Banned User

Was looking into this reel because I bought it on a whim 50% off, but seeing someone say they got it for 60 bucks got me immediately regretting not waiting for a better deal. The Supreme XT does say it has a sealed carbon fiber drag - people still think this is a worthwhile buy? Should I go in a different dshooting. It's size 30 and It's for Ned rig and maybe some (newish to me) drop shotting. Maybe a small jerkbait

Almost forgot that I had a slx mgl, been a rough season for me barely fishing and it happened to not make the cut to stay in the car all season hoping to get a chance to get wet. Casts 5 inch super flukes where I tell it to, but I can't really remember trying to go for distance how it performed. I wish I could drop 250 on a reel, but is there really a 100-150 dollar difference?

What is your favorite casting reel for weightless plastics, maybe a small weight (but think weightless)? I feel like I like magnetic breaking for that, or in general really, but I feel like my Tatula CT handles them well.

I've seen some sites that come off a bit sketchy, but such a NICHE market I've only found a few sites to begin with anyway. Mudhole and get bit being the big ones I see voodoo rods also getting some love. What are others you use/trust? American rod builders warehouse has a nice sale right now but awfully limited selection - seaguide components any good? Some Seaguide items I've looked at seem like an amazon product with pictures in awkward or reverse orientation like an upside down casting reel seat with very poor English descriptions.

You from southie?

That was a fun read There's a town out here spelled Worcester- it's pronounced Wusta("u" like push)

I'm in a very similar boat my man (and it's definitely not a bass boat haha). Mental health been a battle for a decade and a half or so, have a toddler and a 6 month old and feel like all I do is work and think of ways to make more to provide more and work less to be home more with the fam (or out fishing). Been feeling like I'm going a little bonkers in this groundhog of monotony. But it does help to be here. Thanks, I think I needed that reminder. I've definitely had that "I'll never get to fish again" feeling - and sometimes it feels selfish but also I know myself and my mental health and needing that time to myself and the water. It's a hard balance being human. I feel like I put so much pressure on myself to do more and be more for my kids and be a good dad and... and ...and ...and.... that I'm stressin myself out so much that I'm "feeling like I need to fish" more and cause this feedback loop I can't escape - like I need to fish to destress but I don't get to so I stress and then I'm distracted by thinking about fishing so I get down on myself and stress and then when I get to fish I feel like I'm missing out on time with my fam so I stress. I do think a big part of it is a lack of sleep too, I stay up late because it's the only time I have to watch fishing stuff or research fishing stuff or whatever I'm looking into, and then I'm woken up all through the night because of my little one. But you're right man, it's my perspective thats off. Letting the distractions take my focus. Thanks @Luke Barnes for opening up, and thanks to all of you for being a community that is willing to share and build one another up. Much love yall

If I ever considered moving to another state, it would be based on where I would have the highest chance of catching DD bass. Could FLMB strain actually thrive in northern states like MA? Its starting to feel like I have less and less choice but to get a real boat and Forward Facing Sonar to stand a chance around here of anything even remotely close to DD. I've posted here before about a tackle shop owner in NH saying it took him 60 years to catch a bass over 8 pounds - the tackle shop was his house... It broke my heart knowing my chances were significantly less since I lost my once in a lifetime 8-15 pounder already. Anybody in Cali or FL or Texas looking for a roommate with a wife, 2 kids, 2 cats, and a ton of fishing gear? We can squeeze into one room if you can put me on a 10 pounder.

Thanks for the replies, I've got some homework to do haha @Deleted account nice to see you here motorman

What are your top 3 for the following (Please copy and paste) Top 3 blanks: 1- 2- 3 Top 3 Guides: 1- 2- 3- Top 3 Grips: 1- 2- 3- Top 3 reel seats: 1- 2- 3- Top 3 pieces of advice for anybody who builds or wants to start: 1- 2- 3- Thanks for taking the time to help us all grow and learn! Ps. If there's any component or equipment I missed please feel free to add.

Yeah I feel like I've seem rods bend well past what I would consider an extra fast action be labeled extra fast. I actually just reached out to Rodgeeks about their 7"3MH extra sensitive drop shot rod. I asked what extra sensitive meant (that's what the website says - extra sensitive) and he told me it doesn't mean extra sensitive it means extra slow. I responded with the link to the page for the extra sensitive rod and asked for clarification in case we happen to be looking at 2 different things... I've heard nothing back. The lure ratings for that dropshot rod are very MH so I'm not sure how it's a drop shot rod unless it is strong but totally folds under loads.

They almost got me with that one, butbatvthe end ofnitballbits really only 30% off - because you have to spend $300 there but pay full price for the rod which is $200. I haven't seen enough desirable sales there to think I'll end up saving more again later with that gift card. Their sales always seem a little weak when I look, hasn't been a lot but enough to be unimpressed. I cam close though, but instead I'm hoping Rodgeeks will have a sale on blanks and I can just customize a croix rod my way.

