You can boil a pot of water and pour it slowly over an EVA grip for 3-4 seconds at a time and that worn, smooth look that EVA gets will instantly disappear, along with any dents. But be careful not to heat it too much or the epoxy will soften and your reel seat will suddenly roll out of place. Won't fix gouges from hooks, though. An old friend from Japan taught me that-and it worked very well for me.

 On a side note, cork has become so expensive because all the cork farms in Portugal are cutting their cork trees down and building wineries and planting vineyards . Supposedly, there's more money in the wine business. Ironic, since wine bottles need cork stoppers(at least the good winemakers still use cork).

Hope they're better than the cork on the Expride rods. For $300, the cork is very disappointing.

Look at any Veritas, Vendetta  or other recent Abu rod after it was held for a season and you'll see worn.

I'll be happy to show you any of my Veritas rods I've had for the last 3 seasons.

I just want them to bring the Cumulus and 1st gen Cumara back... 

Amen. I was fishing my 71MH Cumulus/Core 51 this week, and was thinking how I'd love at least two more of the same combo...maybe one with a new Metanium.

JPur, it would be nice if Shimano rods all had the bait holder on the rod.

 

You pay a lot of money for a Shimano rod and to have no bait holder on the rod is something you would expect.

 

Even the BPS Extreme rods have bait holders.

 

Check it out at ICAST14.

JPur, it would be nice if Shimano rods all had the bait holder on the rod.

You pay a lot of money for a Shimano rod and to have no bait holder on the rod is something you would expect.

Even the BPS Extreme rods have bait holders.

Check it out at ICAST14.

Which rod doesn't have a hook holder?

I prefer rods not having them anymore anyway. A Fuji holder is cheap and more functional.

Hope they're better than the cork on the Expride rods. For $300, the cork is very disappointing.

 

If this is the case, then the cork will be worse considering the Expride is a split grip and they still use crappy cork. Even the IMX/GLX cork is disappointing. My old Crucials corks are better than them. I guess this has to do with the ever high price of cork.

Amen. I was fishing my 71MH Cumulus/Core 51 this week, and was thinking how I'd love at least two more of the same combo...maybe one with a new Metanium.

 

I baby my 6'5 & 6'10 cumulus rods, and always looking for more 

I wanna see the new Fuji palm trigger seat (pts) on these bad boys. Anyone else? Its a crowded field so let's hope they do something that warrants some separation. Kick the price up to 170-180 and put some Fuji K series titanium alconites on it. Smaller ones too. 5.5 or 6 stripper, 4.5 or 5 runners. Full Eva handle will somewhat offset the cost of the guides and again, create separation. And there you have it!