Chris Catignani

The 2021 KDFWR Bass Assessment rate Barren River as one of the best larmouth lakes in Kentucky. https://fw.ky.gov/Fish/Documents/barrenriverasmnt.pdf

Got hit on the hat by a cliff swallow yesterday at Barren River. Those are the birds that make the mud nests under bridges.

Mick...this would be the "white" hot melt sticks. Here is the process I use. I will set the rod in the holder guides up and centered. Heat the guide foot with a lighter and wipe the bottom of the foot across the glue stick. I will then reheat the guide foot and melt that glue. Then stick it on the blank...centered. I mean...that is literally it. I read about all the other processes and just scratch my head. I have done every way possible...and the glue stick is (for me) the easiest. I can see the merit in the bands for layout and testing though...

Its the same bridge...one from the side, one from the front.

Dont shy away from fishing a jerk bait over the top of it.

Not knowing anything about the equipment your using...I will say that sometimes the fish just gets off...and sometimes the line breaks.

Agreed...Like I mentioned earlier...I am always needing to mix a second batch...either for a decal, a hook keeper, cross wraps are notorious for needing two coats.

This is how it usually goes for me...regardless of what type of finish I use. I will apply what I consider a good "covering" coat. This is typically on the thinner side. Once that coat cures...there is always an area where the thread is barley peeking through finish. I will apply a second thin coat and that is usually good enough. I have in the past put on a thick first (and only) coat...but it seems like there is always something else that needed epoxy too and end up mixing a second batch anyway. So I find that using two coats is a just good idea. ...on a side note. Ever since I started using the sealing caps I have been using various measurements of resin and hardener: 2cc each, 1cc each and even .5cc each. The caps let me invert the bottle and get whatever amount of resin/hardener I think I might need. I didn't always do this...for the longest time I just used 3cc each. The thinking was that if I miss measured by say .1cc of a 3cc mix...then the error would be .03% as opposed to .1cc of 1cc mix (.1% error). But I feel like the syringes are very accurate.

I agree a dryer is big...I also think having a set of reamers is big too.

Not necessarily my favorite fishing spot...but on this morning I captured this very pronounce sundog.

For many, many years, I just mixed it thoroughly, in the cup, for two minutes and then applied it. The epoxy's long set up time, and a short burst with the hair dryer, would make what air bubbles I had release. But, let me be crystal clear on this (pun intended) a mixer is the way to go.

I have to agree....nothing worse than getting up early....driving to the ramp only to find a tournament launching...and its getting worse.

Good to hear that.

One of the problems I've seen from North Fork is that they wont do an exchange...but will issue a refund.

There are cases where you can repair it...that may be more than you want to do. You can always dedicate that as a "guest" rod. Rodbuilding.org - Rod Repair by Ralph O'Quinn

I think the most important thing is the rod wrapper. The base and the thread carriage are pretty key. Then after that...I personally have a bunch of different epoxy I use...then the list goes on...

I fish on Priest...Some of these bass boats a flying up lake...driver looking at the T.V. Its not real safe...even if you in a boat.

I have that CB72-8/15...Im throwing a Paddle Tail bait I make with it. But really love that Bushido line of rods.

It think everyone hit on some the key things. The water temperature just needs to be consistently over sixty to sixty-five degrees.

I am lovin that blank...I also have MHX CB843 and love that one too. Thinking back on all the years I've wasted with the wrong crank bait rods...

Yeah...I really dont get the ridges. Its basically a by product of the process. A finishing step that gets skipped.

Looks like my kinda spot...a lot of skinny water to just get there. Above that looks amazing too...