flechero

Maybe I'll skip date night and go fishing tonight... wonder if the good luck would carry into the "she'll forgive me if I fish tonight" side of things!?!?!?

We can't see your cart w/o your user and password (don't you dare!) but you can copy and paste it to a post if you want some specific ideas or comments. when you buy a blank, you can tell them how far down you want the seat to fit and they will test it and send you the closest size.

Yup, I think you and LBH really do fish well together! ;D I'm with you on that one!

mine say made in Korea, but Engineered in Sweeden. ...lol

If you like the reels, don't worry too much about it. Probably only a question of longevity... but you have switched out your reels in the past 2 years so unless you plan to use these "long term" I doubt you'll have a problem. And if you happen to wear one out, send it in for repair, or replace it. Chance are good that you'll upgrade or replace it before you wear it out. I don't worry about plastic/graphite/nylon parts very much (flexing, torqueing, breaking) since you rarely apply more than 5 lbs (if that) of pressure before you lose drag. I'm sure there are some exceptions though.

And by the way, Welcome to the furum!!

I'm assuming you started with the sticky thread above, "Newbies with rod building questions." If you plan to make one you'll never use... you won't build it worth a darn. Plan to make a rod you will use and it will turn out much better. Most people can make a well-functioning rod with some cosmetic flaws the first time. I started wrapping with a cardboard box cut out for a wrapper and a book for a tread tensioner. I have also hand turned for drying finish. You can get started for virtually free if you want to spend a little extra time in the build. Most of the tools are time savers, not critical to execution. You can build them cheaper if you don't count your time as labor... but you just can't build cheap rods cheaper, since even the blanks usually cost something and shipping kills the single blank costs. I usually end up building a much nicer rod at the same cost and "don't count labor" on my own rods. I think having the grip size, shape, length and spiral wrap as I want, easily justifies my time. I have salvaged guides, seats and sometimes grips. Grips are "hit or miss" when removing. Good luck and have fun! (because you won't save money!)

Thanks for the compliments! I bought this blank about 2 years ago so the details are a little rusty. If memory serves me correctly, it's a BB968, made by All Star but I can't recal if it was their's or a private label blank. I remember what I paid for it (Andy's wholesale price) and thinking "someday I'll need that" so I better get it. Ronnie/Wayne- I wish I had been there to see it, I bet it was a laugh! Oh yeah, this on is spiral wrapped also. Red- hold a mirror to your screen and it will start to look right. ;D

Buzzbait: 1/2 oz Lunker Lure, blk & wht skirt What? You said one!

Some of you guys might recognize the handle on this one... I finally got around to putting finish on my one piece, 8' XH rod. (for swimbaits, matted grass and other heavy applications) Blank rated 2-8 oz but the tip is fairly light (relatively speaking) and casts pretty well with anything over 1/2 oz. It's black on black so wrap pics would be boring. ...lol To tell you how long I have been sitting on this rod, the reel seat was glued on before fuji offered ECSM seats over a size 15. : To complete the set up (and permanently retire an old Abu) I bought this rod a new Revo Winch.

Lots of people seem to be asking this kind of question lately. (of many brands) Simply take it to your local rod repair guy or call the local shop and ask who is doing repairs locally. The replacement guide and labor will almost always cost less than the insured, return shipping if you warranty it. And usually quicker to boot. Besides, if you fished it for 3 months, it's statistically unlikely that the "breakage" is actually a defect. about a $15-$20 repair, in most cases.

I'm with fishfordollars, no debt except the mortgage = a happy fisherman. Owning and operating a boat wasn't really cheap, even when gas was. I'm helping a friend find a boat and I'm finding screaming deals on glass boats all over the place and finding VERY few Trackers and other aluminum boats on the market. Kind of a market 180 from a couple years ago. I'm sure the fuel costs figure highly into this.

Didn't the first post say fiance? There are two things in life that DO NOT EVER fix existing problems- getting married and having a baby. Unless you just forgot and she really was kidding around, that looks like it could be a big warning signal of fights to come... I would fix it now so it doesn't become an issue throughout your marriage. Set some ground rules and get on the same page now and you'll be much happier later. On a separate note, we each get "fun money" (allowance) on payday to be spent on whatever or saved as desired. I opened a checking account with mine and now use a debit card for all my hunting, fishing and "other" discretionary purchases, without worry of "our" checkbook. It won't solve your problems but it might alleviate some of the arguments over fishing gear and whatever her "fishing gear" would be.

Awesome!! You and the Mrs. are top notch. One day these boys will be telling their own kids the story of how they consider "Uncle Red" to be their father...

fly fishing- daily for a week or two before each big saltwater trip (depending on how rusty I am) Try to flyfish every few weeks throught the year so I don't get too rusty though. baitcasting- nothing but "on the job training" for 25 years.

Simple solution- fish more soft plastics... "fishing elbow" is a crank and spinnerbait induced condition!

For super flukes, I use BC only. I don't think of super flukes as light (they weight almost as much as full size senkos) and usually fish them on a MBR844 with #14 XT and a 2/0 Owner 5201 style. This set up has remained constant for over 10 years. (except I'll use a 3/0 to fish it deeper sometimes) Way back when... I used BC for sluggos also.

I don't think it's poaching until you catch them trolling with that outboard. FWIW, I think a HP restriction is silly. An idle speed only or no wake restriction is fine but to not allow a bass boat on a trophy managed bass lake is, well silly. :-/

For starters it is against the law. (in some states) http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/fish/general_rules/ In other words, if you hold (livewell) a fish and it dies in your possession, you can be fined for not cleaning and keeping it.

Just about the time you get to start paying for a new baby...... Tight Lines!!! ;D Well played!! I do have a little fund set aside for toys... I sold a few rods and reels over the summer so I have some reel money already ear marked!

To confuse things further, different companies sizes are different. for example, a 2/0 Owner is different than a 2/0 Gamakatsu of the same/similar shape. I know that doesn't help you but the best thing is to go buy a pack or two in a couple sizes and by the time you need more, you'll know which you prefer. I use Owners in the 5102 style. I use 2/0 and 3/0 for most of my t-rigs...

Wouldn't it be the opposite, since they have less surface resistance but the cup of the blade actually gets it to spin... I'd think they would actually start spinning earlier or run even slower. (not enough to feel, though) :-?

You should have called it in to a DNR officer. In many states, that's a ticketable offense.

"Smaller than a 100, line capacity of a 200" "7.6 oz." My only 2 complaints were addressed. I'll be buying... I'm sure it has been mentioned, but does anyone know the release date?

Glad to see that the BR shirt wasn't too stained up from being a truck wash/wax rag... you came back just in time. I guess it took you 2 weeks to find it?