flechero

My thoughts as well.... just about every time someone post a pic of a good fish a quotes a chart for weight, people point out that most charts are way off. Scales are cheap, small and light weight... no excuse for not carrying one these days. My old Normark digi will fit in my back pocket.

For your application, I would probably end up using 3 BYAG's, #6 BLAG's for running guides and a #6 BFAT. My best suggestion for spinning rods is to buy a complete set of BYAG's for the set up... 30,25,20,16,12,10,8 and then either replace what you end up using or return the rest if you aren't going to build more rods. I made the mistake of pre-selecting guides on my first spinning rod and didn't get what I needed so I re-ordered what I thought I needed and still missed the one guide I hadn't already bought. ...lol In the end I spent more in postage than the rest of the guides would have cost on the first order. And read Tom K's article for a good overview (except this one statement: (Generally, lines from 2lb to 8lb will easily pass through a #6 ring. 10lb to 15lb lines may require a #7 or #8 ring size.) We use #6 guides for mono lines up to #25 with no trouble. http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/newguide.html

Be careful what you wish for... ;D

My brain and body work quite similarly, except that I require beer, not batteries! ;D

Dang you guys... I see an Esplaty 67 in my future!

You can't commission a custom rod cheaper than the retail price... in fact, it's usually 20%-40%MORE expensive. Unless of course, you steal the blank and supply it to the builder. ;D but to answer your other question, the pros of a custom are that you have exactly what you want from an ergonomically fitted (to your hand) grip, any size shape material grip and handle length/configuration. The rod can be balanced to your specs, you pick (with guidance) the guides and components. Your colors, wrap designs, and any inscription or other "decorative" extras you might desire.

It would also make a fantastic close quarters spinnerbait and buzzbait rod. And a short rod like that with a delicate tip make a kick butt dock pitching rod

I am thankful that I have to mail order this stuff... I'd be broke if I had a local dealer. ;D

Don't use the demo service! It's how we hook each other up in the flea market. If we didn't make any buying mistakes, our BR brethren wouldn't get to capitalize on all the good deals of like new reels! ;D

Muddy, I'm an Owner guy and have those 7/0 hooks... they are big and are a very heavy wire. Might be more hook than you want for a regular thickness 10" worm.

Oh geez, Mike, he'll have to switch over to circle hooks if that's the case!! ;D ;D

Matt, I don't disagree with you, I was only pointing out that many of the SAL's do get released... just not until after they have spawned in captivity. And obviously, it hasn't produced any 20 lb fish yet, but then again, we didn't catch any 20's in the pre-SAL years either. To get a few giant fish, the statistics say we need a great many "big" fish... the SAL program is certainly helping us move that direction. For any flaws the program has, it's a lot better than no program, IMO.

I don't doubt that some bass that TPWD accepts die... but to assume there is no immediate or delayed mortality amongst CA bass released would be crazy. None of us can say with certainty what the percentages are, but I think that the sharelunker program has good success... or else the program would have a black eye.

I don't know what the current trend is but the majority of them used to get released back to the lake they came from.

I used a new distributor last week and wanted to report on them.... The American Legacy Fishing Co., LLC. which is billed as a "G.Loomis superstore." They stock everything, ship same day and are priced right. (although I only priced blanks) . (they also sell all the rods as well as Shimano stuff and more. They will definitely be my new supplier of Loomis blanks. Well packed, shipped fast and just a good all around experience. The site takes a little getting used to but that's minor. http://www.gloomis.us/

Dom, I know you love rapalas and such but this would be a good reason to become a more regular soft plastics guy... trade the spinnerbaits and crankbaits for a t-rig and c-rig & you'll be casting about 1/4th as much. I'm sure I over simplified it but after my shoulder surgery, I was plastics only for almost 6 months. It was my only option to be on the water at that time, without constant pain. The big other help for me then was casting 2 handed. To this day I rarely cast 1 handed. But I also don't have any short handled rods.

That's pretty sorry, no matter who does it or why. :-/

What makes no sense or at the very least is mud in CA's eye is that a DFG person needs to be at the weigh in... As long as there are witnesses, and the scale is current in its certification, what's the rub? Having to wait for hours on end seemingly cost them one world record already. I haven't seen a certified scale yet that weighs different with a DFG or TPWD employee present. The only time I've seen a discrepancy is when no witnesses are present. :

don't worry about your line on the pavement... but check your knot every few casts or else you'll send the plug flying without the line attached! When the ice melts, spend $7 and buy a new 300 yd spool of your favorite line and change it out. Fresh line is always nice and you should get a couple spools worth out of a 330 yd filler spool.

I think the IGFA would make a great government agency. :

Wow, that suggests a few things!

No harm at all, it would be the same as a winding check... just something to finish off the front of the seat. It's just like a micro sized foregrip.

Catt, I certainly didn't mean to compare Tx. and Ca. potential, only that there doesn't have to be a gradual rise in weights of biggest fish caught in any one location. I think the fact that cali jumped 3-4 pounds would suggest that Tx could jump 2 lbs. Oh and I wasn't suggesting that we would or even could break the world record, only wanted to suggest that there are probably fish here that are several pounds bigger than we have caught. TPWD shocked up a 19 at meridian state park last year (according to their park office) and it's not much more than a pond. The previous record there? I don't think they even have a sharelunker. Just food for thought.

I don't mind actual shipping charges, but BPS and a few other still use it as a profit center. I think it costs them far more than it makes them in the long run. I spend a couple thousand dollars per year on fishing/hunting and marine related purchases... and now I only shop at BPS when I receive a gift card for b-day or Christmas. Also, BPS prices are no longer so great. Gone are the days of separate "catalog" and retail prices... I pay retail at my local stores... I don't need BPS for that. :

I agree, any so called "victory" over the bait monkey should be considered temporary. ;D