ejtaylor822

Lot of plastics and jigs and the occasional spinner - all very, very slow.

Congrats! Wishing you continued luck with the surgery and interview.

I've had Senheisers because everyone said they were the best and were used in a lot of studios I have been in. Got me a pair - with the exended warranty from Circuit City - and a year later they stopped working. Went back and got another pair. Another year or so later and one side stopped working as well. Could not get repaired or replaced so just another pair - two years later they died as well. Done with Senheisers. I got the upper end Sony's and they were nice but just felt like I was missing something. Went to the Panasonic which I liked better than the Sony and were less expensive. After a while though the tone just started sounding dead/weak to me. Bit the bullet and bought the Bose headphones about three years ago. I have since stopped looking at other headphones and will replace with another pair if they ever stop working. Eddie

Frog, thanks and same back to you and yours. Eddie

So I guess "brain food" is not good for you after all - at least not your heart. ;D

If you build rods and do not have one of these, have someone slip this into your stocking for Christmas. http://www.mudhole.com/Shop-Our-Catalog/Other/Guide-Grinder-Holder I prep most guide feet on my bench grinder with the exception of smaller guides and for those I use a grinding stone on the dremel. I gave up on fly guides. Like to have my feet rounded over and coming to a point - notice I said, like to have. I struggle getting this look. I know it's just a perfection thing as all that is needed is just a good ramp for the thread to come up, but, I try to get that nice rounded over point. To do this I usually wind up taking the guide foot and just gently touching into the side of the wheel as I try to rotate it to get the rounded surface. This takes forever and does not always get the results I want - workable - but not the look I would like to have. Also, on the smaller guides I get the top of fingers and fingernails scraped up by the way I hold the guides. Ordered one of these grinders and gave it a shot tonight. Took a little while to get use too but once there it is great! Hold/steady the thin barrel part in my left hand and rotate with my right while moving across the wheel. Couple of passes and I have the look I have been wanting - rounded foot coming to a point. I love this thing! This is a great tool! Eddie

Hey, Sep, official welcome! Didn't realize in our IM's you were new to the forum. Welcome again, you will love it here. Love the article you wrote. I agree, "the whole process is what makes fishing the joy that it is". I enjoy the preparation, getting there and fishing. Only part I don't like is having to stop. Eddie

I got the BC due to overhanging limbs and close in areas. I mainly fish from the shore and don't have the room for the back cast and just can't reach everything on a roll cast. Off topic - sorry - but flying for Reds is fun!!!!!!!!!!! Haven't done too well in the surf but back bay and in-shore is a rush when they hit a fly.

Rapala - X-Raps (preferred) and Husky jerks. Also picked up a bunch of Yozuri's at Dicks on sale that are pretty nice as well.

I was looking into this a while back for our pond and there is some really good information on the net. You can google pond stocking, pond management, etc. and get some good information. What Omaha has suggested is striaght on and I believe there are some links off of pondboss to some fish farms. A local fish farmer is going to be your best option to help you stocking this for your area.

Bassin' on a fly is how I got back into fishing 5 years ago. That first top water hit - and I was HOOKED! I fly fished exclusively for bass for about two years. It wasn't until I realized that there were areas I couldn't get to with a fly that I got my first baitcaster. Nothing like early morning throwing a fly when all you here is the line whipping through the air. Eddie

Of late its been some home made choco chip and oatmeal cookies my wife made along with a tall glass of milk. But, usually Pop-Tarts if we have, it not, a spoon ful of crunchy peanut butter.

Thanks, Glenn. Appreciate all you do for us to have this great site.

Very cool. Yes, Clapton is one of the greats. Thanks for sharing.

Hey, I've thinking about rollers as well. I found something that might work in Lowe's. THe plastic wheels used in sliding closet doors, sliding patio doors and bathtub enclusre doors. They are 3/4" to 1 1/2" dia. Slide a tight rubber band over them, or other (inner tube, plastic tubing, etc.) and will have a nice surface. Now having said that, for me, I would only use the rollers for turning/finishin for a lathe setup. When wrapping guides I would not want to have rod turning that easy. A little tension is good for the wraps and they won't unwind if you take your hand away. But, that's just me..... Eddie

Wow. Great painting!

Very nice. The paint jobs look great.

Those look good. Some folks are going to get some good gifts this Christmas.

