.ghoti.

I have the 5S70MLFG 7' ML-F, lure rating down to 1/8oz. I'll probably trim two or three inches off the butt to get what I want. St Croix has the most comprehensive line of blanks for freshwater fishing. I don't think you can go wrong with an SCIV or SCV blank.

I have a K2 and an SCV blank, both still in tubes, standing up in the corner, waiting for some spare time. The SCV is a spinning blank, to built as a bait finesse casting rod for a new SS SV that's on the way. The K2 has a custom painted, tuned up TD-Z waiting in the wings. This one's gonna be my new tube rod. An NFC HM blank will probably be next. Haven't decided which one I want to try first. Probably the 705

the diamond pattern looks a lot like a Cordell Spot

If you can find one, the Diawa TD-X 6'10" ML-F drop shot model is top shelf. They've been out of production for a couple of years. Good luck finding one. They made a casting version as well, and I've been looking for one of those for quite a while.

Little Creeper Trash Fish

Fishing is a blood sport. You're gonna kill one every now and then. Just accept the fact, and keep fishing.

18 Daiwa baitcasters (but only 16 rods) 7 spinning combos 2 long UL crappie rods 3wt, 4wt, 5wt, 6wt and 8wt flyrods They are all favorites, at one time or another, or I wouldn't still have them. sold all of my muskie gear Oh, and one Alvey rod and reel. I still have that monster because it's so much fun to watch a super spook fly 150 yards.

Felixone, your rough calculation was off because the IPT changes as the spool empties. IPT(inches per turn) is the gear ratio times the circumference of the spool. Less line on the spool equals a smaller circumference. The best way to determine capacity for added braid over a mono backing is to fill the spool with mono, make as long a cast as you can with the heaviest bait you're going to use on that combo. Then peel off another 20-30 yards, and cut the line there. Tie on your braid and fill the spool from that point.

Hey Joe, if you like the Sol, try an Alphas sometime. That's the JDM version of the Sol. Lighter and sweeter. They show up used occasionally. I just picked up another one from the flea market.

Don't use braid, but for backing to main line knot i use 3 and 3. I want the smallest knot possible in the middle of the spool.

That's something you don't see every day.

Thanks Sam. Need a chuckle today.

Discretion being the better part of valor, I think I'll just let that sit there and simmer for a bit.

I won't kiss anything that starts with a b

I like the cuttail with a 1/16oz weight sometimes, but I almost always start with 1/8oz. Great minds think alike, eh?

Rage Lobster GYCB 6.5" cuttail worm I'll have those two rigged and ready at all times.

You need a flat screwdriver small enough to fit in the gap you see in the clip. Insert, and then twist the screwdriver. Don't pry, twist. Working inside a large plastic bag is the exact right way to do this.

I think your hook is too small. I use a 4/0 or 5/0 EWG hook. The larger belly of the hook, by remaining under the body of the bait, acts as a keel. I use the 4/0 hook for slow lift and drop, and a 5/0 for faster, jerkbait type retrieves. As far as line problems with spinning gear, I'm going to be no help to you. I quit fishing a fluke on spinning tackle for that very reason.

Just a little food for thought: if you're getting a lot of line twist while fluke fishing, you either have it rigged crooked, the hook is too small or you're fishing it too fast.

I use a Dobyns Champion 7'6" HF that I trimmed down to 7'2". Took four inches off the but, not the tip. The rod is pretty much useless for anything else, and was even worse before I trimmed it, so it get used for big cranks.

David Fritts had something to do with the design of the reel with the old school ratchet & dog style anti-reverse. He prefers that for some reason. I do not remember why. It didn't make sense to me when i read it, so the info found no place to land and stick in my memory.

I've added a levelwind bearing to one each of my Alphas, Fuegos and Zillions. I can easily tell the difference. Every time I tear down one of those reels, I have an extra bearing to clean. Add the handle bearings. That is a nice little , easy improvement. There is no benefit to be gained adding levelwind bearings.

Made an order ahead of a recent trout fishing trip. I need a few items to restock my trout bag, and also ordered some Columbia SPF gloves.I received everything except the gloves. The package had a note stating the gloves would ship in a different package. The trip came and went, and no gloves. I forgot about them until Cabelas sent an email asking me to rate the gloves. I sent them a note back saying I had not received the gloves. They sent back a note saying the gloves had shipped and gave me tracking number. I tracked the shipment, and discovered the Post Office had delivered them the day after the first package arrived. I replied to Cabelas that I had not received them. I explained that the USPS had, in the past delivered some of my packages to neighbors, and vice versa. I have delivered a couple of neighbor's packages to them, and have had them do the same. I told Cabelas that either I now had neighbors who were not so neighborly, or that they had been stolen. Cabelas emailed back that they would credit my account for the gloves. I sent back that I did not feel they were required to pay for a USPS mistake, or for "un-neighborly" behavior. They replied that crediting my account was no problem for them, and that the gloves were out of stock, and they would notify me when the items were back in stock. Customer service does not get any better than this. Hat's off to Cabelas from a long-time, and now even more loyal, customer.

Did that one ****** bag drop a grenade? Hope i never fish with him.

I'll rig mine up with a little something from Victoria's Secret.