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We are all from different backgrounds, have a wide range of ethnicities, and personalities that are enumerable. We will from time to time step on each others toes, bump each others elbows, and bruise each others egos. We as adults need to suck it up and get over ourselves; this thread is too helpful to others to let egos get in the way. I aint addressing anyone in particular so don't let it go to your head!

Don't see the need. This is a Bass site first & fore most - the few "other" categories currently displayed are sufficient. A-Jay

Hey guys, I'm fishing right now, but I had to stop and share this. Eight o'clock this morning on a tube. A shade over 20" long, weight 5.4 Hootie

Exactly. When someone wants a price to copy xxxx rod exactly, I tell them to just go buy it. What I do is make what can't be bought.

i use 20 ,25 , and 30 lb. izorline XXX for swimbaits but for t-rigs and top water i think 20 lb. is way too much line !!! use some 12 lb. or 15 at the most and even that is pretty stout line !!

Here's a little trick! Learn to identify which ducks eat aquatic vegetation! They will show you where the grass is greener, which is interesting information to have during winter when most grass is dead or dying!

I wonder what the definition of "same" is?

8lbs of drag is plenty for bass fishing. Don't get caught up in the marketing.

Man... Brady... Patriots... These threads are starting to turn into the "what 5 baits would you take here" or "what 2 rods would you take here" threads! It's still baseball season! lol

FYI, there is only a few places you can get graphite from. And.. To have Japanese carbon fiber vs anything else.. There are very few manufactures that actually make graphite. BTW, Boeing buys Toray and they seem to have no problems! http://www.toray.com Yup thats right.. Hate to break the news to everyone! Now the layups or "Flags" and designs is where it is at. You can mess around with different resins and scrims as well, but it all has to do with the Designer and the designs. Having a designer of rod blanks that actually fishes and knows how he/she wants the blank to perform, that is even harder to find. And no way am I saying Rodgeeks doesnt make a good product. Anyways.. Enough said I think.. To answer the original question. Yes you can buy a St Croix blank and build it up with exact specs. As for building it for cheaper? Probably similar. But why? Can you get different manufacturer blanks? Yes, there are a plethora of companies that have similar blanks to the one your looking for. Just depends on what you want. Now the idea with customs is that you can build it however way you want! If you want to build the same but want a shorter/longer handle.. you can do it. More guides, different seat, different grips, colors, etc.. This is the beauty of custom fishing rods!! Good luck!

same graphite and engineered by St. Croix , but they are similar , not exactly the same ..

I've used 20lb big game on my tatula for topwater with no problems at all. I like it for walking style baits like spooks and lately a Damiki Rambler 120 because it floats and is easier to walk the dog. I even wax the last 3 or 4 feet to help it float. For Texas rigs I will use sunline sniper fc @ 14lb test.

Thank ya much , means a ton , by the way , here is a standing invitation for you , you say when and I'll be on the water waitin on ya !!!

Take note : if mixing by weight the parts are not equal by weight. Mixing cup is close enough for adhesive but not finish. I prefer the measuring syringes and have no problem. Mixing time is less important than scraping thoroughly and watching the epoxy. It should be clear and streak free. Stir slowly actually folding the mix.

The title of this thread will attract new young anglers to read it. Imagine what they think! Put your egos aside and post something helpful that may improve a new angler (noob) to achieve some success. Tom

I just pull out about two arm lengths

I feel like I'm on Candid Camera. No...waterfowl does not upset our piscatorial counterparts, in fact wildlife dovetails together better than most of our human subsets Roger

LBH, a legend of BR. Great fisherman, great guy. Sure miss his posts.

Yes there's a small group of just 50,000 here at Bass Resource. Got a question? Ask!

New Met XG and Aldebaran HG, gonna give em a good workout this weekend!

Well, my very best days are putting guys on their new PB! Just a couple of years ago I scored twelve in one season. I don't claim to be the best fisherman in Tennessee, but that's kick'n azz. So, if you are new and your goal is a 5lb+ smallmouth, we are going to do it my way. I won't just help, I will quit fishing if that's what it takes. You can use my gear, I will rig you up and demonstrate EXACTLY what I want you to do. No competition here with me, we are going to fish as partners.

