that using mono is wrong... because you do well with braid. You know as well as I do that what works best for one doesn't work best for all. Right, wrong or indifferent, I am more successful with mono , I like and have more confidence in mono. So tell me, why would I want to change? (yes, I have used braid... and did not like it)

If carp would hit a buzzbait, I wouldn't fish for bass!! ;D

Wow, talk about "the pot calling the kettle black." Maybe you should take a little of your own advice and check your facts... go read up on spectra fiber and then feel free to edit your posts. Spectra fiber will not absorb dye which is why it loses it's color and the reason the line becomes flexible is that the individual spectra fibers fracture with use. There is no "magic coating" that wears off at a prescribed time. ....lol No beef here just a itch i needed to scratch, as you say.

Probably the only swimbait action I'll try will be a Matt's bluegill on the beds, if there are any bedding that early. (just to try the SB on a bedding female) I typically don't fish beds but I would like to see the swimbait get nailed once. Like you, I'll be drilling a couple more holes in my head this winter!!!!

Thanks guys... I hear ya on the "put the money in the blank" and I already did that! I don't worry about braid, or wearing out guides. I'm just looking for the ultimate in performance... even if I can only gain in the balance dept. (physical weight) I have been using Ti framed SiC's on a few of my builds and from a balance standpoint I can measure the benifit with a scale. (I use a grain scale for the tip with a fulcrum at my hand's fulcrum) I just didn't know if there was any noticable advantage to jumping again to the cermets. The price difference is BIG so I hoped there would be something tangible. The difference from alconites was a very small gain... like anything in rods there is a point of diminishing returns, and I think I found it's limit. I have no problem staying with the Ti SiC's but always looking to improve something if I can. It was too much $$$ to just order them and try without some "good publicity" before hand. ...lol Will do. I'll also let you inspect them personally at Fork!!

Check out the thread- Newbies with rod building questions, it will help you out. It is above in the sticky threads. Also, look into getting the book by Tom Kirkman... it wil be the best $15 you spend in learnng rod building. As far as the specific questions Both have Ti frames but the inserts are different material. gold cermets are supposed to be harder and smoother and also 3-5 times more expensive!| personal preference static distribution test will solve how many. sizes are dependant on several factors- line size, line path, rod class, weight, reel, and some others. But you can look at a similar factory rod for an idea of where to start. I would suggest "living with" the 6'6" for now... you probably don't want to get into blank alterations on your first few rods. You can add to the butt, however it presents some other considerations like weight, strength, cork fit. Also it will change the rod's action... adding length to the butt will make a faster rod I like the spine on top for casting and spinning rods. It's the way a blank likes to bend and when under load will torque less (or not at all). Some say it makes a difference, some say no difference. You can make an arguement for a fly rod to be reversed based on casting elements but I still go spine up since I an more concerned with fighting a fish than a super tight looped cast. It's like anything, if you have a tax id # and a business you can set up acounts and buy wholesale. FYI- LOomis and St.Croix blanks are about the most expensive blanks.... quality and brand power. There are some other brands that are less expensive and up to the same quality... depending on what kind of blank you want. I only use cork so I can't help w/ hypalon... I think it's about like EVA as far as shaping goes. Yes, He's very good! Good luck! -Keith

You're going to east Texas, my friend... BYOB and no dancing girls! The fishing normally makes up for the other two, though.

Who's used them? I have wanted to for a while but the cost has kept me away. I honestly doubt there is much of a noticable difference in performance over some other guides but I have a couple blanks on order that I'd like to go all out with and can't quite convince myself to pull the trigger. ...lol Hoping for feedback from any of you that have built or fished with Gold Cermets. Thanks, Keith

Congrats! That boat should serve you well for many years!

I would be sure the check out the coverages, they may vary by company. My policy (State Farm) is on the boat, not me, so any "legal" driver is covered while operating my boat.

we always carry 2-way radios on a group outings, lots of benefits and fun but mostly to share real time info and patterns with any boat that needs help. I would encourage any of you that have a 2-way (or a couple of them) to bring it (them) so we can do just that... we'll have enough boats that there will be people doing well and not so well. It's starting to look like we'll have a chance to meet a BUNCH of the members!! I can't wait, this will be a fantastic week!!

That also goes for the guy waiting for you to show up... respect the person you are supposed to meet. When I invite someone, I go out of my way... supply the boat, gas, in some cases tackle and rods, food, beverages and work much like a guide to ensure they have a good time... All I / we ask is that you show an ounce of courtesy and be on time, or call if you are running late. It takes a hell of a lot less effort than I have already put out to get things ready for the day. I see the point you are trying to make but what about the inconsiderate person who is late? And I sit there awake, wasting time, looking to take someone out on a fishing trip (or hunting trip) and they don't even have the decency to call and say "I'm running late"... B.S. to that!! If I say I will meet you at xxxx time... I will be there a few minutes before and on the OFF chance I am running a few minutes late, you will have been called earlier to say I was running late... because I am considerate. If I am late and haven't called- please call the police because I have been in a terrible accident and can't dial my cell phone. It's just not that hard to be on time or at least pick up the stupid phone. Ok, off the soapbox now.

They also have RV (and tent?) sites for those needing a site instead of a room.