.ghoti.

Use the size that feels best in your hands, with the reel mounted.

Gotta agree with mathew. So,dangled stupid I blew coffee out my nose.

Winter, it has to be winter

Hogsticker, how do like that Alps reel seat? I have one, but it's not on a rod just yet.

Carhartt or Dickies

If that thing had a trolling motor, it would be awesome.

Put in in your power wrapper, or drier, to make sure it's straight, and remains that way until the epoxy starts to set. You can imagine why I know this.

I have a few Alphas, and they handle #6 mono or flouro with no problems. Haven't tried 4.

plumworm, I have somuch gear, and have been fishing for so long that not only do I not know anything; I don't suspect much.

To answer the original question: it is if you think it is.

Thanks plumworm. I'm keeping my part-time consulting job for a while. That should help ease me into this thing. By the way, my most fun job was as a musician. From the early 70's until the mid 80's, I was on the road. When they said "hex, bugs, and rock-n-roll" they weren't kidding. Some of it I don't recall all that clearly, and some does not bear remembering, but most of it was a real hoot. I've been quite a bit more civilized the last thirty years.

I'm retiring the end of this semester, about mid-May. I'm starting to get a little spooked about the whole thing. Been working two jobs for more than 25 years. It's gonna be a difficult transition.

The rod is for my brother. He's been after my Airrus Tradition spinning rod ever since he first saw it. It has a plate seat. on a large diameter blank. TT did a review on them. Look it up sometime. It's an interesting rod. I wanted to build something for him that resembled, and maybe feels, in hand, like the Airrus. Thanks.

I was once very interested in these. Not so much now.

John, I seen you post something like this before. Here's a simple conversion you can do in your head, that's easy to remember. It uses a lot of two's. Starting with a C temp, do the following times two minus point two plus 32 So -40 times two = -80 -80 - -8 = -72 -72 + 32 = -40 -40 just happens to be where the C and F scale match. Try it with +40C 40 times 2 = 80 80 - 8 = 72 72 + 32 = 104 Try 37C which equals 98.6 = body temperature Can't do decimal points in your head? no problem, round em off. You'll get close enough to have a number you can relate to, which is the point.

DVT, I take it that was a Tennessee handle? I would understand the every two inch spacing when you don't know exactly where the reel will be placed. I'm going with the smallest Fuji plate seat for this one, and planned on four arbors; one at the butt, and one placed under each seat wrap. What do you think? Handle will be around ten inches.

Precisely what I had in mind!

When I saw the title, Iwas thinking, yep, that's all about Hootie. Couldn't possibly be about me.

Yeah, just wait until you hear what he does to the King's English.

Poly for the most part, unless the gap is too small, then tape. Never used graphite, but I have spinning rod build coming up using a woven graphite tube handle. Got some graphite arbors to try with the tube.

CP is not necessary on metallic thread, but it doesn't hurt it either. It's nearly impossible to apply CP to your guide wraps without getting some on your metallic trim bands. Don't worry about that. It won't hurt anything. DVT is correct about using metallic for primary guide wrapping. It's not ideal at all. If you're going to do it, you'll need to be very precise, and very careful. The coating comes off easily.

I'm on board with the idea that the rod is the more important component most, if not all, of the time. However, I'm a reel guy. I like to take them apart, see how they work, polish and tweak, tune and upgrade. Give me a cool new reel; particularly one I haven't seen before, and I'm a happy guy. When I get a new rod, I'm also a happy guy, but not in the same way. I no longer try to rationalize, or justify, this neurosis. Like the old spinach eater said; "I yam what I yam".

Glad to hear you're enjoying this. Don't sweat the lesson plans. Nobody is good at that without on the job experience. The good news is; it gets a lot easier. Being a good teacher is all about adjusting on the fly. If you enjoy that aspect of it, you will be just fine. Relax, and enjoy yourself.

Ed, sounds like you really should try some Rage Tail baits, eh?

1/8oz Gammy Skipgap jighead, 9" Netbait T-Mac worm, PB&J a hair under 6