.ghoti.

The Aeropress uses small, round paper filters. No silt. Great cup of coffee once you learn how to make it to your taste. PM me when you get one and I'll send you my "recipe".

Trey, that looks like about as much fun as you can have with your pants on. I used to follow the same path; albeit at a bit lower on the food chain. A 6'9" ML-XF LTB, Alphas 103F and #6 XL. In a fit of stupidity, I sold the rod. I now use spinning gear for drop-shotting; a TD-X 6'10" ML-XF and Supreme XT reel and the same line. It's not as high end, or quite as much fun as my previous setup, but for no more than I drop-shot, it's plenty good enough.

Got two Daiwa spinning rods last year; a TD-X 6'10" ML and a Steez 7' ML. Paid $200 for the pair.

Diego Corrales vs Jose Louis Castillo

I certainly never intended to become a teacher. Sometimes you have to let the game come to you.

Congrats man. Bigbill is correct. Be prepared for a different type of tired. I've been a consultant for over 15 years, and I can tell you, it takes a while to learn to turn it off when you go home.

Not a danged thing.

A new supermarket opened near my house. It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of rain. When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and you experience the scent of fresh cut hay. In the meat department there is the aroma of charcoal grilled steaks with onions. When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle, and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying. The bread department features the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread and cookies. I don't buy toilet paper there any more.

Now that's an image I'm going to carry around all day. Thanks a lot. LOL

Forgot to add; I do not do any weaving or cross-wrapping. It's lot of work that adds no functionality, and I'm no good at it. I don't see myself ever becoming good at it. There are some folks doing amazing work with thread, and I applaud their artistry.

I like a holographic wrap in the hook keeper area, for a bit of extra protection. I'll do one in the split grip area occasionally. I don't know how much weight this adds. I have a build coming up which will have this wrap in the split. I'll try to remember to do a before/after weight, to see what it actually adds.

Daiwa TD-X dropshot rod it's good for anything up to 3/8 oz, not just for dropshot. In fact, I've never used it for dropshot. No longer in production, so you'll need to find a used one, but if you do find one, you'll be happy with it. Just for reference, I have two Avids, a Fenwick Elite Tech, an Airrus Tradition and two Steez spinning rods. The TD-X is better than all of them.

Ah, I forgot that one. I cleaned it, lubed it properly, spooled it with 8lb mono and put on my Airrus rod. I like it for jighead/grubs and small tubes. I use it for small spoon trout fishing too. Don't know what the IPT is but it's pretty fast with that very large spool. I know you didn't like the reel, but it does a nice job now that it's been lubed properly. Considering what it cost me, it's excellent! LOL (Kent gave me this reel)

Interesting to note that so many have been won with baits a lot lighter than what are most often used.

An astute observation. LOL A few years ago I had reels from Daiwa, Shimano, Pfleuger, Abu, Okuma, Quantum, Pinnacle and Mitchell. A total of 40+ reels to service and maintain. I decided that was a bit excessive, and vowed to simplify. After decades of working on reels, seeing all the internals and what materials were used, I decided that Daiwa was going to be my choice, and set about selling off all the rest. I got bit by the tuning bug at about the same time, and there were a lot more options available for Daiwa reels than any other at that time, which influenced my decision. I've been semi-successful in this simplification. I sold all of the non Daiwa reels, and all of the low end Daiwas, but still have more reels, and rods, than I really need. I know, a truly blasphemous statement, but I have rods and reels that see little to no use during a typical season. I have several combos that haven't been out of the rod rack for three or four years. Now that I've been bitten by the rod building bug, I'll be replacing several of my factory rods with my own builds, and will be selling off rods to help fund this addiction. I don't think I'll be selling off any reels, except maybe the Pfleuger spinning reels. All of my baitcast reels have been tuned, upgraded and modified. Once I do all of that work, It's very difficult to contemplate selling them. They are "mine" now.

Rods: St Croix(6), Setyr(6), Daiwa(6), Fenwick(1), Airrus(1), Kistler(1), Dobyns(1), Pinnacle(1) Baicast reels: Daiwa(20) Spinning reels: Daiwa(2), Pfleuger(3)

I don't think I've ever been to a lake or pond where selective harvest would be a bad idea. And, I've been to many that would benefit greatly from the practice.

If you ever want the guide repaired properly, do not just slap on some random 2-part epoxy. Go to a place that sells rod builder supplies and buy some flexcoat or threadmaster finish.

A little while ago(when the Hedgehog spool pin remover was brand new) I ordered a reel and the Hedghog tool from Japan Tackle. I ordered some terminal tackle from Cabelas the same day.The order from Japan beat the Cabelas order by three days.

loved the old dude

all good suggestions so far. Add a fluke or super fluke to the list, and any kind or size tube.

no more junk mail!!!

When fished unweighted, put the flat edge of the tail down. It will have more action on a slow drop. Once you add weight to the mix, it makes no difference.

Now that's funny, right there!!

I have a 7' ML-R and a 6'10" MH-F. I like both. They are light, crisp and sensitive; performing well above their price range.