.ghoti.

I have original and craw scents. I've seen no difference, in use, between the two.

I have reels with swept handles and reels with straight handles. There is no detectable performance difference between them. Ditto for carbon fiber vs standard materials. There can be a measurable weight difference between carbon fiber and metal handles, but it is virtually undetectable in use. The difference between a handle with four bearings vs one without bearings is very noticable. This is the only reason I see for spending my hard earned cash on a different handle for any reel.

4/0 Owner Rig-N hook. Same gap as a 4/0 EWG, but a shorter hook. Puts the hook point at the top of the bulge instead of behind. Much better hook-up ratio.

You ask for opinions. I'll give you one. The worst time to use braid is when you are fishing.

Excellent!! Pay attention to the docs, and don't cuss the therapists too much. I know you're gonna want to.

I better stop, before this goes jelly-side down.

I like it best outside, but sometimes you just gotta take it inside

back in the amateur radio days, when i was a kid, we did a little sideband.

or when I'm gettin a little on the side. Oh wait, I don't do that anymore.

except when I get sideways

I'm from the UPSIDE!!!

Here is the answer to all your questions; including the ones you didn't ask. http://rodbuilding.org/list.php?2

I have done that, I be ashamed to admit, but not this time. I trimmed this rod on purpose. LOL!

I use a 7.1:1 Zillion for deep cranks. But then I am not what you would call a dainty guy.

I have four Alphas; two spooled with ten, one with eight and one with six. I just sold the rod I paired with the six, so I will probably respool that one with eight.

The handle was way too long. I cut it down until it felt better and made a plug to cap it off.

Jeff I use a Dobyns Champion 7'6" H-F, trimmed down to 7'2", for deep cranks, and it works just fine. A high speed Zillion, spooled with 12lb mono, drag set a little looser than normal, also does nicely. I also use this setup for frogs and buzzbaits.

This is a great way to start an argument, so I won't even tell you how I do it.

PB & J

A little rain is joy going to hurt them. Heck, they get wet cranking in wet line. On the other hand, if my reels are out in a downpour, they get a complete tear down, clean and lube before they get used again. Ditto, if they get a bath in the lake. Leaving your prized rods and reels in a truck bed is not a good idea. Been there, done that, paid the price.

I bought a spool of four pound test to use on a trout trip. The camo coating kept peeling off. That was on day one. At the end of day one, it went in the trash.

If they would only get rid of that stupid, uncomfortable aluminum nut, those would be some very fine rods. I had two Veritas rods, one spinning and one casting. I sold them both because of that nut.

Oh yeah, but have you tried the double black? It's even better.

go here to find a rodbuilder in your area. http://www.tackleworks.org/

More importantly, the drag power should never exceed the limit of the rod. A very well respected rod builder has posted this comment, more than once: I would never expect a graphite bass rod to be able to lift it's rated strength, and I would never trust a salt water rod that would not.