Thanks yall, I looked up some youtube stuff and that looks like shaping the cork might be a step or 2 ahead of me, but again I'm ready for the dive and feel like since I'm starting this journey a little later in life than I would've liked if I'da known about this a number of years ago I might as well just jump right to level 5 from 0. I can't "take my time" to get to the point of learning skills one at a time, I'm thinking I need to learn a number of building skills simultaneously in order to give myself a jump start. The biggest issue is I can't seem to find cork without a hole already drilled in it, I think I would need to off set the hole in order to give myself a bump on the grip to sit higher than usual.

Okay gotcha, I'm still learning this CCS and all that. Affecting sensitivity, which seems logical to me, is most times something we avoid- but perhaps a very sensitive blank with a paint job will only be undiscernably affected? Let's say there was a way to add a coating to a blank that takes a fast tip - let's assume hard noticeable stop at 25% of the rod length - and make it recover 25% slower. What would that do to the rod specs and data and effective performance?

@MickD I meant in general how the same dollar can be taxed upon earning, taxed on keeping, and taxed on spending - then sometimes what you purchased you're taxed again on for owning. Earning, having, and spending like 50 grand gives Uncle Sam like 20-25k , which is more funding than I ever see used for the community. But you've effectively made me feel more comfortable paying this fishing supply tax if thats actually used for our fisheries like that.

Looks nice man, gives me hope for my first build. Thanks for sharing your experience

Also @Delaware Valley Tackle using Rodgeeks do you think them painting the blank has an impact on sensitivity or performance in anyway. Must at least add weight which can have an impact on at least feel, which actually would logically imply impacting ccs data (I'm lookin at you @MickD )

I asked this in a separate thread but feel I want to ask the general public specifically. Is the current sale at NFC real or do they always have crossed out higher prices listed? I know many companies advertise mark downs but it's pretty much always that price so not really on sale. I bumped into a thread on another site with the same question, but no answer. Right now there's a buy 3 get 75% off for SM,IM, AND HM blanks - but nothing changes in the cart or checking out. They have a higher cost crossed off, and the blanks look like they're on sale. I've never looked at blank prices so I have no reference, does NFC always charge that amount all year? Are they actually marked down right now?

Have you handled side by side a rodgeek rod and a croix scIV? And I'm with ya on the marketing, but something about it has to be true to a degree. From what I've learned about the technobabble the taper is supposed to be a smoother more consistent transition versus a hard stop - sounds like everything is just a little bit softer but I have no data on what any of this actually represents.

Thanks for the clarification y'all I mean I really hope the line is a little further away to get banned, because I was essentially saying the same thing - tax to earn tax to own tax to spend and its still not enough and I'm not seeing where it's going haha. Garbage that even if someone doesn't sell the rods still gotta pay extra, crazy!

Thanks for all the feedback yall. @WRB my man, I think I might actually give away a pinky or a minor organ to have a night like that - I'm still afraid I'm going to die before I ever see a 10 pound bass in real life. And thanks for sharing what worked for you... Anybody else wanna share what catches fish for you at night?

I've seen people dog G. LOOMIS E6x, but obviously rave about their higher end gear. I understand that a cross the board higher end with better "X" and improved "Y" will cost more and be "better" bur there's a line somewhere that clearly people experience where a great company makes a subpar (for price) product. What about blank manufacturers in general? NFC HM blank great but skip the IM? Both solid for price? Rainshadow eternity great but revelation junk? Essentially, since I have no idea and can't test, feel, or measure anything, are there any models to avoid from good manufacturers or manufacturers in general that for the price I should just pass on? Does point blank ever go on sale? Price to performance models?

Line off blank is always the goal, not new but new to many. I think this is an often misunderstood concept and underutilized to boot. Is the current sale at NFC real or do they always have crossed out higher prices listed? I know many companies advertise mark downs but it's pretty much always that price so not really on sale.

Cool thanks, I was thinking American tackle airwave because it'll Center the line quicker and more efficiently since it'll naturally be pulled to the side otherwise. On the website description for their Carbon 4 blanks it says they roll them using ST3 (smooth taper technology) but the description for SC blanks say "they include the best of SC engineering know how: IPC (integrated poly curve), TET (taper enhancement tech), ART (advanced reinforcing tech), and FRSV(fortified resin system). So it reads like it's the same materials for the blank, but different construction - so not the same performance. AM I wrong about that?

I like the tip - I already have some rechargeable AA batteries, it makes so many things rechargeable haha. Great for beard clippers and kids toys that eat up power... and probably headlamps