.ghoti.

A work in progress, but I'm almost there.

Mobile? Uh, my kayak.

Scoot is on the money. The right tool for the job. When I said I only use small guides, I should have added that I do NOT use braid, and don't have to think about what size knot has to pass my guides. I don't use anything heavier than 14lb mono. But, even with braid taken into the equation, I see no need for a guide larger than 6mm on a casting rod. That will be larger than the "first" line guide; the one on the front of your reel.

A Jay, allow me to attempt to convince you. I have two Setyr rods. I bought the first at a local tackle shop, and really liked it, so I got several more in different lengths, actions and powers. The one I'll talk about is a 7' medium power, fast action, split grip, no foregrip design with small Recoil guides. This is one of my favorite rods. One popped up in the flea market a couple of years ago, and I bought it, thinking it would be nice to have another favorite rod. The second rod had was almost identical to the first; the difference being the guide set. This one has "normal" sized Alps guides. Nothing wrong with that. They are fine guides. Never had one crack, break, pop a ring or bend. They are heavier than Recoils, by quite a bit. Bottom line is, the first rod is one of my favorites, and the second has been sitting, unused, in my rod rack for almost as long as I've had it. I have several other rods I like better. There is a very noticeable difference. I emailed Setyr about it, asking if these were two different blanks. They are not. I initially thought, well, I just got a dud. A rod builder friend of mine corrected that initial thought. The difference is the weight delta between the large "regular' guides and the small Recoils. Without that experience, I too would have a hard time believing there would be such a noticeable difference. I can also say that all the rods I"ve built for myself have small guides; SICs, Alconites and Recoils.

Just paid $2.89. My butt hurts.

I've had one of those since right after they hit the market. I've used it for cranks, small spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, finesse jigs and light weight plastics. I personally think the mod-fast action is the most versatile. The idea that you need an extra-fast action rod for plastics and jigs is marketing propaganda. There's a reason a lot of the high end Japanese stick are mod-fast, or what they call regular action. I use this rod for finesse plastics a lot more than anything else.

And you shall now and forever be known as SCOOT.

Scott, the first time you posted a pic of one of those Rod Geeks green blanks, I said to myself, self, that is one fugly blank. Well, dip me in sewage and shoot me for stinkin if I wasn't wrong. That blank, wrapped like that, with such an incredible handle is beautiful. If it were mine I couldn't fish with it. I'd have to frame it and hang it on the wall.

Paid $2.69 today.

If you bought one of those, and haven't used it, return it. It is a disaster that's found a place to happen. Get an infrared heat lamp. More effective, easy to use and control, and no open flame. I use an extension cord with a built in switch, and three plug head. Plug in a lamp socket and screw in the infrared lamp. On the opposite side of the outlet I have an led night light. It's there to indicated the lamp is on. Ignoring everything I know about wave propagation and the inverse square law, I bought a 150 watt lamp. I have to be careful with it. When it burns out I'll probably get a 60 watt.

I just paid $2.13.

The Supremes have magnesium alloy frames, not aluminum.

I have a rod with Winn grips turning on the dryer right now. Haven't fished with it, but have done some yard casting. Initial impression; Winn grips are the real thing.

Uh, lutefisk, tofu, creamed spinach, chitlins, haggis, fish eggs, etc

We had a "thing" going on here, a few years ago when a bunch of us old farts called some the the young dudes "The Pampers Crowd". They called us the Depends group. I like the Old Codgers Club much better.

Haven't had my hands on the Okuma, but I have a Supreme and two Supreme XTs. I consider the Supremes to be the best bang for the buck among spinning reels.

Nicely done, Sam. And, just for your information, all parts of the pancake are edible, except, of course, the pan.Pancake balls are another name for aebleskivers, which Steve mentioned in an earlier post. If you haven't had some, you need to do so. They're a heck of lot better than scrapple.

Love me some pancake balls. Haven't had any for a long, long time. Gonna have to look up a recipe now that you've roused that hunger.

If you like your cornmeal mixed with pork and grease, then scrapple is something you may like. I don't. Instant anything is for people who don't know how to cook.

I have that rod and I would not use it to throw a bait like that.

Getting older beats the alternative, but it ain't for sissies.

Guess I'll buck the trend. I'm an old fart, and I don't care. Cork is good, Eva is good, carbon tube is good. They're all good if well done, and fit my hands. Split grip or full length are both ok with me. If the thing is comfortable in my hands, I'll use it. One of my all time favorite rods has no cork, no Eva, no carbon, no kind of grip at all. Just a fuji plate type reel seat wrapped directly to the blank. Smooth comfortable, hand filling, and very, very sensitive.

Dang, Lee, you're getting good at this.

The inherent lunacy of fishermen believing in a magic bait is what makes them get a ridiculous price. Nothing makes them worth it.

Why would you want red hooks? Red disappears under water, right?