.ghoti.

I prefer shorter handles. More ergonomic to my hands and wrists. My most used reels have 80mm TD-Z handles. I have some 90mm and 100mm handles, and will be selling those soon so I can buy a few more 80mm handles.

Nice work again, Scott. It is inspiring. And at least that Dwight dude has reels with the handle on the correct side.

That, for me, is the problem. I have an idea, or a look I'm going for, then get something I like, and the next day it's different. Been working on scrap pieces of blank, not on any real rods so far. It seems simple; wait until the epoxy has thickened a bit and proceed. Do it too soon, and it all runs together. So, wait longer, right? Wait long enough to get some decent separation, and you get threads stringing out from the tool that go anywhere except where you want them to go. I'll keep experimenting. I've seen some that look really good. It may be a while before I get to that point.

I don't believe bass think about it much. Mosquitoes don't bother them, so they don't have to use it.

Outstanding, as usual for you. Still looking forward to seeing that handle.

I trim the threaded part of the barrel so there are almost no exposed threads when the reel is mounted. That's for comfort. I see no point to any other modification. People have been modifying reel seats to shave weight. The seat area is the one place on a rod where weight changes, either additions or subtractions, make no difference at all. Give me a comfortable rod that weighs a few grams more. I don't like the SK seats, nor do I like the Minima seats. I like ECS seats, and don't mind ACS seats. I have a personal build in progress right now with an ALPS TexTouch seat. I had to trim some threads, but otherwise I really like this one so far. It's like an ACS, only more comfortable in hand. It weighs a bit more than an ACS, but feels better.

I want absolutely nothing to do with ghost peppers. I had a run-in with habanero peppers in Mexico, and a similar encounter with scotch bonnet peppers in Jamaica. Both are too much for me. it's like eating napalm, and excreting nitric acid. No mas.

pic deleted

Have you seen what pigs and chickens eat?

This was from our second trip to Pickwick, I think. Lee (fishindaddy) had just told me, via sign language, that I was number one. Thus the shirt-eating grin. His lovely wife, Nicole, appears to be disputing his opinion.

NEW MEXICO CHILI COOK OFF... For those of you who have lived in New Mexico, you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the Santa Fe Plaza. Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili taster named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield, IL. Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table, asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in... I was assured by the other two judges (Native New Mexicans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy; and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became Judge 3." Here are the scorecard notes from the event: CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILE Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick. Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild. Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy crap, what the he!! Is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These New Mexicans are crazy. CHILE # 2 - EL RANCHO'S AFTERBURNER CHILE Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.. Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously. Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face. CHILI # 3 - ALFREDO'S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick. Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers. Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting *****-faced from all of the beer. CHILI # 4 - BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing. Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili. Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb. woman is starting to look HOT.. Just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac? CHILE # 5 - LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Jalapeno peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive. Judge # 2 -- Chile using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the jalapeno peppers make a strong statement. Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. CHILE # 6 - VARGA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers. Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, garlic. Superb. Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I crapped on myself when I farted, and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone. CHILE # 7 - SUSAN'S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers. Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about judge number 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably. Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing. It's too painful. I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach. CHILE # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILE Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence. Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor feller, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili? Judge # 3 - No Report..

That was my thinking. But i didn't like the glossy look. I used a scotchbrite pad to knock down the shine. You think steel wool would be better?

Exactly right, gents. I just wanted to see what it would look like before wasting too much time, or ruining a decent grip. I used some scrap pieces, and some with a lot of holes and gaps, just to get an idea of how to do it for real. I have a grip made for a jerkbait rod, 5 1/2" mixed burl and regular cork, with rubberized butt cap. almost ready to color. I'll post some pics when it's done.

Been experimenting with staining cork. Here's the best I've come up with so far. Just some plain and burl cork rings, sanded a bit, and filled. Two coats of dye, and three coats of tru-oil, then buffed with scotchbrite to knock down the shine. Still got a bug or two to work out. Blue, brown yellow and red. Plain cork on the left, burl on the right.

I love it.

I speak from experience when i say, "GETTING OLD IS BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE, BUT IT AIN'T FOR SISSIES".

Tubes. I have sizes from 1" up to about 5". They will catch almost anything that swims.

Happy birthday, amigo. I hope you got a chance to use that soap I sent you. ROFLMAO!!!!!

Hey Lee, some times you just gotta let the dogs out. Don't even try to tell me you've never "talked " to one of your builds.

Well, %£€¥%#¥£. My fourth attempt at this holo wrap is a bust as well. The rod is now standing in the corner until it learns how to behave. Got one to build for my brother, and one to fix. Maybe by the time I get those two done, my bfs rod will have learned its lesson.

Look at post #21 in this thread to see a wrapped ramp. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/163122-new-bfs-rod-almost/

more old thread

If I'm going to be wrapping over the top of the ramp, I do it just like Mike suggested. I use Rod Bond epoxy; the same stuff used to fix the seat and grips to the blank. It's easier to work with than thread finish for making ramps. But, if I want to see the thread under the ramp, I use regular hi build thread epoxy. This is time consuming, and, for me, a multi-step process. I can't seem to build a decent ramp with just one application. I always have something right in front of the reel seat. Holo wrap, hook keeper, decal, inscription, or some combination. I like two or three coats in this area for extra protection for the blank. Three coats lets me make a nice ramp, because i'll build it with each coat. Coat your wraps in front of the seat as normal. I do 180 degree turns by hand as needed, and wick away any sags. When you get to the point where you're making a turn about 5 minutes apart, start testing the left over epoxy. I use a round stir stick to get a glob and pull it away from the puddle. If it will pull a string about an inch long, it's ready to use for a ramp. get a glob on the stick, and very carefully put it in the blank, just touching the winding check, or reel seat. Put another blob on right next to the first. Rotate the rod toward you so the blob is facing you. Blob on the side, not on the top. When it sags to the botoom, rotate the rod so the blob moves back up and stop when it's facing you again. You're just continually turning the rod so the blob is flowing around the blank. How often, and how far you have to turn depends on the state of the epoxy, and how much you applied. Don't try to do it all one one step. Make a small or shallow ramp with the first coat, and build it higher and deeper with succeeding coats. This looks good with a base layer of metallic thread on the blank.

Don't know. Some of it looks like nice thread. Some of it not so much. He also gave me a few boxes of parts; guides hook keepers, ferrules, etc, and an old Fenwick blank. He wants me to make him a rod on the old blank. Thinking about using some of those old guides and old thread to do the build. The guides look like nothing I would wrap on a rod of mine. Some folks just like old stuff. My brother is one. He has an amazing collection of antique fishing gear. Me, I like state of the art.

Yes it is, but you gotta come get it. $1273.16 You bring cash, I'll bring a hammer.