EvanT123

I don't fish in many different places as much as I would like but you never know what the river will give up. My favorite fish to catch....

I don't have hundreds of dollars to try every rod or reel out there. I've owned all the major brands and I would say the difference among them is marginal at best. I like shimano for the resale value. I have a bunch and if it ever came to it I know I could get a reasonable return on my investment if I needed some quick cash. On the forums you see shimNos that might be a little beat up still go for a price close to new. It's very rare too see one go for half the original cost and when it does it's gone in 2 minutes. The shimano reels I have purchased all seem to work well for me. Smoothness is hard to quantify for me so not something I worry about unless there is a noticeable grinding. I will say though my calcutta conquest is smoooooth. I don't really clean my reels and have had some break and DVT fixed them for me. I think it's funny that people expect absolute perfection and ultimate longevity from a reel. It's a tool/product like anything else. tThere will be defects and design flaws. I've had and seen many models of cars break, washers/dryers, tv/electronics and everything else. Maybe there are forums with people whining about the quality of various products but I don't know. Call me a fanboy but I get stuck in my ways. Shoot I have eaten the same thing for lunch for the past 2 years. My hard earned bucks are spent on things I know what to expect from.

Bill man....on the rare occasion I get fast food, I always give my dog the last fry. It's my way of saying I got you bro. Leave that junk alone though. These days the price you pay for fast food you could go to the supermarket and get some decent food for the same price. Those topwaters look good too!

Weightless fluke or 3.5 inch tube 1/8-1/4oz

Your description of the problem is very detailed...except one major one. What is the oval thing?

Thanks guys, I'll check out some heat guns.

Since we know what it costs you, I guess it depends what your time is worth? I don't know much about jig pouring but let's say it takes you an hour to make 100. $45 in materials if you charged 60 cents a jig (about 30% of 45) that's around $15 an hour. So if my Math confused you I would try and figure my production and cost per hour and factor in an acceptable percentage of profit. Plus you initial investment spread over time.

Anyone use this stuff? Just got some and I like it. Just wondering what you guys use as a heat source? I've been using a candle and it's good but also a little inconsistent. That could be me though too...it also is a little time consuming. I was think a butane torch? Looking for any advice. Thanks.

Does your guy service the mag sealed daiwas?

Here ya go!

Batson is the parent company. Rainshadow is one of their lines. I don't know if they still make the rainshadows as they recently introduced a few new lines of blanks. Anyone can purchase their blanks and build it themselves or have someone built it for them.

O'rings like people have said, though sometimes the senko flys off the hook during the fight. T rigging, after a fish or two I take a little off the top and re-rig. Do you have rock bass in your waters? They like to dwindle my senkos. Dang things.

Hundred dollar bills are a great tool in negotiating a price.

Maybe I have too many jerkbaits but I don't throw them all on the same rod. There is a big difference between an xrap06 and a pointer 100. What ever rod I use it's not a broom stick.

Part of the game....in the sport of kings.

Some recent goodies.

Backpack with 3-4 clear boxes in it. Boat has a gun box which holds my 3 plastic shoes boxes full of plastics (flukes/minnows/grubs, tubes/craws and worms/senkos) and a topwater, spinner/buzz bait, crankbait, and jerkbait box.

True enough, sometimes it's hard to tell on the mobile version because the avitars are so small. Op it sounds like your trying to figure out what to buy. As stated before you would probably not be disappointed with any of those choices.

You have the reels. Why not rank them for us?

That would probably be a good business strategy. I had a washing machine repair man the other day tell me there are 8-9 brands of washer that are basically the same and interchange parts. The brand you buy probably depends on the store you shop at. I just finished the series the men who built america and I would say the consolidation of industry is not a new phenomenon.

Look at the first guide on the rod. Ideally you want that first guide to be 1/2 the diameter of your reels spool or your spool diameter to be twice the size of the first guide.

I workout and buy fishing tackle that I will never use lol. I think I have gotten better at purchasing things I know I will put to good use though. I have a few rods to build and have taken up reading books on American history.

I feel the same way. With the river 5 minutes away either on the bank or boat, it's hard for me to go somewhere else. I know tough problem lol.

I'm looking to purchase some bulk cork rings. Maybe 30-50 rings depending on the price. I used to buy off flea bay but it looks like the seller I was buying from doesn't have a lot of mid range rings. I'm not looking for top of the line but not ratty cork either. I would prefer natural cork. The burl is a real pain for me on my lathe. Feel free to pm me if you don't want to post on the board. Thanks and happy thanksgiving.

If anyone wants to unload their stradic with out a box pm me.