ejtaylor822

My bucktails are pretty simple - but seem to work. I use 1/4 to 1 oz round head jigs. Make solids in black, blue, green and yellow/chartreuse - none of the "odd" colors. For two tone I go over white or a gray. I use gold or silver tinsel for some flash. I like to use Maribou in same colors as well for longer "flowing" jigs. I tie them off in matching colors or red thread. I seal/glue the wraps in whatever is handy - devcon, super glue, flexcoat, head glue (fly tying), or clear nail polish <- preferred. I also use nail polish to "paint" the jig. Check out the nail polish at the dollar store. Works fine. As far as bass flies, what wt is your fly rod? That will have a lot to do with the flys you will make. Eddie

Keith, I think that looks nice! Bet you would be the only person that would ever notice. Eddie

Thanks, guys. Appreciate the feedback. I do like the aluminum winding checks. I just think they add a little extra, but subtle "bling", to the rod. I was leery of them at first due to rod flex and them not allowing the blank to deform under load. But, I oversize them and put an under-wrap of thread - at least one if not two layers - between them and the blank. As far as weight, I meant to weigh it before I delivered and forgot too. It was soooo light. I am not sure what the final weight was. But I was amazed, and others were as well that held it, how light it was. I used Burl cork that's a little heavier/denser than natural but did help with the balance. And of course the titanium guides are almost next to nothing. It was exceptionally light. When I first got the blank, it was almost like holding a Popsicle stick in your hand. Can't believe how light STC makes these SC5's - definitely one of the nicest blanks I have worked in a while. And yes, let's see some other builds out there! Thanks again, Eddie

Hey Flechero, Funny, I put some decals on last night - peel and stick - was thinking about how much I like them over water slide! Like the fact I can get them on and immediately finish, or as I did last night, immediately put some CP on to keep the edges from lifting. I just like the peel and stick because I do not have to wait for them to dry. I have to add an extra coat or two of finish seems like to get a nice smooth finish, but I do like the convenience. I have to use the DecalConnection with the large protective sheet so I can "position" without touching then apply. The mfg'rs are harder for me to get just right. I agree with Reel Mech. - we (myself included) are truly are own worst critics. Need to take pride in our work, which we do otherwise we wouldn't care, but the fact a decal is off by 0.002 of a degree shouldn't take away from a well designed and crafted rod. I'm the same way though. Want it to be perfect so got to do the same. I like the idea of the Micro Sol - will have to give that a shot. Eddie

OK, no one has put any rod builds of late, so I will put one that I finished recently. Its a St. Croix SCV 7'-0" worm rod that I built for a BR member. This rod built on the St. Croix 5C70MH-G blank with custom made/shaped burl grips, aluminum winding checks and Fuji titanium SiC guides. really enjoyed this build! Laying out the grips after shaping and before fitting to blank. Butt grip on blank and getting ready to glue up butt cap. All grips and reel seat glued in place. Aluminum winding checks taped up to keep them from moving around during build. Finished handle. Fuji titanium guide. Really like the look of the threads going translucent and going "into" the blank. Kept the wraps simple for a sleek look. Underside of reel seat showing the blank through window. Another view of handle assembly. Used Gudebrod metallic copper to bring out the look of the grips and winding check.

Ditto.

Very nice, shfishinsticks!

Marty, very nice as always. Eddie

That is nice. Good job on that one.

Rock! Got my first ones last week and love them. Took this "blue sexy" one to the pond on a new spinning crank bait rod I am building for a customer. Wanted to try out the rod and Big M's cranks. Was not planning on catching anything just wanted to see how the rod/blank performed and how the crank did. On the second cast caught this guy. Love these cranks. Nice action, cast real good and perform excellent. Will be ordering more from Marty. Thanks, Eddie

Did not know that. Thanks for passing that on. Really liked the couple of old Shikari blanks I had built on. Good to know. Thanks, Eddie

That looks nice. Good job! Eddie

Very nice. Looking good.

Man, that looks nice. You lure maker guys are amazing.

Plano and BPS spinner boxes in my garage. When just want to take a few I put them in a binder. Eddie

Hey, flechero, nice list there. let us know how those north forks go. Anxious to try some of those out myself. Got a few builds underway and in the works. Some really nice ones too. Unfortunately, none are for me..... Eddie

Another vote for St Croix Avid or higher, or, get a custom for exactly the technique/application you are targeting.

Couple of things you can do in addition to thinner line and C-rigs, is to use a three-way swivel or a dropper loop. If bouncing off the bottom use a lighter rated dropped line so in case you get caught up, you will just lose the weight. Another tactic I like, saw it in one the magazines, is treat the crank like a drop shot. Drill a hole in the bill just a little forward of the ring. Then tie on the crank with a long tag end. Put the tag through the hole in the bill and attach a drop shot weight. Eddie

Great job! The marbling looks fantastic. Eddie

That is very cool.

Agree with some other posts on here. Until this season I did not care for Kimbo. But after seeing him as a "person", he seems to be a very decent person. I too hate it that Roy one - what a dbag. I didn't like Roy from one of the earlier shows when Rashad & his coaches were trying to reason with him and he wouldn't listen. Roy kept talking about "when two masters come together they combine...". What? Two masters. He's an arrogant fella that has lost touch with reality and his skills. His day of reckoning is coming.

I'm with Flechero. Tearing down to the blank and rebuilding is very time consuming, tedious and a lot of opportunities for something to go horribly wrong. There is much more time invested - at least for me anyway - in the tear down than the actual build. I will replace a guide or two - not a problem. I will swap out a busted reel seat or damaged grips - its a pain but not terribly bad. But, to strip the whole thing down to the blank and start over, well, it should be a high-end premium blank, and/or a family heirloom. Otherwise, my advice is if its something you want to do yourself, just be careful and go slow. Otherwise, keep it as a backup or maybe look into selling or trading to get what you want. Eddie

Sweet, Marty! I really like those top two there. Eddie

dang, those are nice, Marty! Love that shad color in the second and that dark blue/chartruse "sexy" on the bottom in the bottom pic is gorgeous. That almost looks toooo pretty to sling in a lake. Can I buy that one? Eddie

Wow - thanks, Chris! Just now noticed the post. Been a little crazy around here of late. You got those quick - excellent. Thanks guys. Yes, those are Castaway blanks from Swampland. They are the same model number MB845 - just different colors. But, the blue blank - which as you noted flechero is almost dead on for the STC SCIV - is a little stiffer. I love these blanks! The matte green is sweeet, and that blue is gorgeous. Once again guys, thanks for the compliments and encouragement. Its an honor and I am truly humbled with the comments. Hope to see Chris and his Dad out making some great memories with these! Eddie