Didn't think anything about it. Had a lot of folks that don't understand how the belt sander is used. Never thought of combining the two. You might be on to something here...... Just go slow. Also, you can get good quality cork grips and not have to worry about glue ups, turning, etc. Just ream and stick on. Mudhole has them on sale right now. Anyway, good luck. Eddie

FishingBuds, thanks. When I put my cork rings together, actually, I am looking for the epoxy/glue to squeeze out. Want to make sure that there is a solid joint/mate between the surfaces so I put it on thick - probably too thick - and make sure it has squeezed out all along the entire perimeter. If you look at the picture of the drill you will see a butt and aft grip I am making for another rod. All that mess on the outside is glue. I use TiteBond III - waterproof, not water "resistant" (Titebond II) but water proof - for all my grips now. I use to use epoxy but after doing some research have recently switched over to the Titebond III. I say let it squeeze out! I use the belt sander because that is all I have. All of my grips have been shaped on one or both of these. Of last half dozen or so rods all have been done on the belt sander including the one in the picture. I started using the belt sander, and made it, to accommodate some longer EVA grips I had with some surf rods I was building this past summer (pics below - couldn't help myself I love these rods). Would absolutely love to have a lathe, but, have gotten so use to the sander not sure that I wouldn't continue using it. It's just a standard "run of the mill" Craftsman 21" belt sander I got at Sears years ago. Just built a jig to mount it on - actually, took a piece of scrap shelving board, drilled (4) holes for the cinch ties and chiseled out a small area under the front so it would lie level on the board - that is all. The trick is in how the blank is held and turning it smoothly. Its taken practice, patience and going slow while it is being shaped. I turn down my grips by standing with my left side towards the sander and with the blank in front of me held in both hands; arms bent so that the blank is almost level on the sander. I turn real fast with my fingers while (attempt to) keeping my arms and hands perfectly still. It's really not that hard, not sure about ice sculpting, but think anyone can do this. Honestly - just takes patience and going slow. For me its all about working with what I have. Eddie

Hey, J. Francho, hope I am not being overly presumptuous here. Assume your were asking about the rod above. I haven't built it for any particular technique. This is a Castaway blank rated at light power, fast action and lure wts from 1/4 oz to 5/8. However, it feels to me like it is probably right on the border of being moderate to light action. It's got a lot of backbone for a "light" rod. The action is fairly fast but does have a pretty good curve when flexed so its not overly fast. I would put it at the lower end closer to a mod-fast action. I believe this rod would make a decent light worm rod - tricks and split shot applications. I use Fuji Alconite spinning and fly guides so it is very, very light and sensitive. Think it would make a real good light slash/jerk and light swim baits along with light cranks and top waters. In other words, think it is just a really good all around spinning rod ; it's not going to excel at any one particular application but will do well in several applications in fairly open water/patterns. Have built maybe half a dozen on this blank and the folks I have built for, along with myself, love this blank - and a $15 a blank can't be beat!!!! I have built these as all split grips but wanted to do something with a more traditional look - why I have the long grip. But, I love the feel of the spit and why I gave it the thin/hourglass shape above the butt. Eddie

This is the latest handle I have done. The dark rings are burl and the rest are natural cork. Going to use honey oak wood filler on the natural to fill in the gaps, fine sand and then seal the whole thing. Here is a shot showing the foregrip with the "finger notch" - made by shaping over the front roller.

Sorry didn't get these up last night. But here are my "lathes". After I glue up the cork rings will place on some straight stainless 1/4" bolts and shape. However, of late I have just been glueing up the rings, reaming and attaching to the blank where I turn down on the belt sander. The belt sander has been working real well for me. Its taken some practice but starting to work for me. Works well with EVA as well.

Looking good. Yes, by all means listen to Flechero. He's been doing this a lot longer than I have. Just wanted to share as I have had some of the same issues. Keep it going. Eddie

My wife and I took our 4 year old to see the Nutcracker yesterday. She loves music and has started taking Ballet in the last few months as she loves to dance. The production was very good - dancing was good (some of the performers outstanding) and the orchestra did really well with that challenging score. Overall was very, very well done for a local theater production - or any production for that matter. She did great during the show. Was very attentive and really seemed to be enjoying the show. Especially with the elaborate coloful costumes and dancing. As we are driving home I ask my daughter what her favorite part was? Her answer: the chocolate covered pretzel with rainbow sprinkles she got after the performance. : At least she's honest.