Little white spotted frog booyah branded... I'd been fishing for four + hours and nearly nothing to show for it. I was getting hungry and feeling miserable. I said to myself, I wanna throw this frog in the weeds that I just got through throwing a t rig worm into less than an hour ago. Even though I fished this frog for 3 hours last week for the first time ever and not a bite...I just wanted to throw it some before I finished this annoying fishless day. I was throwing it like a zombie. No cadence, no special attention, just hocking it to and fro. Then very unexpectedly, boom! I saw a swish in the water and I felt tension on the 30lb braided line. I set the hook and reeled and reeled, and I couldn't believe I was about to land this 2+ lb spotted bass. I was so excited and I didn't have my net ready and as soon as I got it to the paddleboard deck it threw the hook! Oh no, I fought with it and finally pinned it to the deck while I fumbled around for my net...I almost lost it twice! I put him in my seat cooler and he was the fighting-est fish I'd ever caught. I was relieved to be sitting on the cooler lid finally. I remembered all the videos saying "all the fish in an area are doing the same thing" so I went to the other hot spot that I just knew a bass was in, threw the frog off in the weeds and it wasn't 3 casts later I landed another 2 + pounder! This time my net was ready and he was hooked deeper in the throat. That was a super exciting first time experience for me. I never imagined I would ever land a bass on a frog from the hours I'd spent flinging that thing to get nothing. I wish I'd had a video of those catches so I could watch it again.

Why is there no wiki information for anything fishing related, I can find what year a car changed its engine, but not what year a reel was discontinued, or a lure was invented. Just curious, I like to google everything but when it come to fishing stuff, information is limited.

My back is healing nicely and can get out at my own pace. Some of my more delicate problems will not be treated with surgery or chemo, I'm elated and could not have asked for much more. I have decided to give up fishing all together, my target to get back out there maybe January. I do not plan much BR activity until I get back into the swing. Quite honestly I don't care about rods and reels now. I spend most of my time reading and watching current events, that's my focus for now.

Ive been using 15lb big game for texas and frogs. Ive caught fish but i cant stand the stretch. Im switching back to braid with a 20lb big game leader

Im with poisonokie on this get 50lb power pro its way easier to get backlashes out and wont kink and ruin the whole spool, crank the brakes down, and start out slow dont go trying to bomb it on the first cast!!!! Start out at 50% and gradually increase your distance from there. Something that helped me was starting out with side casts because if youre used to a spinning reel your first overhand cast is getting spiked straight into the ground or water and as they have already said take out the length of a casts plus a few yards and put some electrical tape on your spool.

Exactly! Try a ribbon tail worm, Rage Cut-R worm, lizards, any craw worm. I T-rig em with up to 1/4 oz weights, simply hold your rod up & reel...just like a frog!

I agree with Allen Funt on this one . . . .I mean Roger. A-Jay

most of the other suggestions are consistent with what I like: Popper: Rebel Pop-R, Chug bug, Hula Popper Buzzbait; Megastrike Cavitron Propbait: Heddon Torpedo (I actually prefer the smaller Tiny Torpedo, 1/4oz) Walking bait: Zara Spook

Very nice! Should hold a "few" NRXs

I was planning on buying a St. Croix Rage. Which are on sale for $90. Plus you get a free hat. I've used ugly stiks for ever but I want serving for drop shotting. Hope this helps!

On my way to pick up the boat guys! Driving out there tonight, staying at a hotel then picking it up in the morning then heading back home!

I had time to put the boat in the water after work today. All is well and no more strange noise. WHEW! I did a little bit of fishing and ran the boat around for an hour or so. It must have been the Flo-Torque Hub. When I took it apart and checked it out, I put it back together 180* from the way it had been installed when I hit the log. I don't know if it is a sacrificial or re-usable part, or how to tell if it needs to be replaced. I ordered a back-up to have on hand. My boating season will be over soon. I'll start next season with a good insurance policy and a Mercury service manual on my bookshelf. Tight lines, Bob

Thanks! And, yes they do!

buzz it = rig it weedless and move it fast enough to keep it on top with any legs/arms/tails/appendages wiggling. You can buzz just about any plastic bait as a topwater. Some, like the Stanley Ribbit, the Rage Toad and Rage shad are made specifically for this.

