Chris Catignani

The right length for a pitching rod really depends on the how tall the angler is and how much extra handle you want. You don't want your rod tip down in the water when your loading up to pitch. I'm about 5' 11" and I have a rod thats 7'2" but I like a longer handle. From the middle of the reel seat to the tip its 6'.

I personally like RayMarine products...but honestly cant compare them to others. I've had two DragonFlys and an Element. I will say that the Element has a quad processor and is snappy to response. The down and side scan is great.

To get a little more technical...and I may be out of my league here a little. Bass are dichromatic and see light from the green and red wavelengths. Well guess what...there are a lot of other colors between those two wavelengths.

I always use the Super Chunk Jr on my flippin jig.

Nice fish...the first one is a pretty good Kentucky.

I see this kind of thing only increasing...

They come loose for me too...and I cast right handed. It usually happen on something like a crankbait rod (hard casting). I have used Permatex medium strength thread locker...but the vinyl tape works great too. Next rod look for one that has an additional rig for locking.

New Life Lodge in Burns TN is a detox to rehab facility that has a fishing program for patients. Not-profit. (866) 810-6376

Every once in awhile...when the Slider bite is slow...I will bite about a half inch off the tail and rig it backwards. There were days when this was the ticket. Its uncanny how much this looks like the Ned reg...except it was weedless.

I will re-sharpen a hook point quit often...but I dont sharpen new ones.

MacGrubber!

Welcome JBro.

Not sure I can hit 200 post by then...but if I do...Im in.

Back before I had my first rod dryer I use to turned the rod 180° every 20 minutes for three hours.

Any body else get tears in your eyes?

I once had a Boron rod with a Zebco Cardinal 3 fall off the boat...but I didnt know exactly where. Got to the next hole and it was gone. However...I did witness a bass pull the rod and reel out of a guys hands...he dove in the water...got the rod and the fish!

I have always been 2x2...I have several rods that have no foregrip at all. I can usually touch the blank with my index finger. Brian Latimer likes to fish all on the foregrip...his signature series Sick Stick (Favorite) has an extended foregrip.

OK...so its not smoke...but I been loving this.

I have used Vinyl Disorder before for pin stripping...but they have it all.

Just to clear the air...I have 50+ years experience building rods. Probably built close to a 1,000 rods. I have seen and taught classes where men women and children built there first rod in one day. So being on the inside looking out...I can say with out a doubt that its simple...now I will also agree with others that you can make it complicated as you want...even roll your own blank.

Your certainly entitled to your opinion. "...not do some of the stupid proposals one sees on forums,.." I agree with that.

Good job! There is not a whole lot that goes into "some" of the aspects of rod building. Most of the hard stuff has to do with aesthetics.

When I was 15 I had a job working at the high school (so no skipping). I saved up $900 to buy this boat...a Bass Bandit with stick steering and 25hp Evinrude.