Nine Miler

I like my Costas and my Oakleys.

The spine is irrelevant. It does not have an impact on the fishability of the rod. Please read this. These people are authorities on the matter. SAYS WHO ?????????? Physics. If you fished only on a single plane, it may have some effect. We know we don't fish on a single plane, so it doesn't matter. If you don't believe physics, believe Tom Kirkman, Rich Forhan, and other pioneers in rodbuilding. Go to rodbuilding.org and see what the rodbuilding community has to say about spine. Now on to straight blanks. Of course a straight one is optimal, but if you sent back all the crooked ones, you'd have none left to build on. A gradual and small bend will not affect performance. A crook, or sudden departure from straight, will. Please read this, these people are authorities on the subject. http://rodbuilding.org/read.php?2,344296,page=1

NICE TROUT!

The spine is irrelevant. It does not have an impact on the fishability of the rod.

I played professionally for a short period. Made it through Q-school for the Canadian Tour in 2006 with 284 for the four days. I was out of college and playing well, and thought I was really something. Long story short, I didn't make a cut all year, but had an awesome time. Traveled and played events from Victoria, BC to Montreal and everywhere in between. Met some awesome people as most of the time, members of the club where the tournament was held would put you up in their home for a week. If I had it to do over again, I would have done a few things different. Life happened and I never gave the tour another shot, but I think I am playing better now than I ever did back then.

May I recommend sticking to cotton or cotton blend? Unless of course you are holding some sort of country-disco concert, in which case the flashabou might work as fringe lining your sleeves and shoulder reinforcements. Seriously though, your jig looked well done. I use bucktail in the cold for smallies, but haven't tried the rabbit. Maybe I should give it a whirl.

Simp, its hard to tell if it is your fault without a description of the events and an exam of the break. Sometimes large companies will cover your mistakes to avoid bad press on sites like this.

I disagree. If you exercise proper technique, you shouldn't break rods fishing. Not on a bass, anyway- even with braid. We do all kind of crazy stuff to rods, then bash the companies because they don't give us a warranty replacement. When the company does give us a warranty replacement for our own carelessness, we gripe and say the rods are too expensive. Go figure.

The vast, vast, vast majority of rod breakage (this well-known builder says 98%) is due to some abuse or improper handling by the angler. http://www.rodbuilding.org/library/rodusage.pdf Read this article and be careful how you store and transport your rods and it is unlikely you will ever break a rod, whether is a Wally-world unbreakable or a GLX. Yes, generally speaking- lighter, more sensitive rods made of high-modulus materials are more prone to breaking due to the nature of the material from which they are constructed.

The word you are looking for is "cavitation."

It's still dumb. You could have hit her. A man would have walked away. If I was there and saw that happen, I wouldn't have been on your side of that argument.

Maybe the palm tree does, but surely that species of bench doesn't.

Odd spot to put a bench, and a palm tree. Water level a little high?

I do it too. I have to carry spiders outside to let them go, my wife on the other hand, can't get to the shoe fast enough to lay some death on 'em. I try to talk her out of it every time.

X2, I think.

I think you were both idiotic. Another display by a couple of geniuses. Do you guys really think it is worth it? Why not elevate yourselves? Lets think of the possible scenarios from your actions... Guy 1: Hit the person with the spook in the eye, permanently damage her. You celebrate because she won't drive past you again. Celebration ends when you get the medical bills and the guilt. Guy 2: We'll, it probably will not help to outline the repercussions that could have happened here. I am sure it won't make any difference for you. All of you acted like juveniles, in my opinion.

Hard not to love Count Chocula. The rest of the year, try Cocoa Pebbles, Cocoa Krispies and Cocoa Puffs. Coo coo for Cocoa Puffs.

Epic.

Here is more info than you can read on the topic from the pros. I searched "Micro Guides" to make it easy on you, but I recommend reading all of the topics as I am sure you will have a much better understanding of the performance improvements available to you if you take every aspect of your custom build into consideration. http://rodbuilding.org/search.php?2,search=Micro+,author=,page=1,match_type=ALL,match_dates=0,match_forum=ALL,match_threads= The basic idea is that guide sizing depends on what is required to pass any line size, leader knots, etc that you intend to pass through them, and no larger is necessary. Remember, the first guide is the level-wind guide on your reel. Pretty small isn't it? A lot of the builders are trending toward using fewer and fewer guide sizes. Spirals also seem to be recommended mostly for tip-up type retrieves where the line wants to move below the blank. Examples are bottom baits, like jigs, C-rigs, worms, etc. If you have a good builder, they should be talking to you about your intended use of the rod, what lines, lures, etc. you will be using and provide a recommendation based on your needs. Titanium is light, corrosion resistant and expensive. It may be over-kill, but based on your budget maybe not. I would defer to the builder for recommendation on the best value. Generally, the harder the ring insert, the better. The builder will know which guides have typically worked the best for them for the price. I am sure they have done lots of experimenting. Don't get stuck on Fuji components, there are lots of others that are quality as well, like Batson, American Tackle, Pac Bay (their Minima line is popular) etc.

I'd hate to see you guys in a Japanese hotel.

I have an '06 Commander with the 5.7L Hemi...the one pictured is not mine, but its the same. I really like it for towing my 900lbsish rig. It is also very nice for everyday driving. Mileage is like any others, maybe 14-18 while towing depending how you drive, but it definitely has all the creature comforts.

Yep, right on.

Brickell is on the mainland, but very near the Rickenbacher Cswy to Key Biscayne. Tomorrow is rough for me guys as I am playing in a Barry University alumni golf tournament in benefit of the mens golf team. I am pretty much wrapped up tomorrow.

No tackle with me. It just wasn't feasible to bring it. (all on piece rods) I had to bring golf clubs, 5 week old baby, his stuff, wife etc. It was a mess as it was. I think checked luggage ran us almost $150.

Well guys, I am all settled in. We are staying with my in-laws in Brickell. Anybody else off of work tomorrow? Let's go fishin'