Skeet6

It similar to fly tying. It takes quite a while to amortize the cost of the equipment before you see any "savings". So, in the long run, you will save money and be able to build exactly what you want. In the short term, if only to build a few rods, no, you won't save money. It's about the enjoyment of building something that you can't get elsewhere, and it's fun!! See if someone local to you builds and have a look over his shoulder. You'll know! Mike B

Never, not on the rods I build, nor on any of my bamboo fly rods. Cork is meant only to be treated with fish slime and handling dirt and whatever else. Mike B

As above, I have never made any changes, other than sharpening hooks on old ones. I also wait until I feel the fish, and then just a light hookset. I don't think it's a size issue, as I actually caught a decent sized crappie one night at my home lake on the same jointed Jitterbug. (Though that was a one-off, I'd imagine!) Mike B

Can anyone direct me to the closest thing to a standard 6" Slug-O type mold? Thanks! Mike B Just to clarify, I am not looking for open-pour type. Thanks again. Mike B

That's the interesting part of the Abu (Revo) that I am looking at. Seems the 30 is 7.8oz, the 40 is 8oz. I am thinking that the difference will only be a bigger spool. I can't find anywhere local to get one of each in my hands, and none of the online pics show size comparison. Thanks all for the help!! Mike B

Yep, Abu uses 20, 30, 40, etc. THANKS!

Do you mean for the larger spool diameter for the 10lb mono? Thanks. Wish I could get them in my hands. Mike B

30 vs 40? I am coming back to standard tackle from many years nearly exclusively fly fishing. The new-fangled baitcasting reels and rods I have figured out pretty well, but the new spinning gear is a bit different. I have a 30 size Abu Garcia Revo on a medium 7' rod with 8lb test, and it's perfectly balanced. If I were to pick up a medium-heavy 7', should I step up to a 40 size? I would be using 10lb mono on that. It seems the reels in that series are barely 1/2 oz different between 30 and 40. Thanks for the help! Mike B

I grew up in Yorktown Heights. Amawalk, West Branch, Muscoot and Croton were where I learned! All great. Amawalk had some stupid-big brown trout. We called it Amawalk surf fishing. 1oz Krocodile spoons on 6lb test, cast as far as possible on med to med-heavy spinning tackle. FUN!! Mike B

I remember fishing Nuclear lake. (Originally from Westchester). Lots of good fishing in the area. Next time up to visit, try the NYC watershed reservoirs! Mike B

Ok figured out how to resize.

Hey, all. After 10 years of only fly rodding for the bass in my lake here in PA, I pulled out the old bass tackle due to rotator cuff area tendinitis. I didn't measure, but estimating by measuring the rod later at home puts it around 21-23", I am not too good at estimating. (?) The rod/reel is a beefy 1990-era heavy Abu Garcia and the Rapala is the F11 @ 4-3/8". I have since bought some new casting rods and reels to update my old Ambassadeur 4600's and Fenwick Lunkerstiks. (I'll post thoughts about them in another post). What do you think it weighed? Mike B [img]https://i.imgur.com/IqLAmuS.jpeg[/img] Sorry about link. Not sure how to post pics from imgur here. Mike B https://imgur.com/IqLAmuS

Depending where you are, perhaps a builder on here would throw a quick wrap for you. If you were local to PA, I'd help. Mike B

I like chartreuse mixed with black or other darker colors. I prefer copper colored blades to painted, also. As above see what they want! Placed properly, they'll hit it. Mike B

I had one of the green ones in the 70's. I remember getting crazy line twist cranking and cranking against the drag as a kid. They were a cool green color, though. A lot of the rods that I build these days feature that color on the blank. Mike B