Love that PowerBait. The reason I picked up some chigger craws initially was because I like the Power Worms so much. I am never going to get tired of those worms in 4", 7" and 10".

After using the Chigger Craw a few more times, I prefer it. I've caught several nice bass on them. They smell like a seafood restaurant's dumpster. Fish won't drop them even if they feel pressure from you.

If swimbaits at Clear Lake is your goal Matt Allen guide service is your guy. I would suggest emailing Matt, see if he is available on those dates and ask him the questions you posted. Clear lake is transitioning from green algae summer to brown ugly water before it starts to clear up, hopefully in 6 weeks. Lots of bait available at Clear lake in the fall, but the baitfish are silversides, not hitch that time of year. Good luck, hope everything works out for you. Tom

It looks great for your first, especially considering you used metallic. I would give you finish a few days before you do anything drastic. It might still harden up.

braid. It's like $12 for 150 yds at Wally world. It is very good line. Not as good as their 8 carrier super slick, but costs about 40% less. First, button down your drag, then Arbor knot some mono backing of equivalent diameter and after spooling on one layer tie to your braid mainline with a uni-uni knot. You do this because braid will slip on the spool, robbing you of hook setting power. Then wind on the braid nearly to the lip of the spool. Remember to pack it tightly. I just pinch the line between gloved fingers behind the first guide and reel it on. I've heard that soaking it in water when you spool it helps, too, but I've never felt the need to do that. Make sure it stays packed on the reel like that throughout the day, especially before you start bombing cranks or something and you'll save a few backlashes. That's true of any line. Lastly, if you are having trouble with backlashes despite keep your line, spool tension, and brakes in order, you can put that practice plug back on, cast as far as you can or need to, and then stick some electrical tape around the remainder on the spool's line so backlashes can't go any deeper than that point.

I been purchasing new discounted older rods and reels they work but like us I don't know how old they are. The rods with the chrome eyes I retired 60's/70's. There in my museum. But I'm not sure how old my new LEWS SPEED STICKS are. My museum goes back to bamboo fly rods, steel telescopic fly rods to steel baitcaster rods. I have the old reels and new line for them on the original spools. Don't know how old. There's no history book on fishing equipment.

I would get him a Roman Made Mother. Nothing says I love you like a $400 swimbait.

I love it when success is predicated upon knowing everything, or at least more than everyone else. Interesting concept.

If you are fishing from the shore I think the small Pop-R makes the most sense. It will get you the most bites and build your confidence. From a boat I would consider a Spook or Spook Jr. so you can learn how to cover lots of water, or if you have a lot of cover in your lake a buzzbait.

Hula Popper, Rebel Popper, Heddon Zara Spook, Megastrike Cavitron Buzzbait.

Next time take a blurrier pic!

On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts. "One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me," said one boy. Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence. Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate. Sure enough, he heard, "One for you, one for me, one for you, one for me ...." He just knew what it was. He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along. "Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls!" The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk." When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled slowly to the cemetery. Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me." The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' me the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord...?" Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord. At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done...." They say the old man had the lead for a good half-mile before the kid on the bike passed him.

I need to get my snowthrower ready for some of this...

I'm an outdated fisherman myself, 1 thing that has served my 70 years well is putting my lure where I want it to go, that in itself catches lots of fish. The rod merely projects the lure, any run off he shelf run of the mill rod I have does the job with out getting overly teched out. The number of hooks on the or type of lure is a talking point, reality to an experienced fisherman doesn't mean squat. I use nothing but inshore spinning for bass, it's a lot of fun for me providing I keep my rods on the light side, mostly med/ light, I may jump up to a med depending on the water I need to pull fish thru. I love my outdated rods along with my outdated lures and techniques. All that matters is the fish on the end of the line, the magic bullet is one's own expertise not any specific rod.